Pump Court

Kieran Vaughan KC

Call 1993
Silk 2012

“Kieran is possibly the best KC of our generation."

Legal 500 2024

"Tactically astute, he's head and shoulders above most of the rest."

Chambers & Partners 2024

"He has more than one speed - he can turn his hand to everything and has fantastic judgement."

Chambers & Partners 2024

Memberships
  • Criminal Bar Association
Directory Quotes
  • “Kieran is possibly the best KC of our generation. He is an amazing lawyer with tactical nous and a wonderful court manner. His cross-examination is skilful and incisive, his legal arguments are well prepared and persuasive, and he is committed to the clients he represents. A brilliant all-rounder – not a hint of any weakness.” The Legal 500 2024
  • Kieran is “a prominent defence barrister with expertise in major criminal matters including drug smuggling, firearms, murder and attempted murder cases. He also maintains an established practice acting in Northern Ireland.” Chambers and Partners 2024
  • “Tactically astute, he’s head and shoulders above most of the rest. Juries love him because he has a beautiful way of expressing himself and he gets to the heart of the case.” Chambers and Partners 2024
  • “He has more than one speed – he can turn his hand to everything and has fantastic judgement.” Chambers and Partners 2024
  • “A devastating cross-examiner with a lovely manner.” Legal 500 2020
  • “Highly recommended for a wide range of fraud cases.” Legal 500 2020
  • “A devastating cross-examiner with a lovely manner.” Legal 500 2020
  • “Highly recommended for a wide range of fraud cases.” Legal 500 2020
  • “A top silk and criminal heavyweight who comes highly regarded due to his exceptional legal mind and effective jury advocacy.” Chambers & Partners 2019
  • “A very skillful and deliberate man who is a brilliant jury advocate.” Chambers & Partners 2019
  • “A top silk and criminal heavyweight who comes highly regarded due to his exceptional legal mind and effective jury advocacy. He’s calm, unflappable and great in front of the judiciary.” Chambers & Partners 2018
  • “His cross-examination is first rate, his submissions concise and his speeches excellent.” Legal 500 2018 (Business & Regulatory Crime)
  • “He has a lovely manner which is as effective on difficult clients as it is on a jury.” Legal 500 2018 (Fraud)
  • “Very calm and a good advocate, with good judgement.” Legal 500 2018 (Crime)
  • “Exceptionally bright, very sharp, and someone who combines intellectual talent with a very approachable manner.” Chambers & Partners UK 2017
  • “Kieran is constantly working. He never stops thinking about the case and has an eye for detail which is second to none.” Chambers & Partners UK 2017
  • “A standout defence silk.” Legal 500 2017 (Crime)
  • “He commands complete respect for his handling of cases and is fantastic at dealing with difficult clients.” Legal 500 2017 (Fraud: Crime)
  • “A great speech-maker, who is exceptional in difficult cases.” Legal 500 2017 (Business & Regulatory Crime)
  • “He combines advocacy in rate-rigging cases with a strong fraud and violence practice.” Legal 500 2016 (Business & Regulatory Crime)
  • “A real class act in court.” Legal 500 2016 (Crime)
  • “One of the hardest working silks solicitors know.” Legal 500 2016 (Fraud: Crime)
  • “He is enthusiastic and applies himself with vigour.” Chambers UK 2016
  • “A joy to watch in court.” “He has a grasp of cases long before they get to court.” Legal 500 2015

Instructing Kieran Vaughan KC

To instruct Kieran or for any further information please contact our clerks.

Clerk: John Grimmer
Telephone: +44 (0)7776 154 664
Email: Click here

Kieran Vaughan KC “is possibly the best KC of our generation” (The Legal 500 2024).

Kieran is widely recognised as one of the UK’s top criminal trial and appeal barristers whose experience in dealing with the most serious, complex and high-profile cases is almost unparalleled. Over the years he has defended individuals in the Crown Court and Court of Appeal in many of the highest profile fraud, murder, terrorist, sexual offences and serious crime cases to come before the courts. To name but a small selection:

The Legal 500 2024 described Kieran as “possibly the best KC of our generation. He is an amazing lawyer with tactical nous and a wonderful court manner. His cross-examination is skilful and incisive, his legal arguments are well prepared and persuasive, and he is committed to the clients he represents. A brilliant all-rounder – not a hint of any weakness.”

Chambers and Partners 2024 ranked Kieran in Tier one and observed that he is “a prominent defence barrister with expertise in major criminal matters including drug smuggling, firearms, murder and attempted murder cases. He also maintains an established practice acting in Northern Ireland.

