Orlando Pownall QC > Chambers of Jonathan Laidlaw QC > London, England > Lawyer Profile

Orlando Pownall QC

020 7353 5324 clerks@2harecourt.com View profile

Position

Orlando Pownall QC is a well-respected and highly sought after Silk with vast experience in serious, complex, high profile, criminal and business crime cases where he often gives pre-charge advice to high profile clients for a range of charges. During his tenure at First Senior Treasury Counsel he prosecuted a large number of high profile cases but since then he almost exclusively defends. Recent instructions include: representing Ke Xu the former city analyst, acquitted of 3 counts of a 5 count indictment after being privately prosecuted by his form employer, a businessman cleared of all involvement in a nationwide heroin conspiracy, former England footballer Adam Johnson, acquitted of the most serious charge of sexual activity with an underage fan, representing former New Zealand cricket captain Chris Cairns, cleared of perjury and perverting the course of justice, defending in operation Tabernula where Orlando’s client was acquitted of insider dealings to the tine of 10’s of millions – this was the largest prosecution of its type to have ever been brought.

Career

Year of Call 1975; Inner Temple; South Eastern Circuit; Appointed Queen’s Counsel 2002

Languages

German, Italian, Spanish.

Memberships

• 2009-2013: Head of Chambers
• 1999-2002: First Senior Treasury Counsel
• 1998-2010: Recorder on the South Eastern Circuit
• 1989: Junior Treasury Counsel
• Shortlisted for Legal 500’s Crime Silk of the Year 2017
• Criminal Bar Association
• Fraud Lawyers Association