Colin is a sought-after Silk to defend allegations of serious crime. He defends in many of the highest profile murder trials particularly multi-handed cases involving organised criminal groups (“OCGs”).
R v B (2024)
Manchester CC – Acted for the leading individual in one of the two major Operation Venetic prosecutions arising from the NCA’s largest ever investigation into the activities of UK organised crime networks. The defendant is the alleged leader of an OCG involved in the supply of multi-kilogramme quantities of both Class A and B drugs. The case was both legally and factually complex and involved numerous legal challenges to the admissibility of EncroChat evidence.
Central Criminal Court – B was alleged to be part of a group of five who lured a drug dealer to a location so he could be robbed of his cocaine stash. After a 5-week trial, the client was acquitted of murder but convicted of manslaughter and robbery.
Luton CC – A complex and high-profile “cold case murder”. The defendant was jointly charged with having conspired to murder his wife in 1981. The age of the investigation created numerous legal and evidential challenges for the defence. These included a series of legally complex and novel applications seeking to adduce a large body of hearsay evidence. In addition, the defence meticulously reviewed 43-years of police investigations to examine the various case theories investigated at the time of the murder and in subsequent police “cold reviews” of the case. The investigation and trial were the subject of a two-part ITV documentary series “The Real Unforgotten” broadcast in February 2025.
Newcastle CC – A high-profile trial of six young defendants charged with the murder of a 14-year-old boy. The allegation involved a background of inter-gang “postcode rivalry” with a series of “tit-for-tat” attacks leading up to the fatal incident. The evidence included a large volume of social media posts both before and after the incident evidencing the gang rivalry as well as drill lyrics describing the alleged murder and the ongoing rivalry. The defendant M was only 15 years of age. He was acquitted of murder and manslaughter.
Canterbury CC – The defendant was one of four defendants charged with murder. The deceased was a qualified barrister who had been left homeless and sleeping rough. He was alleged to have been murdered by a group who were also homeless. The defendant was acquitted of murder and manslaughter.
Bristol CC – A five-handed murder trial relating to the activities of two Albanian “Organised Criminal Groups”. The case concerned an attempt by a London OCG to rob a commercial cannabis grow being operated by a rival OCG in Bristol. The defendant was acquitted of murder after a two-month trial.
St Albans CC – Alleged conspiracy to murder. The defendant was alleged to have been contracted by a drug dealer to murder his ex-partner. The case involved a complex narrative and gave rise to significant disclosure issues relating to the alleged victims background and potential motives for framing the defendants.
R v G (2021)
Central Criminal Court – G, a 14-year old boy, was charged with murder and manslaughter with three others. A five-week trial in which the defendant was alleged to be part of a gang that lured another group to a location where they were attacked. G was the only defendant acquitted on all counts.
R v A (2021)
Isleworth CC – Represented a 15 year old client charged with murder and manslaughter. He was acquitted on all counts after a 7 week trial.
Basildon CC – H was charged together with five others with murder. The group were alleged to have raided a cannabis farm to steal the crop resulting in the death of one of the individuals guarding the crop. The defendant was acquitted of murder and manslaughter.
Central Criminal Court – M was charged with 3 others with murder. The prosecution alleged that the case had the hallmarks of a gangland execution linked to the commercial supply of class A drugs. The deceased was shot with a sawn-off shotgun in a suburban street. M who was alleged to be a getaway driver was found not guilty of both murder and manslaughter.
R v B (2020)
Three handed murder trial involving an alleged gang-related attack. The huge police investigation featured on the BBC TV programme “The Real CSI” focusing on the wide range of forensic tools deployed by the investigative team.
R v W (2020)
Murder case concerning a gang related drive-by shooting that was alleged to be the latest “tit-for-tat” attack in a long history of inter-gang violence. The Prosecution alleged the victim was hunted down and then executed in a daytime City Centre shooting as he was pursued and with the gun discharged three times from a moving vehicle as he fled. The case involved admissibility issues in relation to YouTube drill videos and other bad character social media evidence.
R v T (2020)
Three handed murder trial. Acted for the principle defendant acquitted of murder and attempted murder.
R v C - (2019)
Central Criminal Court – Six handed murder. Colin represented the principle defendant.
R v W - (2019)
Central Criminal Court – Six handed murder. Colin represented the first defendant in the three-month trial. The murder was alleged to be connected to gang related drug dealing.
Central Criminal Court – Secured the acquittal of a teenager in three handed gang related murder.
Central Criminal Court – Five handed gang related murder.
Represented a 16-year-old man charged with murder. The case had gang related background. Client acquitted of murder.
