Serious and White Collar Crime

Farrar’s Building has four leading silks in this field.

Although based in London, we have historic links with the Welsh Circuit, formerly Wales & Chester. With three of its leading silks - Patrick Harrington QC, Gerard Elias QC (both former leaders of the Circuit), and Leighton Davies QC we are a dominant force on the Circuit. They are highly sought-after and are among the first ports of call for most of the major cases on the Circuit. This team is further enhanced by Peter Murphy QC who has a joint tenancy with us.

Douglas Day QC is highly regarded in the specialist area of Criminal Fraud both by his peers and solicitors. He has been involved in many of the leading large-scale fraud cases; both prosecuting and the defending. He has been instructed by both the SFO and Revenue and Customs.

Our juniors are instructed in death by dangerous driving and other serous driving offences, and also in actions brought by the British Transport Police representing individuals or companies either on a privately paid or insurance funded basis. These cases are often linked to Inquests in fatal accidents where civil proceedings are likely to follow.

Recent cases include:

R v David Morris (2006) – the retrial of the man who murdered three female generations of one family. Sentenced to whole life term (originally prosecuted the trial in 2002)

R v Martin and others (2006) (‘Operation Reptile’) – the prosecution of 30 defendants for conspiracy to supply controlled drugs; after a series of trials all defendants convicted.

Appeal of Jones & ors [2006] EWCA Crim 2061 (CA): confiscation orders under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002.

Appeal of Rodda (2005) Murder of child and physical assaults upon another. Very high profile appeal involving expert medical evidence, including that of Professor Roy Meadow. Case Attorney General specifically sought to be reviewed. (Not involved in original trial).

R. v. Pigott & Ors (2005) VAT fraud and money laundering (approx. 4 month trial).

R. v. Wilson-Smith & Ors (2004) Alleged advance fee fraud. Major trial listed for 6 months (although in the event it went short for technical reasons).