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Christopher Saad’s practice encompasses Crime, Fraud, Regulatory law, Inquiries and Inquests.
He is ranked as a leading junior barrister in the Legal 500 in both the Crime and the Professional Disciplinary & Regulatory categories. Recent testimonials in the directory describe him as, “very bright and able”, “extremely hardworking…shows real insight and strategic awareness” and “personable and well-liked by his clients”.
Crime and Fraud:
Christopher is consistently instructed in cases of a complex and high profile nature as both a led junior and a junior alone. These cases have included:
He also has extensive experience of representing clients charged with Road Traffic Offences, and has represented many high-net-worth individuals and media personalities in such cases.
Regulatory:
Christopher’s regulatory practice includes healthcare, sports and media.
He is also a member of the Specialist Regulatory Advocates in Health and Safety and Environmental Law Panel (Panel C).
Healthcare:
Christopher has represented and/or advised clients in relation to proceedings brought by the following healthcare regulators:
These cases have involved allegations of dishonesty, sexual misconduct, deficient professional performance, and serious clinical failings
Sports:
Christopher chairs the Safeguarding and Protection Committee at the Lawn Tennis Association, is a member of the Disciplinary and Grievance Panel at British Rowing and is a Chair and Panel member of the English Boxing Disciplinary National Disciplinary Panel. In addition to his sitting experience, Christopher has also advised in relation to alleged breaches of the English Football League Regulations.
Media:
Before coming to the Bar, Christopher worked as an Associate at the Office of Communications (Ofcom). He specialised in issues of unfair treatment and privacy in radio and television as well as leading several cases in which sanctions were imposed on broadcasters. At the Bar, Christopher has advised media companies in relation to Ofcom investigations, a media company on the merits of a regulatory complaint concerning the supply of English Premier League television rights to foreign broadcasters and a television channel in relation to the prohibition on political advertising and compliance with its licence obligations as to what constitutes “effective control” of a licensed service.
Inquiries and Inquests:
Christopher is currently instructed (April 2018 to present) as junior counsel in the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse, which was established to examine how the country’s institutions responded to their duty of care to protect children from sexual abuse.
Christopher was first junior Counsel in the Archdiocese of Birmingham Case Study and second junior Counsel in the Wider Hearing in the Roman Catholic Church Investigation.
Christopher also represents individuals and companies at Coroners’ Inquests. In particular Article 2 inquests involving the Health and Safety at Work Act.
Chris is regularly instructed in cases of size and complexity both as a led Junior or as a Junior alone. He has been listed as a leading junior criminal barrister in this year’s Legal 500. He is described as “extremely hardworking…shows real insight and strategic awareness”.
Recent examples of his work have been appearing as a led junior for the Crown in the prosecution of an unlawful act manslaughter (in which the defendants were convicted) and appearing as a led junior for the first defendant in an alleged carbon credits “boiler room” fraud (in which the defendants were acquitted).
Chris also specialises in representing clients charged with Road Traffic offences such as careless driving, speeding, drink driving and failing to provide a specimen. He has successfully represented clients on several occasions in advancing special reasons and exceptional hardship arguments. Such clients have included high-net-worth individuals and media personalities.
He is also direct access qualified and will accept instructions on this basis if appropriate.
Other highlights of Christopher’s criminal practice have included:
Due to Chris’s unique experience in media regulation he has also built a practice in media and information crime, including cases involving copyright infringement, malicious communications, “trolling”, data protection offences, computer misuse act offences and pirate radio, and has provided advice on whether an article may attract criminal liability if published.
CASES:
Chris acts for clients charged with large-scale conspiracies to defraud and money laundering. He has particular experience of working in Very High Cost Cases and in cases that attract national media attention.
He has been involved in several large and complex conspiracy to defraud trials, concerning cybercrime and commodities fraud (rare earth metals and carbon credits). He also appeared as a led junior in the prosecution of a man accused of defrauding the National Lottery.
Chris has considerable experience in advising on money laundering matters having been instructed to advise the Global Financial Crime division of an international bank on money laundering risk and compliance in both London and Geneva.
Chris has been instructed as Independent Counsel to the Serious Fraud Office in matters of Legal Professional Privilege and as a Disclosure Officer for the Financial Conduct Authority.
Christopher’s regulatory practice includes: healthcare, media and sports (please see sports law page of profile).
