Cloth Fair Chambers

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Tom Allen KC

Tom Allen focuses on commercial and business crime alongside financial regulation. He represents corporate entities and individuals, in respect of both domestic and international matters involving allegations of fraud, bribery, corruption, and money laundering.

Jonathan Barnard KC

“A true superstar of his generation”, Jonathan garners accolades as an "elegant" and "charismatic" advocate. Noted for his "supreme" judgment and “superb analytical skills”, Jonathan is routinely instructed to represent professionals and corporate clients in high-profile, financial, and heavyweight criminal matters. Whether at trial or providing strategic counsel during investigation, he is recognised as a "class act,”, “incredibly intelligent”, “extremely industrious” and “a pleasure to work with”. Winner of Chambers and Partners Crime Junior of the Year, 2016, he represented Victor Dahdaleh, the billionaire “power broker” acquitted on all counts re corruption of the Prime Minister of Bahrain [2014] 1 W.L.R. 1857, and secured acquittals in high-profile cases involving rape charges for Eddy Shah, the former media magnate, and Dr. Falkowski, a renowned consultant psychiatrist, (upon which the film "U B Dead" is based)

Stuart Biggs KC

Stuart’s practice focuses on matters involving allegations of misconduct by companies, directors, public officials and financial professionals.He acts for individuals and corporates investigated and prosecuted by the SFO, FCA, HMRC and specialist divisions of the CPS and advises victims of financial crime. He assists corporates with internal investigations and in their interactions with the criminal justice system and regulators. He has considerable experience in Proceeds of Crime Act proceedings.Stuart advises on a range of matters affecting companies including bribery, fraud, anti-money laundering, sanctions, data protection, brand and content protection and consumer protection. He has a wealth of prosecution experience to draw upon and maintains a specialist prosecution practice, including private prosecutions.He has complementary experience of advising and acting in respect of individual and company insolvency and has acted for a director in contested company director disqualification proceedings. He has appeared in cases before the tax tribunals as leading junior, led junior and alone.Since co-authoring the Butterworths’ Guide to the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 Stuart has maintained a keen interest in this area, conducting confiscation, restraint and enforcement hearings. Recently, he was invited to contribute to the Law Commission’s work on suggested reform of the law of confiscation. He has experience in dealing with orders obtained on behalf of foreign prosecutors by MLA, acting in the high-profile successful discharge application of a restraint order obtained on behalf of the Vatican. He has considerable experience in account freezing and cash forfeiture cases: recent matters have seen the release of the trading accounts of a bitcoin brokerage and a construction company.Stuart has a longstanding specialism in Intellectual Property Crime and content protection. He is instructed by a variety of rightsholders and provides detailed advice on the substantive law and on investigations and procedure. He has spoken on IP crime at the Cambridge Symposium on Economic Crime.Stuart acts for clients in proceedings before a diverse range of disciplinary tribunals and regulators. These have included governing bodies in respect of the accountancy profession, the Regulatory Decisions Committee of the FCA, the Electoral Commission and the internal disciplinary committee of a political party.

Robert Dacre

A ‘rising star’ with a ‘brilliant mind’, Robert is a sought-after junior in the fields of financial and corporate crime, general crime, professional discipline and inquests.He has been instructed in a number of significant cases across the spectrum of financial crime, including high value and large scale fraud, bribery, misconduct in public office, cheating the public revenue and money laundering. He advises companies and individuals in complex and sensitive cases. He is adept at dealing with self-reporting issues and strategy from the early stages of investigation by prosecution authorities.He is regularly instructed in complex and serious general crime. His recent work has involved high profile terrorism and murder cases.He is also frequently instructed to represent the interests of corporates and professionals at inquests.He has a wealth of experience of cases involving doctors, accountants and other professionals before regulatory tribunals.

