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Nigel Lithman QC

Year of call: 1976

Year of silk: 1997

Recorder: 1997

Education: LLB (Hons)

 

 

Nigel Lithman QC During 20012 is due to defend a trading standards case. Thereafter a high profile murder trial in Chelmsford, followed by another murder trial, before moving to an MTIC fraud in Birmingham.

So far in 2012 he has already appeared in the largest ever English Ponzi scheme trial for the first Defendant, allegedly defrauding "investors" of £60million.  This was followed by a murder trial at the Central Criminal Court

  In 2011 he continued to undertake a broad cross section of high profile criminal work including: Murder and manslaughter, Fraud, Regulatory work including Health and Safety, Police discipline medico Legal work and Road Traffic cases. In 2011 he successfully represented a solicitor charged by the SFO with a £50million mortgage fraud. The trial lasted 4 months.

 Immediately thereafter Nigel Lithman obtained the acquittal of a company director charged with attempting to pervert the course of justice following an indecent  assault and straight after that the acquittal of a  young  man charged with street violence . In 2011 in The Court of Appeal he achieved the quashing of a major drugs conviction. He is currently seeking to overturn a 7 year old conviction for murder following an eminent pathologist publicly expressing doubt in the safety of the verdict in which a 17 year old boy suffering with Aspergers syndrome was convicted of killing a child.

Within the last three years the large majority of trials in which he has defended have culminated in acquittals, including successfully representing Terence Clarke twice charged with murder. His skills are noted in highly sensitive cases including murders within families. He is Currently instructed in, a murder in which a man allegedly murdered his partner and their two year old child.

 Fraud. In 2010 he appeared in Ainscough - Money laundering, class A drugs conspiracy. Previously instructed in Operations Divert, Euripus and Capri and currently instructed in Operation Rosary.

 Police discipline and police crime: He has Defended 6 different police officers in last three years and lectured the force.

Health and Safety 2009 - Prosecuting crane fatality case, 2008 Whitely Village advising HSE on prosecution of trustees of charitable foundation following fatalities from gas explosion. Defended on numerous occasions poisoning or explosion cases. Expanding Medico Legal practice : 2009

GMC Dr. S.Proprietor of cosmetic procedure clinics;

2008 R v Hooper, proprietor of nursing home acquitted of manslaughter; R v Stocker acquitted of murder of her son by salt poisoning whilst suffering from Munchausen syndrome by proxy, 2 month case at old Bailey cross examining 60 staff and experts from Great Ormond Street Hospital. Prosecuted or Defended 6 shaking baby cases Road traffic work, includes: Many appearances in Death by Dangerous driving cases including in 2010 Larkland May.  

The most important parts of Nigel Lithman's successful reputation are his advocacy skill and client care. He attended as the guest silk invited by the Florida Bar Advocacy Convention to demonstrate cross-examination and is well known as a very funny after dinner speaker. 

Professional Memberships: South Eastern Circuit; CBA, Essex Bar Mess.  

Career: Master Bencher Inner Temple 2009, Chairman Essex Bar Mess 2002-05, Silk 1997, Recorder 1997, Year of call 1976.  

Personal: Married with 3 Step Children, has been Chairman of Highgate Synagogue since May 2008. Enjoys work in the community, supporting Leyton Orient F.C. and after dinner Speaking.  

 

 

2009 2010:

Nigel Lithman QC during 2009 and 2010 has continued to undertake a broad cross section of high profile criminal work as appears from the following :

 

CURRENT INSTRUCTIONS:

Operation Rosary - Charges cheating the Revenue and transferring criminal property.  Multi million pound MTIC fraud.

Oil for Food - Sanctions busting in Iraq. Advising executive of multinational engineering company

R v Scott & Others - Boiler room share dealing scam

R v Ainscough - Money laundering, class A drugs conspiracy

R v Tangelo 1.  U.M.B.S .Online Ltd - Fraudulent use of an online banking operation, to launder money, through multinational bank accounts in Sweden, Portugal, London and Panama

R v S. Murder at Old Bailey September 2009

R v R. Murder at Northampton Crown Court October 09

R v D. Murder at Stafford Crown Court October 09

R v O.J. Murder at The Old Bailey December 09

R v S.  Police Corruption Case - Corrupt running of informant involved in firebombing of senior police officers' houses

 

AREAS OF EXPERTISE: CASES 2008 - 2009

MURDER/MANSLAUGHTER:

Within the last 18 months 9 murder trials ended in acquittal or dismissal of the murder allegation by a jury in the case of each of the following Defendants:

R v S. September 09 Acquitted of gang related murder.