“Tactically astute, he’s head and shoulders above most of the rest. Juries love him because he has a beautiful way of expressing himself and he gets to the heart of the case.”

“He has more than one speed – he can turn his hand to everything and has fantastic judgement.”

The directories have previously shortlisted Kieran as Crime Silk of the year (the Legal 500) and commented that he is “a devastating cross-examiner with a lovely manner;” “A brilliant jury advocate;” “A real class act in court;” “A joy to watch in court;” and “One of the hardest working Silks solicitors know.”  

Practice Areas

Fraud

Kieran Vaughan KC is one of the UK’s leading fraud barristers with an impressive range of experience. Kieran’s experience in the area of fraud cases extends over the entire spectrum of such cases, encompassing both tax fraud and other types of fraud.

Tax Frauds

  • VAT fraud such as carousel and missing trader fraud (MTIC)
  • Stamp duty evasion fraud
  • Cheating the Revenue
  • Tax-saving scheme fraud
  • Construction industry scheme fraud (CIS)

Other Frauds

  • Insider trading
  • False accounting
  • Mortgage fraud
  • Insolvency or liquidation fraud
  • Trading while insolvent
  • Conspiracy to defraud
  • Boiler room fraud
  • Forgery
  • Building and maintenance contract fraud

Kieran is widely recognised for many years by the main directories as being one of the UK’s top barristers. The Legal 500 2024 described Kieran as “possibly the best KC of our generation. He is an amazing lawyer with tactical nous and a wonderful court manner. His cross-examination is skilful and incisive, his legal arguments are well prepared and persuasive, and he is committed to the clients he represents. A brilliant all-rounder – not a hint of any weakness.”

Notable Cases – (for press coverage on each case – click on hyperlink)

HBos Fraud

Kieran represented the first defendant, David Mills, who was accused of defrauding HBoS to the sum of over £245 million. The case made significant headlines both nationally and internationally, and has resulted in a review by Dame Linda Dobbs following Lloyds Banking Group’s acquisition of HBoS.

CS

Carl Smith was charged with fraud and money laundering. The prosecution was brought by Essex Trading Standards against a number of individuals who were trading in solar panels and ancillary products. The fraud was said to be in the region of £6.5 million. Mr Smith was acquitted of fraud and received a suspended sentence of imprisonment for money laundering

X

Successfully defended a solicitor who was accused of a high profile multi million pound fraud on the Legal Aid Agency. This is one of the most significant and high profile cases in the criminal courts largely due to the fact that a number of the defendants are barristers, solicitors and judges. X is a senior solicitor and was accused of being behind a multi-million pound fraud against the Legal Aid Agency. X was acquitted after trial.

X

Represented a company director who was accused of being party to N Ireland’s largest VAT fraud. The fraud had many facets including an allegation that the defendants were involved in a CIS scheme fraud.

A

The pros allege that Mr Ali was party to a plot to smuggle gold into UK from Dubai and India. The plot was said to have cost the public purse some £16 million in lost VAT payments.

AT

Kieran represented a solicitor who was accused of defrauding the Legal Aid Agency. Mrs Twum ran a very successful office in London. The prosecution case was that she was responsible for over claiming £3.8 million. The trial judge acceded to an application to exclude a substantial amount of Home Office records on the basis that the system was unreliable the trial judge. This reduced the loss to just under £40,000.

Crime

Kieran Vaughan KC has been recognised for many years by all of the main directories as being one of the UK’s leading barristers defending those accused of the most serious of crimes. Kieran and has been instructed in some of the most serious and high-profile cases in the UK.

Kieran is currently instructed in a number of high-profile cases in which the main evidence emanates from ENCRO devices. All involved very large scale importations and the supply of large amounts of Class A drugs. Given the fact that they are ongoing, Kieran has decided not to name them. Further details can be obtained from his clerks.

Kieran is widely recognised for many years by the main directories as being one of the UK’s top barristers. The Legal 500 2024 described Kieran as “possibly the best KC of our generation. He is an amazing lawyer with tactical nous and a wonderful court manner. His cross-examination is skilful and incisive, his legal arguments are well prepared and persuasive, and he is committed to the clients he represents. A brilliant all-rounder – not a hint of any weakness.”