Polly Dyer

Renowned as both an advocate and an advisor, Polly Dyer is highly respected and in high demand across the market. Her expertise in commercial crime is equalled by her expertise in general crime, inquests and regulation, and her counsel is sought by individuals, corporates, governments and NGOs alike.Since the outset of her career, Polly has been recognised for her particular capacity to cut through issues in the largest and most complex cases. Over the years, the Directories have identified her as “a machine”, “unstoppable”, and having “an incredible ability to digest and dissect any case at impressive speed”. Equally, they note that she is valued by clients for her “approachability”, “authenticity” and ability to be both “sympathetic and strong when she needs to be”.In her element on her feet in court, Polly is “a lethally intelligent and fantastic advocate” of “remarkable prowess and courageousness”. The Directories also regularly employ words such as “calm, collected, measured, detailed, diligent, confident, unflappable and skilled” in respect of her advocacy.Her “tactical approach” to cases, coupled with her “good instincts and sound judgment”, means Polly is frequently instructed pre-charge in cases of all sizes. Clients, both lay and professional, find her to be “bright, creative and very responsive”. She is applauded as “highly cerebral” whilst also always “delivering readily understandable advice” that is “clear and concise”.Polly has specialised in cases brought by the FCA, SFO, HMRC and Insolvency Service since the outset of her career and has a wealth of experience of allegations of insider dealing, bribery and corruption, complex fraud, cheating the revenue and large-scale money laundering. She has encyclopaedic knowledge of disclosure in large-scale investigations, LPP, the obtaining of material from other jurisdictions and matters relating to asset restriction. She is respected as an expert in all areas of POCA, both civil and criminal, having written and presented consistently on all manner of freezing, detention, forfeiture, restraint and confiscation, and been instructed to appear in POCA proceedings at all levels up to the Court of Appeal.Polly is among the cadre of advocates to have maintained a stellar reputation on both sides of the court. Her CV includes presiding over an internal investigation within the FCA, acting on both sides of private prosecutions, advising the Solicitor General of Scotland in relation to appeals before the Supreme Court, and representing the Anti-Corruption Commission of the Seychelles before its Supreme Court. Polly has always been able to use to her in-depth knowledge of prosecuting, and prosecuting authorities, to great effect when defending.In the general criminal sphere, Polly has extensive trial experience in all manner of offences, including murder, rape, GBH, misconduct in public office, drug supply, serious driving offences, domestic abuse, and any number of offences, big or small, affecting professional people – from MPs, prominent businesspeople and doctors, to actors, musicians and entertainers. Polly also has very considerable expertise in representing police officers and senior military personnel in criminal cases.Polly is highly sought-after by individuals, families, corporates and government agencies alike to appear at inquests. Past clients include a US baby sling company, the UK Gambling Commission, the Metropolitan Police, the family of a Red Arrows pilot, the family of an Army helicopter pilot killed in Afghanistan, the families of students and road traffic victims and numerous medical professionals, including a GP at the ‘Jeremy Kyle’ inquest, where his actions were not held to be causative or contributory.Polly has also consistently appeared in all manner of regulatory proceedings since the start of her career. She has considerable experience of medical regulatory tribunals, and particular expertise in financial services regulation, representing firms and individuals in both FCA disciplinary and other contentious regulatory contexts.

Patrick Hill

Patrick is regularly instructed to act in high profile and complex criminal and regulatory cases, including those with an international dimension.His practice encompasses fraud, money laundering, bribery and corruption, and the full array of general criminal allegations. Patrick’s advice is frequently sought pre-charge to advise private individuals and companies in relation to the legality of investigative powers; in relation to potential criminal, civil, and public law challenges and remedies; and in relation to representations in relation to charge, where he has frequently acted for high profile individuals whose cases have not resulted in charge.Patrick is also experienced in private prosecutions, where he defends and prosecutes; civil and criminal contempt cases, where he is brought in as specialist counsel; in professional disciplinary cases, representing professionals before a wide variety of disciplinary tribunals; and in inquests, inquiries and investigations.In relation to international work, Patrick’s experience incudes extradition, international law, and immigration. He has acted on behalf of requesting states and requested persons in extradition cases, and advises on cross-border evidence gathering, mutual legal assistance, Interpol red notices, and the repatriation of prisoners. Patrick is also experienced in EU and asylum law, and the interplay with criminal law, and sanctions. He is the co-author of the terrorist financing and enforcement chapter of Smith, Owen and Bodnar on Asset Recovery, Criminal Confiscation, and Civil Recovery, and the UK sanctions enforcement chapter of the Global Investigations Review’ Guide to Sanctions.

