Chambers & Partners 2024 - UK Bar
Financial Crime - London (Bar)
The barristers at 33 Chancery Lane offer expertise spanning the full range of financial crime matters. The set is regularly instructed to act for both the prosecution and defence in complex bribery and money laundering cases, and members are also well versed in the handling of HMRC investigations. Asset recovery matters are a key area of strength for the team, owing to the set's recognised prowess in POCA proceedings. The set's enviable client list includes both leading corporations and individuals. Recent work highlights include acting for the SFO in R v Skeene and Bowers (Global Forestry Investments) relating to investment schemes in a sustainable and ethical teak forest.
Client service
"Martin Adams is a really impressive clerk who has a significant legal background."
"All of the clerks have excellent customer service skills and Martin Adams in particular is a very impressive practice director."
"They are extremely efficient and pleasant to deal with."
Amanda Pinto KC
Band 1
Amanda Pinto KC acts for the prosecution and the defence in serious financial crime cases, including those involving misstatement of financial accounts, investment frauds and money laundering. Interviewees reserve special mention for her easygoing manner and clear commitment to obtaining the best result for her client. She is valued for her advice to corporates on financial crime matters, and she also has experience dealing with private prosecutions.
"She is always thinking outside the box in terms of different strategies in preparing different defences."
"Amanda is clear-sighted and knows where she wants to go. She is good at getting everyone to go in the right direction and speaks from a position of authority and knowledge."
"She is a formidable advocate and a market leader."
"Her points in court are always solid. If she says something, she won't waste her oxygen."
"She is subtle and gentle but a complete rock when she needs to be. Judges and juries really like her manner."
Andrew Mitchell KC
Band 1
Andrew Mitchell KC is a well-known heavyweight silk who is a great choice of leading counsel for high-value matters connected with financial wrongdoing. His reputation has spread far and wide, ensuring he is instructed to advise on marquee matters both at home and abroad. He offers particular expertise in large-scale bribery and corruption investigations, and is also valued for his expertise in related POCA proceedings.
"He has supreme intellect and is a star advocate."
Graham Brodie KC
Graham Brodie KC is a silk noted for his attractive presentation style in court and for being a good team player. He regularly advises on allegations of money laundering and overseas corruption, and he is also experienced in related POCA work. He provides expert counsel to a variety of corporate clients, and has a particular focus on cases with overlapping civil and criminal elements.
"He is an absolute master at what he does."
"He is able to deal with the whole round of criminal and civil fraud and the asset recovery and regulatory sides of those cases."
"Graham is intellectually clever and can take on complicated points."
Narita Bahra KC
Narita Bahra KC is noted for her expert defence of clients in financial crime matters. She handles cases involving allegations of tax evasion, fraud and money laundering.
Strengths
"She will run legal arguments in the face of fierce opposition and invariably she will be correct."
"Narita is bright, on point and has a magnetic personality."
"She is very easily accessible and works around the clock. She reassures and appeases any client."
"She is fearless and at the same time very empathetic and calming for the client."
"She is exceptional as an advocate and will make sure that no stone is left unturned."
Mark Rainsford KC
Mark Rainsford KC has superb legal knowledge and great judgement in how best to advance the client's cause. He regularly handles corruption cases and all manner of investment frauds, including those relating to Ponzi schemes, and is noted for his skill in money laundering cases. He draws on complementary expertise in confiscation matters and those with a civil fraud aspect.
"Mark is very sensible and can turn a large mess into a quick solution and a very positive outcome for his clients."
Christopher Convey
Band 1
Christopher Convey is recognised for the diligence, great attention to detail and fine advocacy skills that he brings to the defence of fraud and financial crime cases. Rate rigging and corporate theft matters feature highly in his caseload, as does complex money laundering. He is experienced in advising clients on international matters. Convey further offers counsel on compliance issues.
"He has real charm and personality."
"He is fantastic counsel with a premier white-collar advisory practice."
"Christopher is very good. He has a very analytical approach to matters."
Faisal Osman
Band 1
Faisal Osman is a careful barrister with great powers of factual recall who adds clear value to proceedings. He is highly rated for his astute defence of clients in financial crime cases. His experience includes advising on high-value allegations of tax fraud and international money laundering. He offers additional expertise in asset recovery, including those cases concerning highly complex, cross-border matters.
"He is exceptionally talented, versatile and can move between financial crime and civil litigation as well as domestic and international."
"Faisal is delightful - very commercial and pragmatic."
Catherine Collins
Catherine Collins both prosecutes and defends across a range of fraud matters. Her expertise in financial crime is well complemented by an established practice in POCA and asset forfeiture.
"Catherine is an incredibly diligent barrister. She is a master of the detail."