Notable Cases (for press coverage on each case – click on hyperlink)

Tomas Kavanagh

Thomas “Bomber” Kavanagh pleaded guilty to being the head of an international conspiracy to import cocaine. Mr Kavanagh was alleged to be the “top man” of the UK branch of the worldwide Kinahan cartel, which has recently been targeted by the USA. Mr Kavanagh was widely reported to have been one of the individuals in overall control of this world-wide organisation. The case was reported in the international press. Further details of Mr Kavanagh can be seen in the attached press reports and Wikipedia Page

M

Kieran was privately instructed to lead the defence for this defendant who was acquitted of masterminding a plot to smuggle ½ tonne of cocaine from Columbia on a private jet. Mr M had fled the jurisdiction on the day that others were arrested and he made his way to Thailand where he was extradited back to the UK to face trial. Mr M was detailed in the High Security Unit at HMP Belmarsh, such was his alleged seniority in the drug trade. The case itself was extremely complex, demanding and involved a multinational investigation into the activities of the organised criminal group (OCG). The case achieved both national and international press coverage, such was the size and boldness of the importation.

ST

ST was a landlady of a number of blocks of properties. This was the largest ever case prosecuted by Thanet District Council, and one of the most significant of its kind. She was convicted of being responsible for a number of serious offences connected to a scheme to unlawfully evict tenants that she no longer wished to stay in her properties. One complainant maintained that she had been responsible for sending a group of men to attack him by beating him us and pouring petrol over him and threatening him. The case was very widely reported.

RN

Representing Reiss Nelson, the Arsenal footballer, who is charged with an offence in connection with a dangerous dog.

C

Privately instructed to represent CS, the former Chief Financial Officer of an international Swiss Bank. Mr S was accused of assault. The case was very high profile and widely reported in the national press. Mr S was acquitted of all charges.

LT

Kieran was privately instructed to lead the defence for Mr T who was accused of attempting to murder Paul Allen, the individual who was responsible for the Securitas Robbery (the largest cash robbery in UK history). The gunman had shot at Mr Allen. The allegation was that the shooting was the result of a fallout between two organised criminal gangs (OCG). The case involved significant and difficult disclosure issues which resulted in many applications before the Court for material concerning the intended targets criminal past. Mr T was acquitted.

CS

Carl Smith was charged with fraud and money laundering. The prosecution was brought by Essex Trading Standards against a number of individuals who were trading in solar panels and ancillary products. The fraud was said to be in the region of £6.5 million. Mr Smith was acquitted of fraud and received a suspended sentence of imprisonment for money laundering.

JB

Represented a defendant in the case involving Terry Adams in relation to a number of allegations of money laundering in what has been described as one of the largest and most detailed cases in British history. It was alleged that Adams was the head of one of the most successful criminal families the country has ever known.

LM

Defended LM who was a defendant in the Tommy Adams money laundering case. The main evidence in the case came from a listening device that was implanted in a café in Holborn that was used by Tommy Adams and LM.

Nicolas

Successfully defended a defendant who was accused of being party to stealing £1,000,000 worth of gold bullion in Belgium. The case involved, amongst other matters, the use of foreign intercept telephone evidence. The case received an enormous amount of publicity partially due to the fact that one of the defendants was stepfather to a TOWIE actor. Mr Nicolas was acquitted of all counts.

Padda

Mr Padda, a retired pensioner, was charged with perverting the course of justice following a shooting incident. Following a successful legal application the case against him was dismissed.

CC

Mr C was accused with a number of others of the theft of thousands of tonnes of railway track from Network Rail. Mr C and his family ran a scrap metal yard in Kent. Following a very lengthy trial Mr C was acquitted.

RL

I was instructed to represent on a privately funded basis. Mr Ling is a member of a business family in Kent and faced an indictment alleging that he was part of a conspiracy to murder two men whom he believed were responsible for carrying out a violent attack against one of his friends. When he was arrested, he was found to be in possession of a loaded firearm, said to be the weapon he planned to murder the two men with.

Colin Edwards

Mr Edwards was charged with being the inside man on a robbery of a Post Office in Hastings. The robbers got away with £7.8 million in cash.

Kevin Fox

Mr Fox was accused of robbery of gold bullion worth over £ 7 million from Johnson Matthey in North London. Armed robbers broke into the premises and took the gold bars. Mr Fox was acquitted of robbery and associated firearm offences.

V

Mr Vorstenbosch was accused of being involved in a sophisticated plot to import £12 million worth of cocaine in a helicopter.

G

Mr Gonzalez was charged with a number of others of importing millions of pounds worth of cocaine into the UK. The drugs were imported in specially designed hides within luxury vehicles.