Rachel Kapila

Rachel is regularly instructed to act for individual and corporate clients in the most serious and heavyweight white-collar investigations and prosecutions. She has a breadth of experience, with current and past instructions encompassing a wide range of offences, including fraud, bribery and corruption, false accounting, forgery, Revenue offences and money laundering. She acts for clients at all stages of criminal proceedings, from pre-charge advice, including advice in connection with the conduct of corporate internal investigations, to jury trials and appellate work. Rachel’s advice is routinely sought on a wide range of ancillary matters, including privilege, search warrants, restraint, account freezing orders, forfeiture, and confiscation. She has experience in judicial review, appeals by way of case stated and habeas corpus applications. The cases in which she is instructed frequently involve parallel civil and regulatory proceedings and raise issues spanning multiple jurisdictions.The multi-jurisdictional nature of Rachel’s practice is complemented by her expertise in extradition and MLA. She is regularly instructed in high profile extradition proceedings, particularly proceedings with a financial crime context. She has a substantial advisory practice in this area, advising clients in connection with anticipated extradition requests, Interpol notices and MLA requests.Rachel also notably acted for a senior News of the World journalist charged with phone hacking, and defended an election agent accused, alongside a Conservative MP, of submitting false election expenses returns following the 2015 General Election. Rachel is one of very few juniors with expertise in criminal proceedings arising out of alleged breaches of electoral law.

John Kelsey-Fry KC

Award-winning John Kelsey-Fry KC is regarded as the most sought-after criminal advocate in the land. Pre-eminent in the fields of business and financial crime, and other high-profile crime, his legal expertise is matched by his commercial understanding and his strategic vision. Instructed by individuals and corporates alike, he is lauded for his unwavering commitment to his craft and the outcomes he achieves for his clients. In particular, he is the ‘go to’ expert where the criminal and commercial jurisdiction intersect. A former Treasury Counsel, John has unparalleled breadth and depth of expertise. His clients span the commercial, financial, sporting and media worlds and they benefit from the decades that he has spent at the very top of the bar.

Rhys Meggy

Rhys Meggy’s practice centres on defending allegations of criminality or regulatory impropriety on the part of professionals and corporates. In commercial crime, Rhys’ expertise includes defending allegations of bribery and corruption; large-scale fraud and false accounting; tax evasion; insider dealing; breaches of the general prohibition under FMSA; anticompetitive behaviour; breaches of export controls; insolvency and company law offences; breaches of health and safety and environmental regulations; and money laundering. In addition to FCA, SFO, HMRC, CMA and IS work, Rhys has a particular niche in the defence of executives and corporates pursued by Companies House and the Office of National Statistics. Rhys also has a well-established practice in financial services regulation, appearing before both the FCA’ s Regulatory Decisions Committee and/or the Upper Tribunal for both individuals and firms in connection with allegations of misconduct or challenges to authorisation decisions. He has extensive practical experience of the intersection of the civil and criminal jurisdictions where he frequently advises parties to civil fraud litigation as to the criminal implications of the conduct at issue, both in the UK and offshore. His general criminal work covers the entire spectrum of offences, not least: murder and manslaughter (including corporate); sexual offences; perverting the course of justice; and misconduct in public place. Rhys also has longstanding experience of advising on and/or appearing in: anonymity and/or reporting restriction applications; HMRC CoP8 and CoP9 tax investigations; HMRC compounding negotiations following from export finance breaches; judicial review and/or ‘section 59 CJPA’ proceedings relating to the seizure and retention of evidence; account freezing order (AFO), cash detention and civil forfeiture proceedings; disputes concerning LPP and Independent Counsel reviews. Prior to coming to the Bar, Rhys worked at a law firm in the BVI, liquidating the feeder funds of Bernie Madoff’s Ponzi scheme. Later, Rhys was seconded to advise a global investment bank in respect of a wide variety of financial misconduct issues, including dealings with regulators in the context of bribery, money laundering and tax compliance investigations.

