Experience

Drystone Chambers

• United Kingdom
• Law Practice
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Barrister

  • Jul 2022 - Present



KCH Garden Square

• United Kingdom
• Legal Services
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Barrister

  • Feb 2018 - Jul 2022

  Mixed common law practice, specialist in complicated legal arguments at all levels.Op Ladder - conspiracy to supply Class A, perverting course of justice in murder investigation (led junior)MAW Energy - leading junior in £3.6m trading standards fraud, complex issues of disclosure & abuse of processR v Unsworth - successful s78 argument relating to evidence of TV embedded cameraman (identification)R v Goodwin - successful defence of prison officer accused of facilitating escape of lifer, incl s78 argument relating to badly recorded PACE interviewsR v Connolly - prosecution, threats to kill leading to hospital order with restrictionsOp Atom - led prosecution junior, multi-handed drug conspiracy, including responding to abuse & dismissal applications, and associated POCAR v Whitehead - complex fraud by company director. Brought in as off-circuit counsel to prosecute after issue between local CPS and private defence silk. Defeated abuse argument, then reframed case leading to pleas to offences worth many times the original matters. Subsequent POCA proceedings.Op Kaiser - prosecution of multi-handed conspiracy to commit car key burglaries, including response to abuse argumentsOp Anaclastics - defending D1 in conspiracy to import drugs into prison



Bird and Co Solicitors LLP

• United Kingdom
• Law Practice
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Partner & In-House Counsel

  • Jul 2014 - Feb 2018

  Partner at Bird and Co Solicitors LLP since July 2014.Continuing to provide expert legal advice and representation, with additional responsibility for business development & delivery.• In-House Counsel – notable cases:o R v. Goodwin (trial, conspiracy to steal, only acquitted defendant)o R v. Tindall (manslaughter by diminished responsibility, suspended sentence)o R v. Harvey (attempted murder)o R v. Seville (Operation Umpire 1, drug conspiracy)o Inquest re Benn Armitage (human rights compliant, issues of neglect)o Various naturist cases (100% acquittals incl after JR pre-action)Responsibility for phone systems, data protection, internet marketing, PII renewalDeveloped “Best Value Conveyancing” concept & website single-handedly, along with Conspiracy Solicitors, Armed Forces Lawyers, and Conveyancing.Lawyer brandsAdvice e.g. on contract in major multi-million pound public tendering exerciseLegal aid tender exercises

• In-House Counsel

  • Feb 2010 - Jul 2014

  Full service legal advice and representation at all levels. Services for individuals and for business.Notable cases between February 2010 – July 2014:• R. v. Thurgarland: sole counsel against a QC prosecuting, murder & fitness to plead. Hospital order with restriction.• Operation Collingsworth: trial, two-handed allegation of murder, as junior counsel. • S. v. The Queen [2013] UKPC 7: human rights appeal before the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council re Guernsey Law. Sole counsel, permission to appeal granted by Lady Hale 30 years out of time. Subsequent application to ECtHR.• Operation Crosscut: conspiracy to steal ATMs.• Court Martial: defending Guardsman re JPA fraud. Sentence by the Board recommended NCO Cadre due to mitigating circumstances & commendations.• Operation Latious: conspiracy to supply Class A. Only defendant who held out for a trial, against Leading Counsel. Prosecution discontinued on the day of trial.• Operation Hauberk: defence in three-handed murder, as junior counsel. Only defendant to be acquitted.• R. v. Frost: junior counsel, led by Tim Spencer QC, complex internet pornography trial. Only defendant to be acquitted. Presented legal arguments before Calvert Smith J.• R. v. Kinsella [2011] EWCA Crim 1275: successful appeal out of time to the Court of Appeal in a proceeds of crime confiscation case arising from a gang robbery• R. v. Winter: prosecution for DEFRA re commercial importation of unauthorised veterinary medicines in pigeon racing community & associated POCA proceedings• R. v. Lasas: junior counsel, led by Tim Spencer QC, for the defence in this multi-handed murder (client acquitted of murder)• R. v. Mitchell [2012] 1 Cr App R (S) 68 (Banks 315.5): successful appeal against a three-year sentence for theft of railway signalling cable• R. v. Tyler: successful appeal against a 15-month sentence for handling stolen X5• R. v. Dean: defence of a drunk driver who drove the wrong way up the A1



Treasury Solicitor's Department

• Grade 7 Lawyer

  • Jan 2009 - Jan 2010

  Grade 7 Lawyer advising HM Government on all aspects of private law, particularly those arising from the work of the Ministry of Justice. Grade 7 Lawyer advising HM Government on all aspects of private law, particularly those arising from the work of the Ministry of Justice.