R v Zakrzewski  Polish National Charged with murdering his employer at The Old Bailey  - July 2009

R v Lawrence Bennett  Juvenile alleged to be the stabber in multi handed knife crimeat the Old Bailey July 2009

R v Clarke.  Charged with killing his mother's lover in multi handed  at The Old Bailey   March 2009

R v Beavis Former professional boxer charged with being joint party to murder. The Old Bailey  November 2008

R v Parrett. Cut throat multi handed murder trial at The Old Bailey  October 2008

R v Michael Johnson. Son alleged to have murdered his Father whilst in the throws of an epileptic fit suppressed by medication. The Old Bailey September 08.

R v Terry Benstead - Cut throat multi handed trial at Chelmsford 2008

R  v Chatsjatrjan - Defending an Azerbaijani in cut throat with his son in law, concerning  an assassination of a fellow countryman. Norwich Crown Court 2008

 

HEALTH AND SAFETY:

R v WD Bennett - Successful prosecution of two companies arising from cranes collapsing, killing or injuring three individuals  2009

R v Jilbert - Defending a gas fitter in relation to fatalities arising from a boiler explosion. This case was discontinued at the outset following defence representations to the Judge 2008

R v Whiteley Village advising Health and Safety Executive in prosecution of trustees to a charitable foundation following fatalities from a gas explosion.

R v Hooper  Successful defence of a care home proprietor for manslaughter following the incorrect provision of drugs 2008

R v Omo Bare  2008 Defending builder in gas explosion fatality case on manslaughter charge.

R v Maldon District Council.  Appearing successfully to prosecute local authority following drowning in local swimming pool \ lido.

 

FRAUD:

Operation Euripus - M.T.I.C. Carousel fraud - only one of two Defendants not convicted

Operation Divert - M.T.I.C  Liverpool 2008

Operation Capri - M.T.I.C  Northampton 2008.  Lowest sentence of any Defendant.

FRAUD CASES PRIOR TO 2008.

R v Rasool  2007 - Confiscation case. The Prosecution sought to recover £16 million and actually recovered £85,000

R v Hashash  - First carousel fraud to expose the need to charge as cheating the Revenue rather than under the  VAT acts. 2006

R v Walker & others - "The Ostrich Farm" SFO case  2005. Acquitted by jury.

R v Caswell 2005 . Appeared for defence in Prudential Insurance Co. Corruption case.

R v Eden - Chief Executive of P.L.C charged with falsifying information to affect end of year  figures and share prices  2003

R v Fleming - largest ever D.T.I. case. Acquitted on submission 2003

R v Palmer - London City Bond diversion case. Acquitted on submission

 

POLICE WORK:

Instructed on behalf of the Police Federation to represent high ranking police officers both at the Crown Court and in Police Discipline.

Examples include:

R v Joseph - Acquittal of a police Sergeant charged with assaulting a prisoner  2008-2009

R v West. 2007  Cleared of assault whilst on duty.

D.C. Evans 2006  cleared at tribunal in Teeside

Due to lecture The Police Federation in September 09.

 

MEDICO \ LEGAL WORK:

There has been a rapid expansion in this area of Nigel Lithman QC's Practice.

R v Dixon and Hooper 2008. Successful defence of manslaughter charge for wrongful administration of drugs.

R v Stocker 2007. Acquittal of murder of Mother in salt poisoning case. Mother suffering from Munchhausen by proxy syndrome. Over 60 experts called from multi disciplines mostly from Great Ormond Street. Three month Old Bailey trial.

3rd May 07, ITV released its programme Real Crime a deadly secret  concerning above case.

Re. Dr. S. Representing the proprietor of cosmetic centres at The G.M.C.

Shaking Baby Cases including successful prosecution of a Father in:

R v. ANSELL  Chelmsford Crown Court, based on finding of triad of injuries.

ROAD TRAFFIC  WORK , includes.

Many appearances in Death by Dangerous driving cases, for example

R v Douglas  Taylor 2007, now a sentencing authority.

Used by Campaign against Drunken Driving for private prosecutions nationwide

 

Most important part of Nigel Lithman's successful reputation is  his Advocacy skill :

Chambers UK Directory 2007 - "popular jury advocate", considered "the go-to man when you need someone to cut to the chase and make things accessible to the court".

Attended as the guest silk invited by the Florida Bar Advocacy Convention to demonstrate cross-examination and join a panel of American judges reviewing the performance of young attorneys 2007.

 

PERSONAL:

Married with 3 Step Children. Enjoys work in the community, supporting Leyton Orient F.C. and Public Speaking.

