Chris Daw

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Fields of Practice

Serious and organised crime including commercial fraud, money laundering, major drug trafficking, homicide, firearms offences, and human trafficking. 

Representation and advice in respect of commercial affairs where there are allegations of serious criminal or regulatory breaches.

Disciplinary and criminal conduct by high net worth individuals, senior police officers and professional people. 

Overview

Chris Daw was called to the Bar in 1993 and practises primarily in the fields of serious crime, organised crime and commercial fraud.  The majority of his cases concern major criminal conspiracies with voluminous documentary evidence and frequently with an international element.  He has acted as leading counsel on numerous occasions.  Chris is also frequently asked to advise and represent high net worth individuals in respect of criminal and regulatory matters of all kinds, generally from the very early stages of any investigation or prosecution, offering the reassurance and support such clients demand from the very outset.

Chris takes an aggressive and pro-active approach from the start of proceedings, vigorously pursuing pre-trial applications on disclosure, abuse of process and exclusion of evidence. He acts for privately funded clients and in publicly funded cases of particular gravity, complexity or public interest.  Chris regularly accepts instructions to advise prior to charge and also to conduct appeals before the Court of Appeal (Criminal Division) in cases where he did not appear at trial.

Chris approaches every case with the same high standards of preparation and clients find him direct, honest and passionate about what he does.  He works closely with solicitors at every stage of a case and is always available to provide advice and support throughout the preparation of the difficult and sensitive cases in which he is involved.

Chris has significant experience of the world of business and brings his insight to bear on the many commercial issues which arise in cases of complex fraud and business investigations.  He also makes regular appearances on BBC television and radio, providing expert analysis of topical issues relating to the criminal justice system.

Current Live Cases 2011/2012

R v JT - acting for the England and Chelsea football captain in ongoing proceedings before Westminster Magistrates' Court, due for trial in July 2012. 

R v SB and DG – privately instructed for a couple charged with laundering over a million pounds, in both cash and property assets, alleged to be the proceeds of a substantial conspiracy to import and distribute drugs.


R v BA -  acting for the main defendant in an 8 handed conspiracy to supply firearms with intent to endanger life, including machine guns with live ammunition for use in organised crime activity nationwide.


R v MM – privately instructed for a serving Superintendent, charged with numerous offences of fraud and deception in connection with his police service with several different forces.


R v HR – acting for one of the principal defendants in a 15 handed money laundering case.  Said to be one of the largest international money laundering cases every prosecuted with cash in the region of £200 million being sent abroad via the money transfer sector and the banking system.  Listed for a 4 month trial in September 2012.
 

R v SA – Acting for a senior police officer charged with money laundering offences in respect of commercial property and international money transfers.

Various – amongst other current matters are sensitive cases involving high net worth individuals, professional people and senior police officers, under investigation for regulatory breaches, professional disciplinary offences and criminal offences. 

Notable Recent Cases Before the Court of Appeal

Attorney General's Reference (No. 43 of 2009) [2009] EWCA Crim 1925 (2009) – Leading counsel in one of the largest ever cases of commercial supply of firearms in the UK.  Now the guideline case on sentence in respect of large-scale gun supply, with judgment given by the Lord Chief Justice.

R v Seddon [2009] 2 Cr. App. R. 9 – Successful appeal against conviction where client was extradited for one set of offences but the Crown prosecuted others.  Now the leading authority on the scope of criminal prosecutions for extradited defendants, with judgment given by the Vice President.

Notable Cases

R v Ian Massey – Leading counsel in a 14 handed corruption and perjury case, surrounding the notorious prosecution of the “Cardiff 3” for the murder of Lynette White, said by the Crown to be case of unique complexity.  This was the largest ever case of police corruption in legal history.  The 6 month trial, which cost £30 million, ended with a not guilty verdict after successful arguments that the disclosure process was unfair.   BBC - collapse of largest ever corruption trial

Kenneth Noye & others v Prison Department – Briefed on behalf of the ten most dangerous men in Britain in a Judicial Review action over conditions of detention at the notorious Special Secure Unit at Whitemoor Prison.  All clients were transferred elsewhere and the unit was closed. The Independent - Closure of Special Secure Unit 

R v Olatunde Adetoro – Counsel for the main defendant in a case of mass shooting in the North of England using an AK-47 assault rifle.  The nationally publicised high security trial concerned the shooting of five innocent people in the course of a single incident. BBC News - The day the bullets flew

R v Ajay Kaushal – Counsel for the main defendant in a high profile case of kidnapping for ransom.  Client fled the jurisdiction during the trial and was later described as one of “Britain’s most wanted fugitives”.  Disclosure of MI5 records of terrorist activities of a prosecution witness was obtained. The Times - Most Wanted

Fraud and Money Laundering


Trading Standards v PK – Leading counsel for the main defendant in a case involving a long-running and highly organised conspiracy to defraud small businesses by the use of commercial telesales techniques in a criminal enterprise. TIS - Telesales fraud case

HMRC v LC - Money laundering the multi-million pound proceeds of one of the largest MTIC (“carousel”) frauds ever tried in the UK, involving substantial evidence from Gibraltar, Hong Kong and other international jurisdictions.

R v CB – Multi-million pound long-firm commercial fraud case where the Crown relies heavily on probe recordings from intrusive surveillance.  Issues include disclosure from other jurisdictions, abuse of process by multiple prosecutions and evidence tampering.