New Walk Chambers

• Barrister

  • Oct 2006 - Jan 2009

  Barrister in common law Chambers, dealing with all aspects of English law from minor road traffic claims to multi-million pound commercial disputes.• Prosecution & defence in both Magistrates’ & Crown Court, multiple appearances in full range of County Court work, immigration tribunals etc• Farrington (Trustee in Bankruptcy) v. Clifton: Specialist Chancery list application by Trustee in Bankruptcy for order of sale. Difficult issues of constructive trusts after sale of property in previous bankruptcy proceedings• R. v. Halliday: for Revenue & Customs. Prosecution of £1M proceeds of crime case• R. v. Da Silva: death by dangerous driving• R. v. Williamson: fatal careless driving case. Defence trial against Chief Crown Prosecutor. Refusal by Justices to state a case overturned on judicial review.• R. v. French [2008] 2 Cr. App. R. (S.) 13: first case on sentencing in unlawful veterinary medication cases (Banks 9th Ed, now 284.2)



Blackstone Chambers

• Pupil Barrister

  • Sep 2005 - Sep 2006

  I undertook pupillage at Blackstone Chambers, London, a very highly-regarded and prestigious public, employment and commercial law practice.My pupil supervisors were Tom Croxford, Jane Collier, Javan Herberg and Tom Weisselberg, and during that time I gained invaluable experience. I undertook pupillage at Blackstone Chambers, London, a very highly-regarded and prestigious public, employment and commercial law practice.My pupil supervisors were Tom Croxford, Jane Collier, Javan Herberg and Tom Weisselberg, and during that time I gained invaluable experience.



Bhatia Best Solicitors

• Senior Crown Court Caseworker

  • May 2003 - Aug 2005

  I continued working as a police station representative, but became a valued and trusted senior member of the Crown Court team. I dealt with all manner of cases, up to and including murder.Also appeals, AG References, CCRC applications, Lifer Tariff review applications.

• Crown Court Caseworker

  • May 2001 - May 2003

  My legal acumen was recognised at an early stage, and I was brought into the Crown Court team, where I had responsibility for preparing my own caseload for Crown Court hearing and trial. I also continued working as a police station representative and commenced study for the PGDL.

• Paralegal

  • May 2000 - May 2001

  I joined the Magistrates' Court preparation and police station representation team at this busy city centre Nottingham practice. I had previously practised as a freelance clerk and representative in London and the South East, and had decided it was time to take on my own caseload.



Various London solicitor firms

• Freelance Police Station Representative & Outdoor Clerk

  • May 1998 - May 2000

  Gained police station advice accreditation and worked for a number of London firms advising suspects detained in Metropolitan Police custody suites. Also sat behind counsel in various London Crown Courts.Employed as a freelancer by: Fisher Meredith; Hickman Rose; Bindman & Partners; Police Station Defence Service. Gained police station advice accreditation and worked for a number of London firms advising suspects detained in Metropolitan Police custody suites. Also sat behind counsel in various London Crown Courts.Employed as a freelancer by: Fisher Meredith; Hickman Rose; Bindman & Partners; Police Station Defence Service.



HM Courts & Tribunals Service (HMCTS)

• United Kingdom
• Government Administration
• 700 & Above Employee

• Clerk to Judge in Charge of Central London County Court Business List

  • 1997 - 1998

  Administrative Officer position in the Court Service. I was the last clerk to His Honour Judge Anthony Diamond QC before his retirement, and was responsible for running the Judge's court, recording proceedings, producing court orders for my judge and others, swearing witnesses, and updating court systems. Administrative Officer position in the Court Service. I was the last clerk to His Honour Judge Anthony Diamond QC before his retirement, and was responsible for running the Judge's court, recording proceedings, producing court orders for my judge and others, swearing witnesses, and updating court systems.