Cases

Miscellaneous Crime

R v David Courtney

"Celebrity criminal!" Charged with perverting the course of justice.

R v Stone

Armed Robbery.

Court : Central Criminal Court

R v Linford

Death in Custody.

R v David Courtney CCC
R v Linford

Serious Fraud Office Prosecution

R v Iqbal

Vat fraud based on using Red Diesel fuel.

Date : 2006

R v Jarvis

3 month diversion fraud

Date : 2006

R v Glover

Operation Divert – Carousel Fraud

Court : Liverpool Crown Court

Date : 2007

R v Falk

Carousel fraud

Date : 2003

R v Palmer London City Bond

Date : 2002

R v Hashash

Date : 2002

R v Aspen & Ors

Date : 2002

R v Massingham
R v Kaye
R v Walker & Ors

Health and Safety

R v Phillips

Unsafe system in hospital pharmacy.

R v Dixon and Hooper

Death in a Care Home.

Date : 2007

R v Omo-Bare

Nigel Lithman QC has just defended a Health and Safety manslaughter/gas boiler/carbon monoxide poisoning case at the Old Bailey.

Court : Central Criminal Court

R v Maldon District Council

Date : 2004

R v Wheeler
R v Morris

Manslaughter through gas boiler poisoning.

Regulatory Offences

Baby P Case

Advised the General Social Care Council tribunal in applications to suspend two social careworkers in the Baby P Case.

Date : 2008

Murder/Manslaughter

R v Terry Benstead

Cut-throat multi-handed trial.

Court : Chelmsford Crown Court

Date : 2008

R v Parrett

Cut-throat multi-handed murder trial.

Court : Old Bailey

Date : 2008

R v Lawrence-Bennett

Juvenile alleged to be the stabber in multi-handed knife crime.

Court : Old Bailey

Date : 2009

R v Zak Rzewski

Polish national charged with murdering his employer.

Court : Old Bailey

Date : 2009

Cadogan & Others

Secured the acquittal for murder and manslaughter of Lee Beavis a well known Welterweight boxer.

Court : The Old Bailey

Date : 2008

R v Mayanja

Murder in an ambulance case.

Court : Central Criminal Court

Date : 2006

R v Birmingham

Cut throat defence at The Old Bailey. Acquitted.

Court : Central Criminal Court

Date : 2006

R v Patterson

Murder reduced to manslaughter.

Court : Central Criminal Court

Date : 2006

R v Clarke

Acquitted upon submission.

Court : Central Criminal Court

Date : 2007

R v Peterson

Court : Central Criminal Court

Date : 2000

R v Chatsjat Rjan

Court : Norwich Crown Court

Date : 2005

R v Parker

Date : 2005

R v Paton

Murder by battered wife of husband.

R v Tien Lai

Murder by sixteen year olds.

R v Pearce

Gangland Murder.

Date : 1999

Confiscation and Restraint

R v Litt

Authorities seeking £1.3 million,recovered £40,000

Court : Bristol Crown Court

Date : 2006

R v Parveen
R v Chopra
R v Rassool

Successful defence against claim for £16 million.

Smuggling

R v Jarvis

Date : 2005

Fraud

R v Cleveley

Carousel Fraud Acting for the defence in Capri II.

Date : 2005

R v Caswell

Date : 2005

R v Chopra & Ors

Confiscation, claim by Customs of £16 million.

Date : 2002

R v Parvee & Ors

Confiscation claim by Customs of £16 million.

Date : 2002

R v Rassool & Ors

Confiscation, claim by Customs of £16 million.

Date : 2001

R v Michael Michael

Series of briefs in this super grass Customs and Excise case

R v Litanzios and Edwards

Inland Revenue prosecution

Domestic Appellate Cases

DC Evans

Cleared at tribunal in Teeside.

Date : 2006

Child Killing

R v Ansell

Nigel Lithman QC and Christine Agnew prosecuted to conviction a child killing case. The trial involved 13 experts of varying paediatric specialities, including as to "the triad" of brain injuries, from Great Ormond Street Hospital and other centres of excellence.

Court : Chelmsford Crown Court

Date : 2007

R v Stocker

Date : 2005

R v Onley

Manslaughter by mother on child.

Date : 2003

R v Smith

Date : 2002

R v Tsang

Date : 2001

R v Ngai

Police Work

R v West

Cleared of assault whilst on duty.

Date : 2007

R v Jay

Appearing for an officer who had entered a domestic dwelling in order to prevent a continuing breach of the peace and in effecting the arrest of a householder who immediately collapsed and died.

Date : 2009

R v Joseph

Acquittal of a police Sergeant charged with assaulting a prisoner.

Date : 2009