Oliver Blunt KC > Chambers of Sally O’Neill and Michael Holland KC > London, England > Barrister Profile
Furnival Chambers Offices
Furnival Chambers
16 Took’s Court
LONDON
EC4A 1LB
England
- Set Profile
- Go to...
Oliver Blunt KC
Work Department
Serious Crime, Criminal/Civil Fraud, Anti-terrorism
Position
Entirely defence-based practice specialising in murder, terrorism, fraud and drugs cases. Murder and violent crime: conducted Regina v William Cockram and Others (the Millennium Dome robbery trial CCC, 2002). Has also represented such clients as Patrick Smith (murder CCC, 2001/2), John Taft (‘Beauty in the Bath’ murder trial, Liverpool CC, 1999), Maria Hnautik (murder, Norwich CC, 1996), Ngarimu (Female Contract Killer, CCC, 1995), Syd Owen (‘Ricky’ of ‘Eastenders’, wounding, Snaresbrook CC, 1995), Michael Sams (kidnapping, blackmail, murder, Nottingham CC, 1993). Also the trial and successful appeal of the ‘Chelsea Headhunters’ (Regina v Drake and Others). Fraud: represented William Casey, acquitted in a multi-million-pound arson/insurance fraud (CCC, 1997), and Chananya Gross, acquitted in Hackney electoral fraud trial (Wood Green CC, 2001). Regina v Kounnou, £200m shipping fraud (CCC 2003), Devi Schahou in the Goldman Sachs trial (Southwark 2004). Most recently Dorian Morris, principal defendant in multimillion-pound money laundering trial acquitted Kingston CC 2005. Sexual Crime: including high profile cases such as Richard Baker (DJ Rapist, CCC, 1999). Drugs: represented such clients as Paul Wyatt (Bolton CC, 2002/3), Jason Fitzgibbon (Birmingham CC, 2000), Thomas Adams and Others (Woolwich CC, 1998). Successfully defended the first defendant in a £150m cocaine importation (Regina v Hillier and Others, 1993). Terrorism: has acted on behalf of the Iranian Embassy and represented two members of the Consular Staff in separate terrorist trials at the CCC (Tabari Abcou/Fouladi). Appeared for the second defendant in Regina v Canning and Lamb (IRA trial, CCC, 1993). Instructed in Regina v Sharif (21/7 trials), 2007.
Career
Called 1974; Silk 1994; Recorder 1995; 2009 made joint head of chambers, Furnival Chambers.
Leisure
Cricket, golfing, rugby, skiing; president of Furnival Chambers Golfing Society.
Lawyer Rankings
London Bar > Crime
(Leading Silks)Ranked: Tier 3Oliver Blunt KC – Furnival Chambers ‘Oliver does not have any weaknesses. He is fantastic at sifting through evidence and finding the relevant issues. He is also superb with clients. He is at the top of his game.’
Furnival Chambers is increasingly recognised as an ‘excellent set with a large number of highly-rated barristers from pupils to silks‘. Oliver Blunt KC acted for the defendant in a high-profile murder trial concerning the killing by a young man of an off-duty PCSO whilst she walked her dog in the woods. In one of her first murder trials after having taken silk, Rhiannon Crimmins KC acted for one defendant who was acquitted of murder charges in a case concerning joint enterprise shooting, this defendant claimed to have acted as ‘spotter’ without knowledge of the imminent shooting and in a subordinate role within the offending OCG. Nicola Shannon KC took silk in March 2023. Alexia Power was appointed a Circuit Judge in November 2023.