Catherine Collins

2010

Catherine’s practice encompasses all aspects of financial wrongdoing, and she carries her forensic expertise from white-collar crime and asset recovery into her investigative work.

She is featured as a Leading Junior in the Proceeds of Crime & Asset Forfeiture section of the 2024 edition of The Legal 500, where they comment “Straight-talking, thoughtful, diligent: a dependable team player and an absolute pleasure to deal with.” Previously The Legal 500 has stated “Catherine fights incredibly hard at each and every stage of her client's case. She always ensures that every conceivable positive point is explored and she prepares for every eventuality.” “Catherine immerses herself in cases she is instructed on and can recall information accurately at will. She does not leave anything to chance and will have considered all options and all eventualities to ensure that her client has the best chance of prevailing unscathed. From company directors to those with limited means, expect Catherine to give her all to your case. You would definitely want Catherine in your corner.” Catherine is also recommended in Chambers and Partners 2024 for both Financial Crime and for POCA Work and Asset Forfeiture where they comment that she is "Exceptionally bright, she has great judgement and is really good at dealing with clients. She is somebody whose opinion you can value." "Catherine is probably one of the most diligent barristers around. She's a master of the detail, and her knowledge of the law is insane as well."

Financial Crime

Catherine acts for the prosecution and defence in white-collar crime matters; she has an incisive and thorough approach to substantial and complex fraud cases.  Current instructions include acting for the first defendant in the Patisserie Valerie prosecution brought by the SFO, and acting for the SFO in its prosecution of the directors of the Raedex Group. 

Her defence experience includes being instructed in money laundering (including international laundering and cases where there are Hawala banking defences), through to the first SFO prosecution for offences related to “rigging” LIBOR, and as a led junior in the successful defence of a Company Secretary charged with fraud and corruption.  

Asset Recovery

 

Catherine has experience in dealing with CJA, DTA and POCA confiscation matters, including ancillary issues such as restraint, contempt and cash forfeiture.  She has acted for the prosecution, defence and third parties at all stages of asset recovery proceedings, from contested confiscation through to enforcement and receivership.  She regularly advises on, and assists in, the preparation of written statements for the purposes of asset recovery proceedings (whether in the Magistrates’ or Crown Court).  Her Restraint practice encompasses cases including international assets, and applications for Orders at all stages of proceedings, including post-conviction. 

Confiscation

FCA v Choucair & Abdel-Malek (led).  Confiscation arising from convictions for insider trading.

R v Caplan.  Confiscation arising from conviction for romance fraud.

R v Dunn.  Confiscation arising from involvement in drug-dealing (Encrochat case).

R v AK.  Successfully intervening for a bank, the victim of a fraud, in confiscation proceedings; defeated a proprietary claim made by the liquidator of AK’s former company to the bank’s misappropriated funds.

R v F.  Successfully intervening for a company, the victim of fraud, in confiscation proceedings; application contested by the company director’s wife.

R v G.  PoCA discontinued by the Crown following legal argument.

Account Freezing and Forfeiture

X (led).  Successfully challenging seizure and detention applications under POCA 2002, related to high value Listed Assets and cash, on behalf of an UHNWI subject of politically charged allegations of criminal conduct.

Operation B (led).  Successful forfeiture of an account balance, part of a wider investigation concerning the laundering of criminal cash and its eventual transfer to cryptoassets.

Re A and Re W.  Freezing and Forfeiture cases concerning the suspicious movement of monies internationally via suspected Trade Based Money Laundering. 

Other

Al Hajjeh v MPS (led). Acted for the MPS in relation to the seizure and repatriation of an historical artefact, stolen overseas.

A v ACC  (led).  Successfully resisted an application under s.72 PoCA.

Re: K.  Successful variation of CJA 1988 Restraint Order for a Third Party in the context of enforcement proceedings against the defendant. 

Investigations, Inquests and Inquiry Work

Catherine has appeared, both led and alone, in various high-profile cases on behalf of the Metropolitan Police, and other forces, advising in relation to warrants, disclosure orders, production orders and judicial review matters connected thereto.  She has acted in investigations with an international element, and in those concerning terrorism, murder, and sex offences in addition to financial crime.  

Instructed on behalf of the Designated Lawyers in the Undercover Policing Inquiry, which is investigating and reporting on undercover police operations in England from 1968-2008.  Catherine also has experience representing interested parties in inquests (Article 2 and non-jury).

Catherine has experience in conducting internal investigations, including recent instructions in relation to a confidential internal investigation into serious allegations for a media group.  She has also advised and represented individuals facing investigation and/or disciplinary proceedings brought by the FCA. 

General Crime

In addition to conventional criminal work in the Crown, Magistrates’ and Youth Courts, Catherine has represented the interests of individuals affected by criminal proceedings, including those who are subject to witness summonses. She has considerable experience representing clients in relation to offences under the Computer Misuse Act as well as ancillary proceedings (including financial applications) arising from online crimes. She has also advised clients in relation to the potential commission of cybercrime offences.

She has appeared in the Court of Appeal, led and alone, in relation to fraud, general crime and POCA. Led by Amanda Pinto KC, Catherine provided an amicus brief to the Court of Appeal for a US attorney association on LPP and litigation privilege in the ENRC litigation

Civil

Catherine’s civil practice encompasses fraud, receivership and civil recovery.  She has undertaken work in cases with an international aspect, and has appeared in the First Tier Tribunal in tax matters.  Relevant cases include:

Re X.  Advising a professional executor on POCA implications arising in connection with the distribution of an estate.

(A Charity) v PP (led).  Fraud, conversion, personal and proprietary claims on behalf of an international charity; victim of a large-scale misappropriation by a corrupt employee.

NCA v (A Bank) (led).  Representing a bank in civil recovery proceedings; negotiated settlement.

NCA v TD and others.  Representing the Management Receiver in CJA receivership proceedings.

NCA v KH and SH.  Acting for the Official Solicitor, intervening on behalf of a child in civil recovery proceedings.

Re: FX247. Representing a Third Party in Insolvency Act proceedings; negotiated settlement.

Appointments

SFO B Panel; SFO POCA B Panel; CPS Proceeds of Crime Panel Level 3; CPS Fraud Panel Level 2; CPS Level 2; Metropolitan Police DLS Panel; Elected Member of the Bar Council (2018-2020 inclusive).

Trustee of the Lumi Foundation (since 2023).

Catherine is registered with the Bar Council Public Access Directory and regularly accepts instructions on a direct access basis.

Publications

Contributing editor; ‘Mitchell, Taylor & Talbot: Confiscation and the Proceeds of Crime’.