Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers

Financial Crime - London (Bar)

1
Band 1

What the Team is Known For

2 Hare Court offers expertise spanning the full gamut of financial crime matters. Members receive regular instructions both from individual and corporate clients across the financial services sector, and are adept at handling cases involving allegations of insider dealing, money laundering, corruption, bribery and fraud. One interviewee reports that their barristers "handle their client's case with meticulous care and skill." Another adds that the set has "great working knowledge of complex areas of business crime." Recently, members represented Mohammed Zina in the FCA investigation and trial concerning insider trading.

Strengths

Provided by Chambers

Notable Practitioners

Provided by Chambers

Jonathan Laidlaw
Jonathan Laidlaw
Star Individuals

Jonathan Laidlaw KC is a top barrister with a wide-ranging practice in financial crime. Having served as First Senior Treasury Counsel at the Old Bailey, he has in recent years been involved in major Serious Fraud Office investigations into alleged corruption and market manipulation offences. He is highly rated for his defence of directors and companies facing fraud charges, and is noted for his adept handling of cases involving private prosecutions.

Jonathan is beyond knowledgeable, strategic and commercially-minded.

Jonathan is really quite masterful. He can take a complicated factual background and simplify it to the court.

He is one of the star performers at the bar.

Jonathan is fantastic. he is excellent at what he does. He is someone you want in your corner fighting for you.

1
Brendan Kelly
1
Band 1

Brendan Kelly KC is a very measured advocate who commands considerable respect. He is a popular choice for individuals facing charges of fraud, money laundering and bribery, and is particularly noted for his ability in substantial, long-running cases.

Very charismatic and a go-to silk for financial crime.

He always brings real class to any case he does.

Brendan Kelly KC can hold the ear of the court and win juries. He is reasonable, down to earth and charming.

Christopher Coltart
1
Christopher Coltart
1
Band 1

Christopher Coltart KC is the head of the set's business crime and financial services practice group. He is able to call upon valuable prior experience as a corporate solicitor when handling his cases, and is particularly specialised in cases with crossover civil or regulatory aspects. Coltart is adept at dealing with matters with multi-jurisdictional considerations.

Christopher knows the facts of a case inside-out and is incredibly intelligent.

He is very tactically astute.

Christopher Coltart KC has amazing attention to detail and is a very persuasive advocate.

Christopher Foulkes
1
Christopher Foulkes
1
Band 1

Christopher Foulkes is a experienced junior who is regularly called upon to prosecute and defend high-level fraud and financial crime, including cases with an international element. His record includes work on corruption, accounting fraud and money laundering matters. He is esteemed for his experience in cases brought by the Serious Fraud Office and HMRC.

Christopher is an exceptional junior. He is always on call and very measured.

Gavin Irwin
1
Gavin Irwin
1
Band 1

Gavin Irwin is esteemed for his work in fraud, bribery and corruption cases, and has handled a number of money laundering cases, as well as trading standards and tax fraud matters.

Gavin has a first rate mind.

He is a delight to instruct and really stands out as a criminal barrister who can do sanctions enforcement work.

Jonathan S Kinnear
1
Jonathan S Kinnear
1
Band 1

Jonathan Kinnear KC's focus sits firmly in the regulatory, criminal and confiscation remit. He has handled a number of matters involving allegations of missing trader intra-community fraud, money laundering and corruption. He is particularly valued for his skill in prosecuting significant financial crime cases.

He has star quality. He is very client-friendly, hard-working and a charismatic advocate.

An incredibly impressive advocate.

Lewis MacDonald
1
Lewis MacDonald
1
Band 1

Lewis MacDonald is a junior financial crime barrister with experience acting both led and unled in complex private prosecutions. He regularly prosecutes complex frauds and has previously been instructed to represent HMRC and the Royal Mail, among other prosecutors.

Lewis is an excellent barrister and a great help to his solicitors. He is eager to guide every step of the way and provide regular hands-on assistance.