Allegation of manslaughter arising from the alleged commercial sale of the banned “diet drug” DNP. Linked allegations of money laundering. Client acquitted of all charges.
Acted for a father charged with the murder of his 18-month-old child and a further charge of attempted murder. The case involved complex psychiatric issues. The Crown accepted the defendant’s plea to manslaughter.
R v D - Lewes Crown Court
Murder & Conspiracy to pervert the course of justice.
Colin is a highly regarded expert in the field of complex fraud and financial crime. He is regularly instructed to defend in “big-ticket” fraud trials. He has extensive experience of defending in cases prosecuted by the SFO, FCA and HMRC and is frequently instructed at the pre-charge stage to advise board level employees and professionals who are under investigation.
Southwark Crown Court – Defended FCA prosecuted investment fraud. Acted for the CEO of a “Peer to Peer” lending platform. The prosecution alleged that the defendant falsely represented to hundreds of clients that Collateral was authorised and regulated by the FCA. As a result the company received inward investment of approximately £32 million. When the company subsequently went into liquidation, loans totalling more than £16 million were still outstanding. The case involves complex issues relating to the FCA’s regulation of “Peer to Peer” lending, the supervision of consumer businesses by the FCA and linked money laundering allegations relating to investors funds being siphoned off as the company went into liquidation.
R v Z (2024)
Southwark Crown Court – Acted for the principle defendant charged with counts alleging conspiracies to traffic women for sexual exploitation, controlling prostitution and money laundering. The business was a multi-million-pound commercial operation that utilised sophisticated websites and social medial to market the business. The client was alleged to be the controlling mind of the organised crime conspiracy which was operated internationally. The financial evidence was complex with evidence gathered from a number of jurisdictions evidencing the use of sophisticated methods to disguise the proceeds alleged to have run to millions of pounds. This included laundering out of the UK to China and back to the UK and the use of “Daigou” purchasing of luxury goods.
R v S (2023)
Privately instructed to act for the MD of a company involved in the design, testing and manufacture of pyrotechnic products for military and law enforcement agency use. The allegations related to alleged fraudulent conduct in the performance of contracts between the company and the Ministry of Defence. Our client was acquitted on all the counts he faced.
R v B (2022)
Privately instructed to defend client charged with an alleged fraud on the MOD connected to contracts for the disposal and destruction of ammunition. There were a series of linked alleged breaches of the Firearms legislation. Advised both the corporate entity and the directors of the companies over the course of the investigation and trial. The defendant was acquitted of all charges after two separate trials.
R v G (2024)
Privately instructed to defend allegations of banking fraud and money laundering faced by the Managing Director of an Italian international design company. The prosecution alleged that the defendant incorporated a series of companies with linked bank accounts to receive and then dissipate the proceeds of a mandate fraud. The defendant was an interior designer with a high-profile international practice for HNW clients.
SFO & “O”
Acted pre-charge for two years for the MD of a Monaco based company under investigation by the SFO. The Unaoil investigation” concerned allegations of bribery and corruption in the award of multi-million dollar contracts for the rebuilding of the Iraqi oil industry infrastructure. Colin led the defence team that included another KC. After a lengthy investigation his client was not charged.
Defended a yen cash broker in the SFO LIBOR manipulation prosecution. The case followed the SFO’s largest ever investigation and the trial attracted global media coverage. The defendant was alleged to have operated at the heart of the conspiracy to manipulate the Yen LIBOR rate via contacts at various LIBOR panel banks. The Crown asserted that the manipulation provided a UBS and Citibank trader with an advantage in numerous multi-billion yen derivatives trades. Client acquitted.
R v C & Ors
Southwark Crown Court instructed as Queen’s Counsel on behalf of a partner-level accountant charged together with three others with VAT fraud. The case concerned the alleged use of two large engineering companies that had been contracted to install broadband for BT Carillion Telent to defraud HMRC. The contracts were worth in-excess of £15m.
R v S - Southwark Crown Court
“Operation Banjax”. HMRC prosecution alleging a total loss to the Revenue of £86 million through VAT and duty frauds. Colin represented the principle defendant said to head the Organised Criminal Group behind the fraud.
Instructed to act for a company director charged with a complex VAT fraud. Four handed alleged conspiracy to cheat the public revenue of VAT of £35 million. The allegations concerned the use of a series of umbrella companies to steal VAT paid on company payrolls.
R v H
“Operation Chainmail & Crystallite” – Advised an Investment Banker charged with conspiracy to cheat. The allegations concerned a film investment scheme that was used by “high net-worth” individuals to offset personal tax liabilities. The scheme utilised Limited Liability Partnerships (LLPs) as investment vehicles that were allegedly created with the sole purpose of tax avoidance and used by the LLP partners to then fraudulently claim sideways tax relief against their personal tax liabilities arising out their employment.
