Practice Profile

Chairman of the Bar Human Rights Committee of the Bar of England and Wales, 1999 to 2002. Concerned with international human rights, with an emphasis on rule of law issues sometimes involving submissions to the European Court of Human Rights at Strasbourg.

Practice encompasses mix of serious crime with an emphasis on human rights, criminal commercial fraud, environmental crime. Have defended in many of the gravest cases involving alleged terrorism and bombing, murder, fraud, drugs, disasters, etc.

Recommended for Crime and Fraud in Chambers UK Guide.

Appeared in TV programmes about Insider Dealing and Fraud.

Member of the Board of the Hackney Empire Theatre.

Cases

Political/alleged terrorist crime.

R v Sherry: Brighton Provisional IRA Bombings
R v Keenan: Chief of Staff Provisional IRA
R v Merdad Kokabi: Iranian activist on bombing charges, a leading authority on abuse of process and state interference with due process.
R v Dominic Martin: successful defence in News of World "Dirty Bomb" plot case: allegations under the Terrorism Act, Fake Sheikh as main witness and issues of entrapment and credibility.

Corporate manslaughter/health and safety.

R v Lewry: defence of the Captain of the Herald of Free Enterprise.
R v Swain: railway manslaughter allegation against “guiding hand”.

Environmental Crime.

R v Interline (UK): Petrus Oils, successful defence of company against full weight of Environment Agency, leading to exemplary costs against them.
R v Watts and others: fraud case concerning the Landfill Tax, its uses and abuses.
R v Somerfield Supermarkets: regulatory offences.

Fraud.

BCCI: defence of Mohammed Baqi,
R v Victor Gray: owner of Savings Bank in Isle of Man that collapsed owing tens of millions. Successful abuse of process application.
R v Harris: defence of senior solicitor on perjury, conspiracy to pervert allegations.
R v Bell: defence of senior solicitor on alleged fraud on trustee in bankruptcy.
R v Crow: the Hungarian National Bank fraud.
Several huge duty and VAT frauds.

Insider Trading, Share Offences etc.

R v Anil Bhoyrul: City Slicker, Daily Mirror columnist, accused of “ramping”.
R v Payne: security printer
Chairman, Insider Dealing enquiries for DTI


Murder, Rape

Too many to set out out here, but most recently, R v Johnson, the Reading murder/torture of 2 girls.
Defence of Craig Charles (Red Dwarf, Coronation Street) on rape allegations.

Drugs.

Double defence of Howard Marks (Mr Nice): both when first arrested in early 70’s, and subsequently after his “kidnap” and extended period of freedom, at his main trial at the Old Bailey.
R v Adamson: alleged Manchester underwriter of massive cocaine importation on rogue Boeing 707, landing Southend airport.

House of Lords, public law and others.

R v Clingham, House of Lords: leading authority on ASBO’s.
R v Jones, House of Lords.: leading authority on Jury trial/absence of defendant.
Public law cases, eg: R v Dr M, Health Authority Trust, Dr O, ex-p N: issues of competence and enforced medical care: R v Ch Con South Wales ex- p Thorpe, rights of paedophiles re community.
Representing doctors at criminal trial - R v Dr Green, allegations of gravest impropriety.
Court of Appeal referrals in Miscarriage of Justice cases, eg: R v Twitchell, West Mid police torture and confession case.
Representing MED TV, Kurdish channel, before the Independent Television /broadcasting Commission.
Representation before the Jockey Club, the British Greyhound Racing Board

Publications

Author of advocacy section in Oxford University Press Publication “The Criminal Justice Process”.