Benn Maguire

Practice Areas

Benn Maguire is a leading criminal advocate known for results-driven defence. He handles both prosecution and defence but is most sought for complex defence in homicide, major drug importation (including one of the largest), money laundering, fraud, historic abuse and confiscation under the Proceeds of Crime Act. He has secured multiple appellate reversals.

Notable matters include the Victoria Station and Sally-Anne Bowman murders, R v Uzoma-Ubani (multi-million-pound fraud) and the News of the World phone-hacking trial. He has defended a Household Cavalry member, a merchant banker acquitted of assault, a company director cleared of perjury and a headmaster acquitted of sexual assault.

Benn works cradle to grave: early strategic advice to avoid charge; rigorous preparation; persuasive advocacy at trial; and focused appellate work. He is trusted by top-tier law firms, broadcasters and HNW clients.

He advises newspapers on criminal risk in reporting (including Madeleine McCann and Mark Saunders); lectures on the Bribery Act; and has advised on US$100m contracts for the Iraqi government and UK pension-fund corruption. He acts in confiscation proceedings (POCA, DTA, CJA), assesses private prosecutions involving public figures, and often secures Family Court permission to deploy documents in criminal cases.

Determined, tactical and commanding in court, Benn is the go-to senior junior for serious crime.