New Park Court Chambers

Crime, Regulatory

Mukul Chawla KC is a recognised leader in complex financial litigation of a criminal and regulatory nature. Mukul was shortlisted for Crime Silk of the Year 2012 by Chambers Directory and, in 2015, was winner of that award.

He has experience in prosecuting and defending the most serious allegations of fraud, corruption and allegations of insider dealing; and of advising companies and individuals on a wide range of criminal and regulatory matters including Financial Services, compliance with the Bribery Act 2010, internal investigations, export and trade control compliance and anti-money laundering compliance.

He undertakes, whether as defender or prosecutor, all types of criminal cases including homicide and health and safety cases. He has been instructed in disciplinary proceedings instigated by the Financial Reporting Council in relation to accountants and actuaries.

He has acted in International Arbitration proceedings conducted in the London Court of International Arbitration for a Global oil services provider where corruption by an agent formed the basis for successfully defending a multi-million dollar claim.

Mukul also conducts internal investigations at financial institutions and law firms covering a wide range of issues including claims of misconduct, unfair treatment and discrimination.

An advocacy trainer for the last 30 years, Mukul has trained advocates in England and Wales, South Africa, the United States, Dubai, Trinidad and Tobago and the Bahamas.

For the last 7 years, Mukul has provided Witness Familiarisation Training for witnesses giving evidence in the High Court, in Tribunals and in International Arbitrations. These are bespoke sessions aimed at providing practical assistance to both factual and expert witnesses when giving evidence.

Crime

Mukul defends and prosecutes in equal measure across the range of criminal cases including homicide, offences against the person, health and safety, breaches of export controls and offences of dishonesty.

Fraud & Financial Regulation

The principal focus of Mukul’s practice has traditionally been in financial crime. He has represented defendants facing trial for fraud of every variety, insider dealing and corruption. He regularly advises companies and individuals facing investigation by the SFO, FCA and HMRC. He has prosecuted cases involving LIBOR manipulation (including the first two prosecutions ever mounted), corruption in the energy and healthcare markets and tax frauds. His defence work encompasses fraud, corruption, tax evasion, insider dealing and export control breaches.

POCA – Asset Recovery, Restrain and Confiscation

Mukul invariably conducts confiscation proceedings in cases that he has prosecuted. He is also instructed specifically for confiscation proceedings both for the defence and the prosecution.

Business Regulation

A growing part of Mukul’s practice involves advising companies in relation to money laundering compliance, bribery and export control. He has also provided criminal and regulatory advice to companies involved in mergers and acquisitions.

Professional Discipline

Mukul has, for many years, advised and represented police officers facing misconduct proceedings. More recently he has acted for the Financial Reporting Council in investigations and proceedings involving accountants and actuaries.

Extradition and Mutual Legal Assistance

Mukul has advised (both as part of the prosecution of cases and as discrete issues) in Mutual Legal Assistance involving both the provision of and the request for assistance from jurisdictions around the world.

Mukul has some experience of conducting cases in the High Court in areas of Mutual Legal Assistance and as a Special Advocate.

Tax Litigation

Mukul was formerly Standing Counsel to HM Customs and Excise and has utilised his knowledge of tax litigation (in particular in relation to VAT and excise duty) in proceedings before the Upper Tier and First Tier Tribunals.

From October 2018 to January 2022, Mukul was a Partner and Head of the White Collar group in the London office of International law firm, Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner LLP. During that time, he advised companies and individuals in all areas of financial crime compliance, conducted investigations for companies around the world and represented companies and individuals in investigations conducted by the FCA, HMRC and the police. Since his resignation as a Partner, he retains a Consultancy position at BCLP where he continues to advise on criminal, regulatory and compliance issues for clients of the firm.