23ES

Paul Bogan KC is a defence advocate. He represents clients in the most complex and demanding of cases. Conducting defences in both serious fraud and general crime, for many years he has been ranked in legal directories who have described him as “an exceptional advocate and tactitian” and “an excellent jury advocate!”. He is said to have an “attention to detail second to none” and “a fantastic court manner with a jury and is fearless when presented with obstacles by judges”: Chambers and Partners. Vastly experienced in Appeal work too, he has recently appeared in landmark cases both in the Supreme Court and Court of Appeal.

“Behind the friendly and courteous facade, there lies a brilliant and fierce advocate with a winning manner”: Legal 500

Crime 

Paul Bogan KC has a wide experience of most types of serious crime especially murder, and often gang-related, involving difficult issues of joint enterprise. In recent times he has represented a 15 year old in a multi-handed murder by stabbing, R v Effionayi & others (Old Bailey), a 19 year old also concerned in a fatal stabbing, R v Innis & others (Birmingham CC) and an 18 year old accused of involvement in the stabbing of 4 men, one fatally, R v Taylor (Chelmsford CC). Other recent cases include representing a doorman charged, with 3 others, with the murder of a party-goer outside a public house and the representation of a young teenager in the 20 defendant Victoria Station murder.

In 2020 Paul represented a young man with autism facing charges under the Explosive Substances Act and the Terrorism Act: R v Copeland. Before trial, he took the case to the Supreme Court where rulings by the trial judge and in the Court of Appeal that the Accused had no defence in law were overturned, leading to his acquittal of those offences. Paul had previously represented the principal defendant in a trial of conspiracy to cause explosions charges: R v Taft.

An experienced appellate advocate, Paul has often challenged convictions in the Court of Appeal and holds the distinction of representing the last murder appeal from Belize to the Privy Council in which the conviction was quashed and manslaughter substituted.

He is the co-author of Identification: Investigation Trial and Scientific Evidence, and wrote the chapter on Self Incrimination, the Right to Silence and the Reverse Burden of Proof for the book Human Right in the Investigation and Prosecution of Crime.

Financial Crime 

Most recently, Paul Bogan KC represented the first and principal defendant in 9 handed pension fraud. The nine month trial, the longest ever at Newcastle Crown Court, concluded with the acquittal of his client and others. He also represented the principal defendant in the leading Court of Appeal case R v Barton & others, relating to the dishonesty test in criminal cases. This followed a 12 month trial at Liverpool Crown Court concerning events at a care home over a 20 year period during which a number of wealthy residents were said to have been defrauded of many millions of pounds. He is currently engaged in representing an accountant alleged to have been involved in persistent tax evasion by his businessman client over a period of 6 years, and who is alleged to owe HMRC more than £5m

Paul Bogan’s skill as a fraud advocate is grounded in such challenging and high profile cases as Polly Peck (Old Bailey), representing a co-accused in the SFO prosecution of Asil Nadir, and the Jubilee Line case, a public procurement fraud which became the longest ever Old Bailey trial. He has represented a number of clients in SFO prosecutions, including Lexi Holdings (Manchester Crown Court) concerning the collapse of a bridging loan company with debts of £200m and the Beijing Olympics ticketing fraud (Southwark Crown Court) representing the company accountant.

His experience extends to most areas of fraud, including mortgage fraud, for example R v Entwistle & others (Southwark Crown Court), which led to the collapse of a substantial firm of solicitors, MTIC, bank, tax, company and insolvency fraud. He has also defended in the some of the more obscure areas of fraud: pharmaceutical, involving complex EU and trademark legislation, and en primeur wine fraud.

Paul is also especially well regarded in conducting money laundering trials and dealing with confiscation and restraint proceedings. Recently he represented a Swiss National in a £2.5m cash seizure / account freezing order case. He was the co-author of ‘Guide to the Proceeds of Crime 2002 (3rd Ed) and has written on the topic of the 4th EC Money Laundering Directive.

Called 1983;

Silk 2003.

Publications: author ‘Identification: Investigation, Trial & Scientific Evidence’ 2004

co-author ‘Blackstone’s Guide to the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002’, third edition 2008

‘Human Rights in the Investigation and Prosecution of Crime’ 2008

Lectures include: PACE conference, McKay Law Conferences, 2007; National Identification Seminar, idlaw 2008 and the Identification Evidence, CBA Autumn Lecture, 2008.

Bar Council (elected member 2005-2010);

Law reform committee of the Bar Council;

Criminal Bar Association.