Daniel predominantly defends criminal cases of the most serious nature. These include murder, serious sexual offences, fraud, large-scale drugs conspiracies, serious violence and causing death by dangerous/careless driving.
Daniel regularly defends those charged with serious violence including allegations of murder (as a led junior). He has substantial experience of dealing with cases involving multiple defendants and the application of the law on joint enterprise.
Daniel is frequently instructed in the most serious and sensitive cases involving sexual allegations including those involving child and vulnerable complainants and witnesses. He has undertaken a number of cases involving pre-recorded cross examination under s28 YJCEA 1999 (as amended). He has developed particular expertise in the cross examination of expert scientific evidence, including the proper evaluation of evidence concerning the transfer of DNA.
Daniel often represents defendants charged in large-scale nationwide class A drug conspiracies and money laundering offences. In this context he has extensive experience of the analysis and evaluation of relevant expert evidence, including cell site, GPS data, ANPR and phone data.
R v MB [2023]
Daniel led Laurence Harris in representing MB who was charged with being involved in a conspiracy to supply prohibited firearms. The case was investigated by the NCA and involved the discovery of a “firearms factory” where handgun were being manufactured and sold to Organised Crime Groups in London and nationwide.
Led Junior. Acted for TW who was charged in connection with the murder of Elle Edwards and the attempted murder/s18 wounding of 5 others. Ms Edwards was shot along with the others whilst outside a pub in Wallasey village on Christmas Eve. TW was alleged to have taken possession of the Skorpion machine-gun used in the shootings and assisted the shooter by disposing of his vehicle.
Additional Links
The Guardian
BBC
Daniel acted for the principal defendant. This local authority prosecution involved 22 counts of fraud and money laundering committed throughout the home counties and west country against a number of vulnerable complainants. It was alleged that LD had acted with others as a rogue builder gaining hundreds of thousands of pounds from his fraudulent activities. The case involved a vast amount of complicated evidence including expert reports running into hundreds of pages and telephone data running to many thousands of pages.
Led Junior. Acted for one of ten defendants charged with the kidnap, torture and murder of a man they believed had committed a serious offence against a family member.
R v B [2021]
Death by careless driving allegation where a motorcyclist was struck and killed by a driver opening his car door whilst stuck in traffic with the ignition turned off. This involved extensive legal argument in relation to whether the defendant could be said to be “driving” at the relevant time the collision took place.
Death by dangerous driving allegation against a 94-year-old man suffering from dementia.
R v K and others [2021]
County lines conspiracy to supply class A drugs from London to the South Coast over an extended period of time. This paper heavy case involves extensive analysis of phone data.
R v G and others [2021]
Multi-million- pound drugs and firearms conspiracy operating between Liverpool and the South Coast.
R v L [2021]
Multi-handed s18 GBH committed within HMP Lewes.
R v H [2021]
Multiple armed robberies of high-end camera shops in London, Bristol and Norwich.
R v C [2021]
Allegation of rape made by a 42 year old women in relation to a 13 year old boy.
Death by dangerous driving allegation against a 94-year-old man suffering from dementia.
R v L [2019]
Three complainant rape and serious sexual assault case. One of the complainants was ten-year-old boy, the second was a homeless man and the third was a man with learning difficulties.
R v M and L [2018]
This case involved two complainants who alleged that the defendant and raped and sexually assaulted them when they were children. The preparation for this case involved the analysis of a significant amount of social services material dated back over two decades.
R v P [2019]
Multiple armed robberies involving the use of a taser. This case involved cell site analysis, analysis of GPS data and extensive interrogation of mobile phone data.
R v M [2018]
Historic allegation of rape and serious sexual assaults made by multiple child complainants against a taxi driver.
Murder/manslaughter within the context of a county lines drug operation. Issues in the case included cell site analysis and joint enterprise.
R v H [2017]
Murder of a vulnerable adult by a man with serious psychiatric issues. The case involved the consideration of extensive expert psychiatric evidence.
R v D and others [2017]
Multi-million-pound drug conspiracy operating between Liverpool and the South Coast.
Murder of a high-ranking civil servant by a teenager with whom he was acquainted. The case involved substantial examination of expert evidence on blood distribution and pathology.
R v G and others
Multi-million- pound drugs and firearms conspiracy operating between Liverpool and the South Coast.
R v M [2018]
Historic allegation of rape and serious sexual assaults made by multiple complainants against a taxi driver.
Conspiracy to conduct hundreds of sham marriages for the purposes of evading immigrations rules. This was the largest prosecution of its type.
Daniel has extensive experience of allegations of high value fraud and business crime, including cases involving the instruction of experts.
He has particular expertise in cases involving money laundering and confiscation under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002.
Represented a property developer charged with fraud and bribery in respect of an agreement to purchase a former hospital from an NHS Trust. The value of the fraud was estimated to be £3.2 million.
Conspiracy between a solicitor, a vicar and a Ukrainian “fixer” to conduct hundreds of sham marriages for the purposes of evading immigrations rule. This was the largest prosecution of its type.
R v W [2018]
represented an accountant charged with a stealing £500,000 from her employer over a number of years.
R v D [2018]
this case involved a multi-defendant conspiracy to launder the proceeds of a widespread and sophisticated fraud committed against vulnerable victims.
Daniel is instructed in a broad range of cases involving other regulatory offences, both in the Crown and Magistrates’ Court.
These cases include health and safety prosecutions, prosecutions on behalf of local authorities and prosecutions brought by the environment agency.