He is ranked as a leading junior barrister in the field of Professional Disciplinary and Regulatory in the Legal 500. This year’s directory contains the following quote: “Chris is very personable and his calm demeanour is reassuring to clients within the run up to, and during hearings. He understands the facts of a case quickly and from the perspective of an instructing solicitor, he is very easy to approach and likes to share ideas regarding hearing preparation and tactics.”
Chris is a member of the Specialist Regulatory Advocates in Health and Safety and Environmental Law Panel (Panel C).
Healthcare:
He has represented and/or advised clients in relation to proceedings brought by the following healthcare bodies:
These cases have involved allegations of dishonesty, sexual misconduct, deficient professional performance, and serious clinical failings.
Media:
Before coming to the Bar, Christopher worked as an Associate at the Office of Communications (Ofcom). He specialised in issues of unfair treatment and privacy in radio and television as well as leading several cases in which sanctions were imposed on broadcasters. At the Bar, Christopher has advised media companies in relation to Ofcom investigations, a media company on the merits of a regulatory complaint concerning the supply of English Premier League television rights to foreign broadcasters and a television channel in relation to the prohibition on political advertising and compliance with its licence obligations as to what constitutes “effective control” of a licensed service.
Christopher is currently instructed (April 2018 to present) as junior counsel in the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse, which was established to examine how the country’s institutions responded to their duty of care to protect children from sexual abuse.
Christopher was first instructed as first junior Counsel in the Archdiocese of Birmingham Case Study, part of the Roman Catholic Church investigation. As part of his role Christopher handled a number of witnesses during the live-streamed hearings, conducted a disclosure review of extensive amounts of material and advised generally during the investigation. Christopher was led by Jacqueline Carey.
Christopher was subsequently instructed as junior Counsel in the wider, final hearing of the Roman Catholic Church investigation, led by Brian Altman QC and Jacqueline Carey. Christopher again handled a number of witnesses during the live-streamed hearings, conducted a disclosure review and advised generally during the investigation.
Christopher also represents individuals and companies at Coroners’ Inquests. In particular Article 2 inquests involving the Health and Safety at Work Act.
Christopher acts in both a judicial capacity and as Counsel in sports disciplinary matters.
He currently holds appointments at the Lawn Tennis Association England Boxing and at British Rowing.
In addition to his sitting experience, Christopher has also provided advice in relation to alleged breaches of the English Football League Regulations (led by Jim Sturman QC).
Lawn Tennis Association
Chris chairs the Safeguarding and Protection Committee at the Lawn Tennis Association – the National Governing Body for tennis in Great Britain, Channel Islands and the Isle of Man.
He was appointed on 3rd March 2020 for a term of three years. The Safeguarding and Protection Committee take decisions on safeguarding cases, ensuring a proportionate response to allegations of a safeguarding nature.
England Boxing
Chris is a Chair and Panel member of the England Boxing National Disciplinary Board.
England Boxing is the national governing body for amateur and Olympic boxing and its National Disciplinary Panel plays a crucial role in the governance of the sport.
British Rowing
Chris is a member of the Disciplinary and Grievance Panel at British Rowing – the National Governing Body of the sport.
The Panel is set up by British Rowing to deal with matters referred to it by Regions, Clubs or individuals. The main function of the Panel is to resolve grievances, appeals (including selection appeals) and other disciplinary matters referred to it.
“Very bright and able.” Legal 500 2018 (Fraud)
“He is extremely hardworking and shows real insight and strategic awareness” Legal 500 2019 (Crime)
“He is very good in cross-examining difficult witnesses effectively but sympathetically” Legal 500 2020 (Fraud)
“Personable and well-liked by his clients” Legal 500 2020 (Crime)
“Chris is an excellent counsel and have only ever obtained excellent results with him. The clients welcome his friendly but very realistic and sensible approach and he is always able to step back and get the client to assess the wider context of the case. Professional and knowledgeable Chris takes the lead in a case and I have always been impressed with him.” Legal 500 2021 (Crime)
“Chris is very personable and his calm demeanour is reassuring to clients within the run up to, and during hearings. He understands the facts of a case quickly and from the perspective of an instructing solicitor, he is very easy to approach and likes to share ideas regarding hearing preparation and tactics.” Legal 500 2021(Professional Disciplinary and Regulatory Law)
Appointments:
Chair of the Safeguarding and Protection Committee, the Lawn Tennis Association
Chair and Panel Member, England Boxing National Disciplinary Board
Disciplinary and Grievance Panel Member, British Rowing
List of Specialist Regulatory Advocates in Health and Safety and Environmental Law (List C)