Christopher Rees KC > Chambers of Christopher Rees > Cardiff, United Kingdom > Barrister Profile

Christopher Rees KC

029 2023 2032 christopher.rees@apexchambers.net

Position

Chris is Head of Chambers and a founder member of Apex Chambers.

He has been a practising barrister in Cardiff since 1997 and was appointed as King’s Counsel in 2023.

Christopher is a founder member of Apex Chambers and practises in the areas of fraud, regulatory work, professional discipline and crime. He is a Grade 4 CPS prosecutor and a panel advocate for the Welsh Assembly government. He has been instructed in some of the most high profile criminal cases on the Wales Circuit and beyond. Christopher has extensive experience in acting in serious and complex crime and in particular very-high-cost cases. He has prosecuted and defended as leading junior and junior counsel in MTIC frauds, fuel laundering frauds, banking frauds, major drugs supply/importation, homicide offences, serious sexual offences and offences against the person. Christopher has been instructed in Criminal Cases Review Commission cases and successfully overturned historic wrongful convictions at the Court of Appeal. A further area of specialisation is police disciplinary work with a particular expertise in Police Appeals Tribunals. Christopher has represented officers from many different forces (South Wales, Avon and Somerset, Dyfed Powys, Wiltshire. Christopher has acted on behalf of Police Officers and South Wales Police in a number of ‘death in custody’ inquests in Cardiff, Swansea and Newport. Other Regulatory work includes acting and advising in trademark and copyright cases, VAT Tribunals and sports discipline. Christopher is able to receive instructions directly. Recent notable cases include: R v Edgar Francis [2013] successful defence of an 83 year old man charged with serious historic sexual offences allegedly committed during the 1970’s. R v Rumana Begum [2013] large scale money laundering trial involving the proceeds of internet fraud. R v Richards and Hope [2012] High profile 6 month murder case involving the contract killing of a young man in Cardiff. R v Rees [2011] VAT evasion case involving the importation of over 6 million counterfeit cigarettes. R v Phillip Packer [2010] EWCA Crim 2491. I was Junior Counsel at trial and appeared in the successful appeal against the murder tariff in the Court of Appeal. This was the murder of a young girl in Brldgend by her former partner. R v Pinnell [2010] EWCA 2848 [2011] Crim l.R 253 leading authority on the use of extended sentences. R v Ashman and others [2010] (Operation Ukraine) Leading Junior in VHCC MTIC fraud involving the Importation of motor vehicles from Europe. R v Thomas [2010] serious and complex trial about an international child pornography ring involving computer experts from around the world. R v Wahid and others [2010] (Operation Atlanta) Large scale conspiracy to supply Class A drugs. R v Ali and others [2010] (Operation Rebus) Large scale conspiracy to supply Class A drugs. R v Bannister [2010) 2 All ER 841 guideline authority on the use of ‘special driving skills’ of Police Officers in dangerous driving cases. Other notable cases: R v Ali Jalali and others[2009) Leading Junior in VHCC nationwide banking fraud. R v Singh and others [2009] Serious sexual abuse case involving multiple family members. R v Craig Johnson and others(Operation Emersed) [2007] EWCA 2837 £138m VAT fraud. One of the largest VAT frauds in the history of the UK. The trial at Wolverhampton Crown Court lasted nine months with full jury protection. R v Strain and Kelly[2006) Defence Counsel in hydro-carbons (fuel laundering) fraud involving extensive money laundering amongst the Northern Ireland criminal fraternity. R v James Alexander [2005] 2 Cr.App.R(S) Counsel in guideline Court of Appeal authority on the sentencing of racially aggravated offences. R v Nikolai and others[2004] Junior Counsel in high profile fraud case arising out of the collapse of First Vehicle Contracts a nationwide car leasing company. R v Jeffrey Ghaffour [2003] Junior Counsel in the high profile murder case involving the death of Lynette White. The case was the culmination of an investigation which spanned many years and included the notorious wrongful conviction of the ‘Cardiff Three’. R v Thompson and others [2003] (Operation Corolla). Leading Junior in a high profile Class A drugs supply conspiracy involving members of ‘Yardie’ Jamaican gangs. Christopher has been a speaker at a number of seminars on various topics relevant to areas of his practise. He has conducted training for lawyers and investigating officers for numerous Welsh Local Authorities and the Environment Agency. Christopher has a particular interest in civil liberties.