Daniel acts for Sussex and Surrey Police on a private basis. In this capacity he attends the Crown, Magistrates and County Court to represent the interests of the Chief Constable. These matters include applications for disclosure, forfeiture of assets, deprivation of property as well as free standing applications for protective orders (e.g. stalking protection orders and sexual harm protection orders)
Daniel also specialises in animal welfare law. This area of practice includes prosecuting offences for the RSPCA under the Animal Welfare Act 2006 and the Protection of Badgers Act 1992. These cases often involve multiple defendants, evidence obtained by the seizure and examination of phones and computers and the extensive forensic examination of expert evidence.
In addition to criminal regulatory work, Dan has a growing practise in sports regulation and professional discipline. He has appeared on behalf of the BHA in proceedings brought against a trainer for breach of the rules of racing, namely failing to ensure the welfare of horses under his care, and on behalf of England Hockey in safeguarding proceedings brought against a team coach who was said to pose a risk to other members and players.
BHA brought charges against Mr L for breaching the Rules of Racing. These breaches include a charge of failing to ensure the welfare of horses under his care. After a contested hearing before the independent disciplinary panel Mr L was found to have committed the alleged breaches and was fined £5000.
England Hockey and LK
Daniel Frier represented LK before the England Hockey independent disciplinary panel. The panel had been convened to assess whether, or to what extent, LK presented a risk to other members and players.
Representing the RSPCA this prosecution involved the prosecution of three men for offences contrary to the Animal Welfare Act 2006 and the Protection of Badgers Act 1992. The case was connected to a nationwide illegal hunting conspiracy.
Daniel is instructed to represent interested parties in inquest hearings before the Coroner’s Court. He has experience of dealing with article 2 Human Rights Act inquests, Preventing Future Deaths (PFD) and those involving a through and detailed examination of the conduct of public sector bodies.
Inquest into the death of Matthew Caseby
Daniel was instructed to represent British Transport Police at this 3-week jury inquest before the Senior Coroner of Birmingham at the Birmingham Coroner’s Court.
Matthew Caseby was sectioned under the Mental Health Act and was being assessed at the Priory in Birmingham when, after being left unsupervised, he escaped. He was subsequently hit by a train and killed.
This was an article 2 expanded inquest where the jury were asked to consider probable and possible causes of death alongside the direct cause. Ultimately, the jury made a narrative finding concluding that Matthew’s death was contributed to by neglect on the part of the Priory.
Additional Links
The Guardian
BBC
Inquest into the death of Olivia Perks
Daniel represented a Lieutenant Colonel and a Staff Sergeant at this article 2 inquest into the death of a Sandhurst cadet, Olivia Perks. The inquest lasted for 5 weeks and involved detailed evidence of the working and systems of the Royal Military Academy at Sandhurst (RMAS).
Additional Links
BBC
Inquest touching the death of ON – represented Surrey Police in this article 2 inquest into the death of a teenager who was diagnosed with autism. The case lasted 6 weeks and involved substantial expert evidence.
Daniel has an interest in international law and international human rights law. In 2016 he completed an LLM in International Law at SOAS (University of London).
2025
Chambers & Partners
“He’s exceedingly hard-working and fantastic with lay clients.” “He is a consummate professional and utterly charming. The jury really warmed to him and he is a very good practitioner.”
Ranked: Band 3
Legal 500
Crime: General and Fraud (South Eastern Circuit): “Daniel is an eloquent advocate. His grasp of the facts allows him to make his points clearly and concisely. He understands the law and how it applies to his case. He has good judgement and combines this with a friendly manner.”
Ranked: Tier 2
2024
Chambers & Partners
“Daniel is an outstanding barrister at the top of his field. There is no case he cannot master.”
“Daniel has the full range of skills necessary to defend in the most challenging of criminal cases.”
Crime (London Bar) – Ranked: Band 4
“Daniel is a very hard-working, very able lawyer who is very good with the client.”
“He is excellent in all respects.”
Crime (South Eastern Bar) – Ranked: Band 2
Legal 500
Crime (South Eastern Circuit): ‘Daniel is always well-prepared with excellent attention to detail. He is well-liked by opponents and endears himself to a jury. He is a class advocate who delivers polished and punchy speeches.’
Ranked: Tier 2
2023
Chambers & Partners
Crime – South Eastern (Bar): “Daniel is ambitious and hard-working.”
Ranked: Band 2
Crime – London (Bar): “Always approachable and helpful. Clients like him and he gets good results.”
Ranked: Band 5
Legal 500
Ranked: Tier 2
2022
Chambers & Partners
Crime: “He is very approachable, quick to respond, thorough in his preparation and extremely focused with his advocacy. He is a pleasure to deal with and clear on his instructions.” “He is outstanding in his approach.”
Ranked: Band 2
Legal 500
Crime: “Daniel is hard working, industrious, clever and very personable.”
Ranked: Tier 2
2021
Chambers & Partners
Crime: “Hard working, meticulous and a good advocate with superb client care skills.”
Legal 500
Crime: “Clients take to him quickly and he is brilliant in front of a jury helping them to clearly understand the issues to consider in a particular case and leading them to the right verdict.”
2020
Chambers & Partners
Crime: “He really excels at handling vulnerable and young defendants. He is hugely personable and easy to deal with.”
2019
Legal 500: “His submissions are reasoned, measured and nuanced.”
Will and Dan represented Ashlee Morgan who was said to be Jonathan Arafiena’s “right hand man”. In short form, the…
William England and Daniel Frier, leading James Lloyd and Laurence Harris, act for the first and second defendants in a…
Five other persons were seriously injured during the shooting. Will and Dan represent Thomas Waring, who is alleged to have…