Acted for one of the directors of the London Fields Brewery. The company was one of the first and most successful of the craft microbreweries that have been established in recent years. The defendant was charged with a range of offences relating to tax avoidance by the company. Due to the company’s high profile and strong brand image the case has attracted significant media attention. Client acquitted of all charges.
Re CE Limited v The Serious Fraud Office
Instructed by the board and current directors of CE Limited to intervene in judicial review proceedings arising out of an SFO investigation. Former directors of the company were potential defendants in criminal proceedings giving rise to various issues relating to professional legal privilege and the R (Kent Pharmaceuticals) v SFO procedures. This was a complex multi-party judicial review with the underlying allegations relating to the use of fraudulent international holding companies to transfer ownership of various freeholds and thus circumvent UK primary legislation prohibiting the same.
R v U
Represented the defendant against allegations of laundering money generated by Ukrainian organised crime gangs.
R v K
Defended Customs Officer alleged to be involved in high level corruption and linked revenue fraud.
R v B
Client acquitted in £45m carbon credit trading VAT fraud.
R v M
Large scale City of London carbon credit investment fraud.
2025
Chambers & Partners
“He is very good at working collegially with other defendants and is very easy to work with. He has very good judgement and is a safe pair of hands.” “Colin is a very detail focused advocate who prepares a case rigorously. He also has an impressive courtroom presence.” “Colin is communicative, collaborative and calm. He welcomes the opportunity to share his thoughts and collaborate in the best interests of the client.”
Crime: Band 2
“Colin is very smooth in court and also very bright and quick. He has the charm and the intellect to have the jury eating out of his hand. He’s a joy to work with.” “Colin has a lovely manner with the jury and comes across as extremely likeable and is a pleasure to deal with. He is also very calm dealing with the client.”
Financial Crime: Band 2
Legal 500
Crime: “Colin’s stellar trial preparation is reflected in his advocacy which is always on point and delivered to devastating effect. He is a disarming opponent, an excellent lawyer and juries love him.”
Ranked: Tier 3
Fraud: Crime: “Colin is a first-rate silk. He is utterly charming and his cross-examination is very effective.”
Ranked: Tier 2
2024
Chambers & Partners
“Colin cross-examined in an analytical and methodical way. He laid the groundwork beautifully and then just tied the witnesses up in knots.”
“He’s got a nice manner and is hardworking and thoughtful.”
Crime: Band 3
“He can reassure clients so well and is great with the judge and jury on his feet.”
Financial Crime: Band 3
Legal 500
Crime: ‘Colin is the perfect barrister. His written submissions are excellent. He is technically brilliant on the law and procedure. He is excellent with clients and gives them real time and attention. His advocacy is first-class – poised and clear, not aloof and juries really like him. One of the best at the Bar.’
Ranked: Tier 3
Fraud:Crime: ‘Colin is a pragmatic and impressive barrister. He is a great advocate with excellent drafting skills who charms juries. He is exceptionally clever, incredibly hardworking, and is a delight with clients.’
Ranked: Tier 3
2023
Chambers & Partners
Financial Crime: “Colin knows how to get results.”
“His submissions are clear and well structured.”
Ranked: Band 3
Crime: “A very down-to-earth and excellent advocate who picks up on the details really well.”
Ranked: Band 4
Legal 500
Crime: ‘Colin is a formidable silk whose advocacy is exceptional. He has an incredible knowledge of the law.
Ranked: Tier 4
Fraud:Crime: ‘Colin works incredibly hard and has an ability to reach to the heart of the case with ease. He puts clients at ease even in the most stressful circumstances.’
Ranked: Tier 3
2022
Chambers & Partners
Financial Crime: “A sound tactician.” “His advocacy is pragmatic and very convincing.”
Ranked: Band 3
Crime: “Completely down to earth and goes the extra mile for his clients, exhibiting just the right amount of empathy. He is an extremely persuasive advocate.”
Ranked: Band 4
Legal 500
Fraud:Crime: “Colin is an intelligent, knowledgeable counsel and an excellent strategist. Clients respect him, peers admire him and judges find it difficult not to agree with him.”
Ranked: Tier 3
2021
Chambers & Partners
Crime: “An excellent jury advocate who is well respected by judges and other counsel. He is especially strong at murder cases.” “An excellent prosecutor.”
Ranked: Band 3
Legal 500: “His calm, unflappable approach instantly creates confidence.”
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