Financial Crime: Corporates - London (Bar)
Amanda Pinto KC
Band 1
Amanda Pinto KC acts for the prosecution and the defence in serious financial crime cases, including those involving misstatement of financial accounts, investment frauds and money laundering. Interviewees reserve special mention for her easygoing manner and clear commitment to obtaining the best result for her client. She is valued for her advice to corporates on financial crime matters, and she also has experience dealing with private prosecutions.
Kennedy Talbot KC
Kennedy Talbot KC acts for and advises major corporate clients on a wide range of financial crime matters. He fields significant expertise in anti-money laundering, and is regularly instructed by financial institutions to advise on their responsibilities.
"He is an outstanding tactician."
"He is the complete package in terms of his skills, his knowledge, his attitude and his willingness to go the extra mile to support clients."
"The best thing is Kennedy's commercial understanding, his ability to bring dry regulations to life in the context of the client's business."
"Kennedy has full knowledge, and is very responsive and user-friendly and team-oriented as well."
"His judgement is impeccable. He is so vastly experienced in the area that he cannot be fazed."
John Townsend
John Townsend is a well-respected junior with extensive knowledge, expertise and personability. He is regularly called upon to provide insight into a range of different financial crime matters, especially those that involve commercial aspects.
"He is extraordinarily knowledgeable on the crossover of commercial and criminal fraud practice."
"He is studious in preparation."
"He has a great ability to think outside the box in difficult cases."
"John is a go-to for financial crime and proceeds. He is very knowledgeable and his written advocacy is outstanding."
"John is very able, extremely likeable and hard-working. Clients like him and he has genuine expertise in both complex civil commercial and criminal matters."
POCA Work & Asset Forfeiture - All Circuits
Band 1
A set praised as "the very best at asset forfeiture," 33 Chancery Lane has experience across the full spectrum of POCA matters, and is especially noted for its expertise in money laundering investigations. Members act for defendants and prosecutors alike in cases which are often high-profile and international in nature. They also frequently represent receivers and third parties with regard to issues ranging from civil recovery and restraint proceedings to regulatory advice. Recent cases include R v Saghir Afzal, which involved a £45 million confiscation order following one of the largest mortgage frauds then before the courts.
Client service
"The clerks are incredibly helpful in terms of finding someone at short notice and knowing exactly what is required."
"Very friendly clerks who are always very helpful."
"Chambers offers exceptional client service. They listen attentively and communicate with clarity and promptness."
Star Individuals
Andrew Mitchell KC
Andrew Mitchell KC is a famed individual, extensively experienced in POCA work, whose practice covers a wide array of cases including those concerning money laundering, asset recovery, bribery and corruption. Frequently instructed in high-profile and complex matters, he is considered to be a master litigator who represents clients at the top level including in the Court of Appeal. The matters he undertakes regularly include international elements.
"An excellent advocate, thorough in his preparation, who is very sound and impressive in terms of his knowledge and awareness."
"He has a brain the size of Britain. The godfather of POCA."
Star Individuals
Kennedy Talbot KC
Kennedy Talbot KC is a highly regarded silk who frequently handles civil recovery, restraint, receivership and confiscation cases. Clients include private individuals and financial institutions. His practice covers advice on money laundering obligations compliance and novel regulatory developments.
"Hugely knowledgable, very responsive and highly user-friendly. He's also very team-oriented."
"A real star - he's fantastic."
"He's completely encyclopedic when it comes to his understanding of the law. If anyone wants to know anything they'd ask him."
Martin Evans KC
Band 1
Martin Evans KC boasts expertise in both POCA and criminal fraud matters, and is particularly adept at restraint, confiscation and civil recovery cases. He represents defendants, receivers, companies and prosecuting agencies, among others. Evans has been instructed in numerous cases in the High Court and the Court of Appeal.
"Martin Evans is very knowledgeable. He's right at the top."
"Very skilful and a pleasure to work with, he gives clear, categorical advice."
Mark Rainsford KC
Mark Rainsford KC handles specialised financial crime, proceeds of crime and asset recovery cases, and boasts particular expertise in money laundering matters. His clients include major financial institutions and private individuals. Rainsford is further instructed by prosecution agencies
"A good legalistic lawyer who is excellent at cases that require a lot of study and preparation."
Graham Brodie KC
Graham Brodie KC acts for claimants and defendants in proceedings relating to allegations of commercial wrongdoing, and is renowned for his involvement in civil fraud and asset forfeiture cases. He handles cases concerning restraint, freezing and confiscation of assets in both the civil and criminal spheres. Brodie is regularly instructed in POCA cases that are multi-jurisdictional in nature.
"He has a wonderful manner with clients and exudes calmness. That calmness, however, conceals great intellectual power."