Mark Mulholland KC

Mark Mulholland K.C. S.C. has developed a unique practice in multi-jurisdictional proceedings, global investigations and bespoke advisory work. He is a seasoned and highly experienced trial counsel spanning 32 years in practice. Mark has worked with many of the leading firms in financial crime in London, Dublin and New York. His caseload has spanned some of the most complex matters across Ireland, the UK, US, UAE, Russia, Greece and the Cayman Islands. He has acted for clients in investigations/prosecutions relating to the NCA, SFO, FCA, DOJ, SEC, HMRC and MI5. His vast trial experience in both jury and non-jury trials in a variety of courts and jurisdictions is matched by few Silks across the British Isles and Ireland.He has extensive experience as an appellate advocate and has appeared on several occasions in the UK Supreme Court. He also represents clients in cases where UK DV security clearance is required as well as ultra high net worth individuals facing serious criminal allegations with related proceeds of crime or regulatory implications. Mark has also acted in serious criminal and regulatory proceedings for barristers, solicitors and police officers for over 20 years. Mark has also acted for a number of sports personalities including those with backgrounds in international rugby, MMA and professional boxing. Mark is on the PPS Senior Counsel panel and is instructed in serious and complex criminal cases including fraud.Mark joined Cloth Fair chambers given his expertise in financial crime, fraud and regulatory work and his proven track record in numerous cases at both trial and appellate level in criminal and commercial/civil proceedings.In 2016 Mark was nominated and admitted into the US International Academy of Trial Lawyers in Washington DC – the selection criteria required an evidence base of appearing in 1000 trials. Over the last 10 years Mark has appeared frequently in the most complex criminal trials and secured Not Guilty verdicts in every case that has gone to verdict. Within the past 12 months Mark has secured acquittals in two of the most high-profile criminal trials to come before the courts in the United Kingdom in recent years.Mark has advised on the provisions of the Fraud Act 2006 and Bribery Act 2010, the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparncy Act 2023 and the Police Crime & Policing Act 2026. Mark has experience conducting internal investigations and advising on remediation and compliance in several jurisdictions. He has been a guest speaker at events in Cape Town, Hong Kong, Boston, London, Kuala Lumpur, Edinburgh, New Zealand, Vienna and New York amongst other places. He has published articles on the Bribery Act & DPAs, Wrongful Trading and Company Director Disqualification and has been published in the Lloyds Financial Crime Law Reports on asset forfeiture in the UK and Ireland. Mark has previously taught Commercial Law at Queens University Belfast, and has given talks to government agencies and corporate entities on the Proceeds of Crime Act and Company Director Disqualification. Mark is regularly retained to defend corporates and directors in environmental and waste proceedings proceedings and also to advise and represent corporate clients in health and safety related prosecutions.

Alison Pople KC

With over 25 years’ experience as an advocate, Alison Pople KC commands universal acclaim as “a leading silk”. Distinguished by her extraordinary expertise in financial crime and regulation, Alison also has specialism in corporate crime, global investigations, crime and professional discipline. Her reputation as an esteemed authority is cemented by her regular involvement as a trusted advisor in prominent, high-stakes, and intricate investigations. Alison excels in addressing the complex, multifaceted, and sensitive issues faced by high-profile individuals, seasoned professionals, politically exposed figures, and other vulnerable clients. On the corporate front, her clientele has included large multinational corporations, private equity funds and highly niche SMEs. In addition to her recognition as a skilled and persuasive advocate in both jury and non-jury court proceedings, Alison also provides counsel on self-reporting intricacies and devises strategic approaches from the inception of investigations led by authoritative bodies including the Serious Fraud Office, Financial Conduct Authority, Competition and Markets Authority, the Solicitors Regulation Authority, the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales, and the Financial Reporting Council.

