Called to the bar in 1979
English Practice
Although principally in the field of heavy crime, I have additionally specialised in civil actions against police, personal injury and human rights work including judicial review at all levels (Thompson & Venables in High Court, Court of Appeal ) (Civ.Div) House of Lords and Strasbourg).
I have extensive experience in the field of heavy fraud and corruption and have been involved in a number of such cases over the years, in Liverpool, Manchester and in the South of England, ranging from a milk export refund fraud, to railtrack corruption, to VAT/ Revenue joint prosecutions.
Manx Practice
I am a registered Legal Practitioner in the Isle of Man and since returning there to live in 1994 I have established a consultancy style practice preparing cases for Manx advocates and effectively managing heavy cases on their behalf including four major commerical cases, an allegation involving undercover officers of perverting the course of justice by a local advocate, three substantial undercover drugs operations, five manslaughter cases, a multiple murder and a gangland murder appeal involving criticism of defence and prosecution counsel at the trial and original appeal.
I am respected by a number of advocates in the Island as being the foremost English defence counsel with expertise in Manx law and its complicated interface with English Law.
From time to time I have been called upon to advise advocates acting for offshore banks and other financial institutions with regard to fraud (civil and criminal). I have had conduct of a number of cases involving asset freezing and proceeds of crime legislation. I was responsible for the entire defence case in Riedel and others, a landmark Manx prosecution involving pharmaceutical traders which resulted in the eventual collapse of the prosecution case. Most recently I had conduct of the defence of a Manx Advocate accused of money laundering.
Notable Cases
At the same time as establishing my Manx practice I have continued to appear in England in cases both large and small. Recent English cases in which I have been involved include a number of major drugs and fraud cases. I am instructed in around three homicides a year. I accept one major fraud VHCC case a year in the UK.