Barry Stancombe
Band 1
Barry Stancombe is a POCA and asset forfeiture specialist with noteworthy experience in civil recovery and receivership. He acts for prosecuting agencies such as the SFO and FCA, as well as receivers, defendants and companies. His work includes fraud-related restraint and receivership matters. Instructed in high-profile cases, often with international components, Stancombe has had involvement in a POCA Work & Asset Forfeiture - All Circuits
"Barry Stancombe possesses incredible writing skills and is a real force of nature. He gets on top of the facts in a case quickly and leaves no stone unturned, demonstrating a passion for the case he's working on. I have learnt from him in how he drafts and presents in court."
"One of the best technical lawyers in the field. He's a pleasure to work with and a very good advocate."
Fiona Jackson
Band 1
Fiona Jackson is an experienced criminal counsel who assists defence and prosecution clients with fraud, POCA and asset recovery matters. She is frequently instructed in cases with international elements, including those relating to international mutual legal assistance and international regulatory work. Jackson is experienced at representing clients at all court levels and is a regular in the High Court and Court of Appeal.
"Very good, she's extremely bright and on the ball."
"Extremely well organised and knowledgeable, she has an excellent reputation."
Ian Smith
Band 1
Ian Smith is a commercial litigator and criminal lawyer who has a specialist knowledge of POCA. He is known for handling more general complex commercial cases with a fraud element. Smith is experienced in civil recovery restraint orders and enforcement proceedings, both domestically and internationally. He also covers advisory work on anti-money laundering regulation
"Very experienced and eminently sensible, he knows his stuff and gives the appropriate advice. We did a hearing where the judge bowled him a few googlies and he did very well dealing with them."
"He is supremely knowledgeable."
Penelope Small
Band 1
Penelope Small is recognised for her specialist expertise in POCA proceedings asset recovery and restraint orders in both the civil and criminal spheres. She represents prosecuting authorities and defendants, and regularly tackles cases with cross-border aspects to them. Small has particular expertise in third-party representation.
"Tenacious, formidable and someone who displays tremendous attention to detail. She is very fluent when in front of the Court of Appeal - her advocacy is incredible."
"She’s an absolute joy to work with. She knows POCA inside out. She always provides very practical advice; it’s always a way to navigate through very complex proceedings. There’s a confidence in her advocacy. She turns work around very quickly and her submissions are first class."
Christopher Convey
Christopher Convey frequently acts for defendants and third parties in POCA proceedings relating to allegations of business crime and corporate wrongdoing, regularly appearing before the High Court, Court of Appeal and Supreme Court. He has particular experience advising offshore trusts on money laundering and compliance issues.
"He is great on the detail, excellent with clients and impressive in court."
"Very experienced and very knowledgeable."
"Christopher is a delight to work with. He is thorough and dedicated."
Faisal Osman
Faisal Osman is a POCA practitioner specialising in domestic and international civil recovery stemming from commercial wrongdoing. He advises claimants and third parties on asset recovery matters, and also handles confiscation, fraud and regulatory enforcement cases. He is regularly instructed in appeals against confiscations, and his clients include governments and commercial organisations, among others. including those cases concerning highly complex, cross-border matters
"An outstanding POCA lawyer."
"Exceptionally talented and versatile - he can move with ease between financial crime and civil fraud litigation, both domestically and internationally."
Catherine Collins
Catherine Collins is experienced in both the prosecution and defence of asset forfeiture issues. She frequently advises and represents third parties in a broad range of POCA and financial crime cases, particularly matters with a civil and criminal law crossover. Collins is appointed to the SFO Proceeds of Crime B Panel and the SFO Prosecution B Panel.
"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."
John Townsend
John Townsend offers a wealth of experience of advising in criminal and civil disputes and acts on behalf of both claimants and defendants. He is noted for his strong expertise when it comes to serious financial investigations and money laundering, and he demonstrates proficiency in confiscation orders, civil recovery proceedings and asset forfeiture orders.
"John is a really able and creative practitioner with fabulous attention to detail. A very accomplished advocate."
Fraud: Civil - London (Bar)
Ian Smith
Ian Smith is a civil and criminal fraud specialist comfortable managing complex proceedings involving such issues as asset recovery and money laundering. Much of his work pertains to overseas jurisdictions. He is adept at both bringing and defending claims.
"Ian has a stellar intellect, is thoughtful and strategic, and drives litigation."
"Ian is a go-to barrister for civil cases with a criminal crossover. He is the master of dealing with the intricacies involved."
Crime - London (Bar)
Narita Bahra KC
Strengths
"She will always find an avenue to explore and will make sure no stone is left unturned. Her client care skills are also second to none."