Lewis is our go-to junior. The way he works is beyond his years.

Lewis is a very good junior in private prosecutions.

1
Vivienne Tanchel
1
Band 1

Vivienne Tanchel has enviable real-world experience to bring to financial crime cases, which comes from her time as a former finance professional. She is a popular choice for defence work involving allegations of market abuse and regulatory breaches, and is a noted expert on bribery and corruption matters. Tanchel is valued for her ability to handle complex fraud cases and related civil proceedings.

She is very incisive, to the point and focused.

Vivienne is a brilliant white-collar crime advocate. She is excellent at client care and a very direct and engaging advocate.

With her financial background, she is really good at taking clients through difficult cases.

Angus Bunyan
2
Angus Bunyan
2
Band 2

Angus Bunyan is regularly instructed by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Serious Fraud Office to prosecute complex fraud cases. He offers significant expertise in money laundering, bribery and corruption. He also has experience in private prosecutions.

Angus Bunyan is very bright.

Leon Kazakos
2
Leon Kazakos
2
Band 2

Leon Kazakos KC wins plaudits for his fraud defence practice, which includes both criminal matters and related civil cases. He acts for individuals facing high-stakes prosecutions for alleged money laundering, mortgage and investment fraud. Kazakos is also experienced in bribery and corruption cases.

There is no advocate who pays more attention to detail than Leon.

He is just fabulous. He does his absolute level best for his clients.

Leon's brain is bigger than the moon. He works relentlessly and digests huge materials quickly.

Peter Lownds
2
Peter Lownds
2
Band 2

Peter Lownds is a criminal barrister who is commended for his strong defence practice. He has an established track record in fraud and money laundering cases, and is particularly adept at bribery, corruption and tax fraud cases.

Peter is fabulous and juries love him.

Superb advocate and an absolute joy to watch.

Peter provided an excellent service. His approach, preparation and attention to detail was meticulous.

David Whittaker
3
David Whittaker
3
Band 3

David Whittaker KC frequently appears as leading counsel in financial crime cases as part of his well-rounded and broad criminal defence practice. He attracts market attention for his highly fluent and convincing advocacy in court and his calm demeanour. Whittaker has acted for the defence in a number of major Financial Conduct Authority insider trading prosecutions.

David is an excellent advocate. He is empathetic on his feet and engaging. He has a really fantastic manner with juries and is extremely patient with clients.

David is open and generous. He is fantastic with vulnerable clients.

Ranked Barristers at
2 Hare Court

Provided by Chambers
Filter by
Band

Silks (KC)

London (Bar)

Financial Crime

Jonathan Laidlaw KC
Jonathan Laidlaw KC
Star Individuals
1
Brendan Kelly KC
1
Band 1
Christopher Coltart KC
1
Christopher Coltart KC
1
Band 1
Jonathan S Kinnear KC
1
Jonathan S Kinnear KC
1
Band 1
Leon Kazakos KC
2
Leon Kazakos KC
2
Band 2
David Whittaker KC
3
David Whittaker KC
3
Band 3
Financial Crime: Corporates

Jonathan Laidlaw KC
2
Jonathan Laidlaw KC
2
Band 2
Financial Crime: Private Prosecutions

Christopher Coltart KC
2
Christopher Coltart KC
2
Band 2
Jonathan Laidlaw KC
2
Jonathan Laidlaw KC
2
Band 2

Juniors

London (Bar)

Financial Crime

Christopher Foulkes
1
Christopher Foulkes
1
Band 1
Gavin Irwin
1
Gavin Irwin
1
Band 1
1
Vivienne Tanchel
1
Band 1
Peter Lownds
2
Peter Lownds
2
Band 2
Angus Bunyan
3
Angus Bunyan
3
Band 3
Financial Crime: Private Prosecutions

Lewis MacDonald
1
Lewis MacDonald
1
Band 1
Angus Bunyan
2
Angus Bunyan
2
Band 2