Nicholas Purnell KC

Nicholas Purnell KC's career at the Bar spans over four decades and includes 20 years as a Recorder of the Crown Court and as a Deputy High Court Judge. Nicholas has covered every area of criminal and criminal-related law. His immense experience enables him to bring a commanding level of expertise and strategic planning to each new case.Nicholas practises principally in commercial and business crime and in regulatory and professional disciplinary matters. When instructed in the investigation stage, he advises clients in cases under examination by global regulatory and prosecuting authorities including the Serious Fraud Office (SFO), the Financial Conduct Authority, the US Department of Justice and the Securities and Exchange Commission.Nicholas acted for ICBC Standard Bank to negotiate the first ever Deferred Prosecution Agreement with the Serious Fraud Office to be approved in the UK. Nicholas appeared before the President of the Queen’s Bench Division at the High Court to agree the terms of the DPA.Nicholas’ recent cases include the successful defence of John Varley, the former Chief Executive of Barclays, in his acquittal of charges of fraud by false representation in a trial brought by the SFO against former directors of the bank in respect of its capital raising from Qatari investors in 2008. Nicholas also successfully represented Carl Rogberg, the former finance director of Tesco, against charges of fraud and false accounting.

Aaron Watkins

Aaron is an established junior in all areas of white-collar crime and associated practice areas. He is consistently ranked as a leading junior in fraud, business and regulatory crime (including global investigations) and extradition and international crime. Most recently Aaron (instructed by Baker McKenzie LLP and led by Tom Allen KC) secured the acquittal on an allegation of corruption of the first defendant in one of the Serious Fraud Office’s most long running and high-profile investigations concerning allegations of corruption.Aaron’s practice frequently involves cross-border criminal issues including multi-jurisdictional investigations, sanctions and Interpol notices. He has experience of criminal cases, including those with crossover civil dimensions, involving diverse jurisdictions, in particular the USA, Russia, Ukraine, France, Monaco, the Middle East and a number of Caribbean countries. The multi-jurisdictional nature of Aaron’s work is complemented by his market leading expertise in the areas of extradition and mutual legal assistance. Aaron is consistently ranked as a leading junior in these fields.Aaron has been appointed by the Attorney General as a Special Advocate. He also has niche practices representing individuals challenging search warrants, production orders and other investigative measures. He represents individuals before specialist tribunals such as the Investigatory Powers Tribunal and SIAC.

Ian Winter KC

Ian Winter is a leading white-collar crime silk with an impressive track record of advising companies and individuals facing allegations of financial crime. Renowned for his formidable advocacy, legal analysis and strategic thinking, Ian is first choice for his clients and commands enormous respect from his peers for his tenacity and appetite for work.With over 30 years in practice, Ian’s expertise is consistently sought after by both corporate entities and individuals involved in cases brought by the Serious Fraud Office and Financial Conduct Authority who require complex strategic advice from the onset. He also represents clients on matters of financial discipline, appearing at hearings in front of a variety of regulatory bodies. Recent cases include the significant R (SFO) v G4S where the prosecution ultimately offered no evidence and Ian was instrumental in securing success for the defence, and R (SFO) v Cook, Mason (formerly R v GPT (& others)) which was named as a Top Case of 2023 by The Lawyer magazine. Previous experience includes representing Tom Kalaris, a former executive of Barclays, charged by the SFO following its investigation into the 2008 recapitalisation of the bank, and successfully representing John Scouler, the former commercial director of Tesco, charged with fraud and false accounting by the SFO. Beyond his criminal practice, Ian’s versatility extends to the Commercial Court, where his prowess has garnered considerable attention. He is also well known in the realms of libel and defamation, where his jury advocacy comes to the fore.Ian's legal reach extends beyond national borders, with notable engagements in Hong Kong, Singapore, Gibraltar, and the Isle of Man. In Hong Kong, Ian represented Thomas Chan in the biggest corruption trial involving the former Chief Secretary of the Special Administrative Region, and May Hao before the Court of Final Appeal. His global perspective and unwavering legal acumen position him as a true luminary in the legal arena; “a tremendous and fearless advocate”.