Mr Richard Littler KC KC > Exchange Chambers > Manchester, England > Barrister Profile
Exchange Chambers Offices
201 DEANSGATE
MANCHESTER
M3 3NW
England
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Mr Richard Littler KC KC
Work Department
Criminal; Regulatory
Position
Richard Littler KC is a criminal silk described by Chambers and Partners and Legal 500 as “exceptionally bright”, “a stand out name”, “ a leading name in his field” and “ has a wonderful calming manner with clients.” He is simply outstanding in front of a jury, has exceptional advocacy skills and his wealth of experience is clear to see.
He is involved in the most serious/high-profile criminal cases. In 2024 alone he has secured 3 separate murder acquittals for his clients after lengthy trials, including the Sadiq Al-Lami case, in which Richard secured the acquittal of his client on murder and manslaughter charges.
He successfully defended the first Defendant Gregory Frankel (Director of Fowler Oldfield) in R v Frankel and Others [2021- 22] the largest Money Laundering case in UK legal history attracting huge media interest as the son in law of Bernie Ecclestone was a defendant, and the FCA had already prosecuted the NatWest (the bank used by Fowler Oldfield) who had pleaded guilty to Money Laundering offences arising out of the facts of the case. Cash was deposited approximating £264m into Nat West over five years. The result after an 8 month trial was a hung jury; the re-trial is listed for October 2024.
He defended in R v Reynard Sinaga (2016-20), the most prolific sex offender in worldwide legal history, a case attracting international interest and influencing Government policy on the classification of GHB. Richard successfully prevented an Attorney General appeal for a whole life sentence in the Appellate court.
He defended in R v Mark Peers (2021-2022) in what the BBC reported as the “UK’s biggest ever drug conspiracy” concerning importation of controlled drugs in vast quantities from the European continent into the UK. The case is ongoing.
He represented two directors in two companies in a complex multi-million pound Fraudulent Trading case alleging both Directors were complicit in misleading consumers nationally in the Bi-Fold doors industry. Both were acquitted of all charges brought [R v Green and Warren 2020].
Richard also famously defended and dismissed the largest HMRC tax avoidance case in legal history (£134m film scheme fraud) R v Jonathan Hirst.
His skills as a defence jury advocate and his desire to fight for his client is obvious from the numerous repeated acquittals he secures (see cases below).
Richard is instructed by the Special Crime and Counter Terrorism Division of the CPS in complex matters including an Appeal Conviction concerning a high profile execution murder in Liverpool. Richard successfully argued against the conviction being held unsafe due to a suggested Gateway F bad character misdirection [R v Gabbana 2020].
Richard has defended with success in significant reported cases such as R v Rainzeib Ahmed & Habib Ahmed, the first prosecution in the UK alleging membership of Al Qaeda and leading authority on hearsay admissibility. He successfully defended in R v Farah, a defendant charged with international terrorism connected to the Jihadi Twins, and also in the famous case of R v Stringer, a significant reported pre R v Jogee joint enterprise parasitic accessorial liability murder case.
He is Head of Manchester Exchange Chambers Criminal Department and Head of Professional Discipline. He also specialises in defending police officers up to and including the rank of superintendent, both in the Crown Court, before their disciplinary bodies, the Police Appeal Tribunals and in the High Court. He is also regularly instructed to defend those before the GMC, GCC, Football Association Disciplinary Panels and Inquests.
Richard has written many published legal articles, regularly presents lectures to fellow professionals, attends schools and universities to meet with students and is currently part of a professional committee advising and contributing towards a government report on ADHD in the Criminal Justice System: A case for Change (a topic Richard has a strong personal interest in).
Career
Called 1994
Memberships
- Criminal Bar Association
- ARDL
- PPA
Education
- LLB Manchester University
- Inn: Grays
Leisure
Richard has written many published legal articles, regularly presents lectures to fellow professionals, attends schools and universities to meet with students and is currently part of a professional committee advising and contributing towards a government report on ADHD in the Criminal Justice System: A case for Change (a topic Richard has a strong personal interest in).
He is also a keen musician and has played lead guitar in a number of bands performing at venues such as Kendal Calling Festival, the Cavern, Band on the Wall, the Deaf Institute and other well-known venues. He and the charity punk band Red Corner raised money for important charities and performed at the Manchester Legal Awards Ball in 2018.
Lawyer Rankings
Regional Bar > Northern Circuit > Professional disciplinary law
(Leading Silks)Ranked: Tier 1Richard Littler KC –Exchange Chambers ‘Richard has a fabulous manner with his clients and is able to adapt his style from the formality of the court room to that of the conference, communicating advice to client in a practical, understandable, and direct manner. He is a fearless and compelling advocate and does not shy away from making the tough submissions.’
Richard Littler KC is head of professional discipline at Exchange Chambers, and he specialises in defending police officers, including superintendents, before the Crown Court, disciplinary bodies, the Police Appeal Tribunals, and the High Court. Littler KC successfully acted for a senior police officer following allegations that he deliberately spat at a detainee.
Regional Bar > Northern Circuit > Crime (general and fraud)
(Leading Silks)Ranked: Tier 1Exchange Chambers is praised as ‘the go-to set for serious criminal work‘, with members called upon to defend and prosecute at all levels of court across the North West of England. The set has a strong bench of silks, including Ben Myers KC, whose practice encompasses the entirety of criminal law, from murder, manslaughter, rape, and sexual offences, to high-value fraud, money laundering, and drug trafficking – of recent note, he represented Lucy Letby, the former neonatal nurse convicted of the murder of seven infants and the attempted murder of six more after a ten-month trial. David Temkin KC is another notable criminal law silk handling both defence and prosecution work, while Imran Shafi KC exclusively defends in a range of criminal trials, including murders, complex fraud, and drug conspiracies. Head of the set’s criminal group Richard Littler KC has significant expertise in terrorism cases, and he also represented a fifteen-year-old autistic, mute boy, one of two defendants convicted of the murder of transgender teenager Brianna Ghey in Liverpool. Mark Rhind KC is another active silk who frequently handles multi-handed murder cases, as well as pension and timeshare frauds. Among the juniors, Damian Nolan predominately acts for the defence and his expertise spans across terrorism cases and international drug conspiracies, while Ian Whitehurst is notable for his expertise in cyber-related criminal activity. David Toal has expertise in prosecuting serious sexual offences, and he also prosecuted American boxing trainer Brian McIntyre for possession of a firearm – illegal in the UK but licensed in the US – that was found in his suitcase at Manchester Airport. Michael Lavery is another notable name, and he mostly handles defence work in fraud cases.