Fillingham

Defended Freddy Fillingham who along with a number of other defendants was accused of importing the largest ever single consignment of cocaine imported to date (£90 million).

Appeals

Kieran is frequently instructed to represent individuals on appeals against conviction and sentence, where he did not act in the original trial, both in this jurisdiction and in Northern Ireland.

Representing individuals on appeal often includes advising upon whether there are grounds to refer a conviction to the Criminal Cases Review Commission. Once there has been an unsuccessful appeal this is the only way in which an appeal can be referred to the Court of Appeal (see the Ched Evans case below).

Kieran is widely recognised for many years by the main directories as being one of the UK’s top barristers. The Legal 500 2024 described Kieran as “possibly the best KC of our generation. He is an amazing lawyer with tactical nous and a wonderful court manner. His cross-examination is skilful and incisive, his legal arguments are well prepared and persuasive, and he is committed to the clients he represents. A brilliant all-rounder – not a hint of any weakness.”

Notable Cases – (for press coverage on each case – click on hyperlink)

Ched Evans

A professional footballer who was originally convicted of rape. Kieran did not appear at the original trial but was instructed to lead the appeal on behalf of Mr Evans. As Mr Evans had already had his appeal against conviction refused by the Court of Appeal the only route to appeal was via the CCRC. Having considered submissions, the CCRC referred the case to the Court of Appeal who heard a lengthy appeal against conviction involving fresh evidence from a number of witnesses. The Court of Appeal quashed his conviction.

CC

Not having represented Christine at her original trial Kieran was instructed to advise and represent Miss Connor on an appeal against conviction in the Court of Appeal, Northern Ireland. Miss Connor had been convicted of a number of terrorist related offences including attempting to murder a number of police officers. After a lengthy three-day appeal involving live evidence all of Miss Connor’s convictions were quashed.

MB

Kieran represented Mr B in the Court of Appeal, not having represented him at trial. Mr Baxter and two others (DS and RP) had been convicted in 2010 of conspiracy to murder. The entire appeal process lasted three years. The appeal largely concerned the use of forensic voice evidence and involved the Court of Appeal hearing evidence from a number of expert witnesses. The original convictions were quashed and Mr B was subsequently acquitted in a re-trial.

Michael McKevit

Kieran advised and represented Michael in an appeal against the findings of the High Court in N Ireland that he was responsible for the Omagh Bombing. Mr McKevitt had been convicted in Dublin of leading and directing the Real IRA. The mainstay of the evidence against him came from a FBI and Mi5 agent David Rupert, who has subsequently written a book about his involvement with the organization.

V

Mr V was accused of being involved in a sophisticated plot to import £12 million worth of cocaine in a helicopter. Kieran dealt with the case in the Court of Appeal where Mr V appealed against his sentence.

G

Mr G was charged with a number of others of importing millions of pounds worth of cocaine into the UK. The drugs were imported in specially designed hides within luxury vehicles. Kieran dealt with the case in the Court of Appeal where Mr G appealed against his sentence.

Murder & Manslaughter

Over the years Kieran has represented many individuals who have been accused of murder and manslaughter at first instance and on appeal, and he has developed a reputation as being a leading KC in this area. Kieran has dealt with the entire spectrum of cases of this kind including:

  • Gangland killings.
  • Contract killings.
  • Revenge killings.
  • Drug-related killings.
  • Domestic killings.
  • Self-defence killings.

Murder / Manslaughter allegations often involved issues of a scientific nature, such as DNA evidence and cell site evidence. Kieran has developed extensive experience in dealing with matters such as these. His interest in DNA began when he successfully represented Sean Hoey who was accused of 29 murders and has continued throughout the following years. It was against that background that he was invited to write the forward to a leading scientific text book on DNA – “A Guide To Forensic DNA Profiling.”

Kieran is widely recognised for many years by the main directories as being one of the UK’s top barristers. The Legal 500 2024 described Kieran as “possibly the best KC of our generation. He is an amazing lawyer with tactical nous and a wonderful court manner. His cross-examination is skilful and incisive, his legal arguments are well prepared and persuasive, and he is committed to the clients he represents. A brilliant all-rounder – not a hint of any weakness.”

Notable Cases – (for press coverage on each case – click on hyperlink)

DK

Defended DK, a 16 year old accused of murdering Romaria Opia who had been fatally stabbed in what was said to be an incident of gang violence. DK was acquitted of murder.

