Barristers

Ian Whitehurst

Ian Whitehurst

Exchange Chambers, North West

Work Department

Criminal

Position

Called 1994

Career

Ian is a Leading Junior in Serious Organised Crime, Financial Crime, Confiscation as well as Regulatory Law and is ranked as a leading individual in those practice areas in Chambers and Partners and The Legal 500.

His practice is nationwide and can be divided principally into 3 main areas but there is a considerable overlap between the practice areas that he specialises in.

Firstly, Ian has a heavyweight crime practice where he predominantly defends throughout the country with a particular emphasis on homicide, firearms and drugs conspiracies as well as cyber related criminality.

Secondly, in financial crime matters Ian has specialised for many years as Leading Counsel in the fields of MTIC VAT fraud, Direct Tax Fraud, Money Laundering, False Accounting and Corporate Misfeasance and is a member of the Revenue Bar Association.

With regards to his regulatory practice, Ian has been appointed to the Specialist Regulatory Panel of Counsel and prosecutes and defends in equal measure in the regulatory field, concentrating in particular upon health and safety, environmental and trading standards prosecutions.

Ian’s international practice is concentrated upon advising individuals and companies on international criminal and financial matters with a particular emphasis on public international law and international arbitration matters.

Memberships

Criminal Bar Association Private Prosecutors Association Revenue Bar Association New York City Bar Association International Technology Law Association The Bar of Northern Ireland Rights of Audience - AIFC [Kazakhstan] Chartered institute of Arbitration

Education

PgCert (merit) in international arbitration law – Aberdeen University (2023) Diploma in International Arbitration – University of Aberdeen (2023) University of Hull, LLB (Hons) (1993)

Leisure

Cinema, history and football

Mentions

Northern Circuit • Regional Bar

Business and regulatory crime (including health and safety)

Leading junior2
Ian Whitehurst – Exchange Chambers 'Ian is approachable, he has a good manner with lay clients which enables them to feel at ease, and he has an uncanny ability to break down complex concepts and issues in a way that is accessible to the the lay client. He is quick on his feet, he has a natural presence, and he commands attention in the courtroom.'
Northern Circuit • Regional Bar

Crime (general and fraud)

Leading junior1
Ian Whitehurst – Exchange Chambers ‘Ian is an extremely able advocate. He is strategically tactful and personable, and immediately builds rapport whilst taking positions to robustly defend his client's interests.'
Northern Circuit • Regional Bar

Sport

Leading junior2
Ian Whitehurst – Exchange Chambers ‘Ian is a good, solid advocate who puts in the hours and handles pro bono cases very well. He is very thorough in his approach.’