R v MD - Counsel for one of the principal defendants in a 12 handed conspiracy to cheat the revenue, involving alleged multi-million pound MTIC ("carousel") fraud through trading in industrial metals.

R v HK - SOCA prosecution alleging international money laundering with the use of a Money Transfer Bureau ("MTB") and the organised crime technique of "cuckoo smurfing" to launder £30 million of cash via the banking system.  Acted for the only defendant to be cleared by the jury at trial.

HMRC v Jones – Leading counsel for one of the principle defendants in a £20 million VAT and duty evasion fraud relating to the large-scale commercial trading of imported cigarettes and tobacco.  One of only two of the ten defendants not to be convicted at trial.

R v LD – 14 handed corruption and fraud case involving Trafford Council in Manchester.  One of the largest ever investigations into alleged fraud by senior council employees.  Client received a suspended sentence after proceedings lasting eight years.  MEN - Trafford Council fraud

R v H – Leading counsel for the main defendant in a case of long-firm commercial fraud using a pyramid scheme.  Although convicted as the principal the client was the only defendant not to receive any immediate prison sentence.

FACT v Bowes – International copyright fraud case involving the trade in illegal downloads of music and video material.  Over 4 million pages of evidence was obtained from websites and servers all over the world, primarily in the United States.  One of the largest private prosecutions ever undertaken.

R v G – Laundering millions in both cash and property on behalf of one of the largest drug traffickers in the North of England.  Case stopped before a jury was sworn after legal argument on disclosure.

R v Lodge – Counsel for the defendant in a long firm commercial fraud case involving the “phoenixing” of corporate assets and commercial property assets in order to defraud creditors of millions of pounds.

R v TS – Counsel for a serving police officer, charged with fraud.  The case was stayed as an abuse of process after counsel successfully argued that the Defendant had been persecuted by his fellow officers and that it would be unfair for him to be tried.

R v Perry – Counsel for a company director client, alleged to be involved in misrepresenting corporate structures and commercial agreements for financial gain.

R v Barrie – Successful defence of a businessman alleged to be involved in highly organised fraud against lenders in respect of commercial property.

Drugs and Other Serious Crime

R v SLS - Leading counsel for the alleged architect of a £533 million conspiracy to import high purity cocaine into the UK from mainland Europe via the port of Dover, hidden in industrial equipment.  Client was a High Risk Category A Prisoner until he was acquitted by the jury at trial. Half billion cocaine conspiracy

HMRC v MK – Conspiracy to import multiple 100 kilo shipments of pure cocaine from Trinidad, via mainland Europe.  Extensive international surveillance and shipping evidence as well as hundreds of hours of product from audio probes placed in vehicles.

R v WM – Conspiracy to commit armed robbery in a highly disciplined fashion.  Attracted substantial publicity as one of the defendants received multiple gunshot wounds at the hands of the arresting officers. Sky News - "Armed Robber" shot

R v WI­ – allegation of blackmail of a multi-millionaire businessman in the context of an international commercial transaction.

R v Statham – Counsel for the main defendant in a case involving the multi-tonne supply of cannabis throughout the UK.  Extensive surveillance evidence involved, including de facto telephone tapping, which was the subject of prolonged legal argument, and lifestyle evidence of high levels of casino gambling.

R v Firth – Leading counsel for the main defendant in one of the largest drug supply conspiracies in Yorkshire, where the main evidence came from a “supergrass”.  Case stayed after months of legal argument and disclosure of tapes and transcripts of the prison telephone calls of the principle prosecution witness.

R v Walker – Leading counsel for the main defendant in a conspiracy where over 30 armed robberies were committed over just a few months. MEN - Terror robber

R v Davies – Leading counsel in a conspiracy to supply cocaine, ecstasy and cannabis on a massive scale and throughout the North of England.  Evidence from intrusive surveillance, telephone call pattern analysis and cell-siting.  Extensive applications for disclosure of material under s.8 of the CPIA 1996.  Successfully appealed. TIS - Mr. Big

R v Gunning – Counsel for the main defendant who was cleared by the jury of involvement in a conspiracy to supply a vast number of American factory made handguns and hollowpoint ammunition, as well as 20 kilos of heroin.

R v Ainsley – Leading counsel for a defendant cleared at a retrial of involvement in a large scale conspiracy to manufacture and supply heroin.  The main witness was a “supergrass” and significant issues of disclosure arose.

HMRC v Hassiakos – Counsel for the main defendant in a case of multi-million pound supply of cannabis, imported and distributed in multi-tonne quantities.  Significant issues of property law in connection with the confiscation proceedings.

R v Elezi – Human trafficking of women as “sex slaves” from Lithuania, across Europe and into the UK, by an organised crime syndicate from Albania.  Sensitive issues of disclosure including cross-border requests for information on the witnesses’ criminal history. BBC - Sex trafficking

R v CH – Client cleared of involvement in the importation and onward distribution of vast quantities of Class A and B drugs, including over a tonne of cannabis, with seizures from just one week’s shipments valued at over £10 million, with total importations over £100 million.

Murder

R v Curtis – Counsel for one of the principal defendants in a case of gangland murder of a former paratrooper.  Client cleared of murder by the jury in just 50 minutes. BBC News - Bouncer murder

R v Machin – Murder of a drug dealer in a turf war in Manchester.

R v Hill – Client cleared of murder of a Korean student in the course of a robbery.

Chris Daw also practises from 25 Bedford Row in London - 25 Bedford Row Chambers.

Download Chris Daw CV