YA

Successfully defended Mr A in what was known as “The Regent Park stabbing” case. The case attracted a huge amount of national media coverage. The case was particularly difficult due to the fact that Mr A required an intermediary to assist him throughout the proceedings. Mr Ahmed was acquitted of murder.

JO

Successfully defended Mr O who, along with two others, was accused of the murder of Harry Uzoka who was widely recognised as the UK’s first black male supermodel. The case attracted a huge amount of both national and international media coverage. Mr O was the only defendant to be acquitted of murder.

SC

Mr C and two others were accused of the murder of Amara Toure. The case was widely publicised as the killing was one of the first cases which was captured on CCTV from a RING doorbell. Mr C was acquitted of murder and the other two defendants convicted of murder.

SM

Mr M and six other defendants were tried for the killing of Edmond Jonuzi near Turnpike Lane Underground station. Mr M was acquitted of the killing and convicted of violent disorder. The case was complicated by virtue of the fact that there was a large number of defendants who were presenting differing defences. Mr M was acquitted of manslaughter.

LC

Represented LC who was accused of being party to a murder and attempted murder of two young men in a public house in Essex. Mr C was 17 years old at the time of the killing. The case involved complex forensic evidence, such as DNA. Mr C pleaded guilty to murder. The case was very high profile and was widely reported in the national press.

IV

Mr V and a number of others were accused of murdering Sandel Serbu by beating him to death with pickaxe handles in the middle of Ilford town centre. Mr V was acquitted of murder.

SM

Defended SM who was accused of murder. Three men broke into the victim’s house and fatally stabbed him with samurai swords in what was alleged to be a gang revenge attack. Amongst other things, the prosecution case involved complex DNA evidence. Mr M was acquitted of murder.

GA

Represented GA who was accused of murder. The victim was shot five times in a nightclub in Leicester Square on Christmas Day. Mr A was acquitted of murder.

PT

Represented PT who was accused of murder. Mr T had supposedly orchestrated the murder of a man in south-east London. The victim was shot to death with a sawn-off shotgun. Mr T was acquitted of murder.

W

Represented Mr W who along with others was accused of organising the murder of a drugs rival. Reece Menzies was shot in Bournemouth. The case involved audio surveillance and complex scientific evidence such as cell site and firearms evidence. Mr W was acquitted of murder.

LR

Successfully defended one of two twins charged with a double murder. The two victims were shot in the head with a shotgun in their flat. Following legal argument, the identification evidence was excluded. The prosecution appealed to the Court of Appeal and failed. All four defendants were acquitted of all counts of murder.

AH

Represented AH who was accused of murder. The prosecution’s case was that he was a part of a gang of youths who murdered a young man at a party. Mr H was acquitted of murder.

B

Successfully represented LB who was accused of murder. The victim was stabbed 14 times in the middle of High Wycombe High Street. Mr Burns was acquitted of murder.

GC

Successfully represented GC who was accused of murdering his landlady by strangling her to death. Mr GC was acquitted of murder and convicted of manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility.

HI

Mr Iqbal was accused of being part of an “honour killing.” A house in Blackburn was set fire to resulting in two individuals being killed. It subsequently materialised that the perpetrators had in fact set fire to the wrong house.

Terrorism

Kieran Vaughan KC has been recognised for many years by all of the main directories as being one of the UK’s leading barristers defending those accused of terrorism. Throughout the years Kieran has been instructed in some of the most serious and high-profile terrorist cases in both this jurisdiction and N Ireland.

Kieran is widely recognised for many years by the main directories as being one of the UK’s top barristers. The Legal 500 2024 described Kieran as “possibly the best KC of our generation. He is an amazing lawyer with tactical nous and a wonderful court manner. His cross-examination is skilful and incisive, his legal arguments are well prepared and persuasive, and he is committed to the clients he represents. A brilliant all-rounder – not a hint of any weakness.”

Notable Cases (for press coverage on each case – click on hyperlink)

SH (Omagh Bombing)

Kieran successfully defended SH who was accused, amongst other offences, of 29 murders following the Omagh Bombing. The case caused headlines throughout the world due to the devastating consequences of the bomb and the impact it had upon the peace process (it haven taken place only 13 weeks after the Good Friday Agreement was signed). Mr H was acquitted of all counts.

Michael McKevitt (Omagh Bombing civil case)

ZI

Defending in a case that achieved enormous national media attention due to the lurid details of the plot to kidnap and behead a British soldier.

N

According to the prosecution opening, the planned bombing campaign would have been more devastating than 7/7. Mr N and his co-defendants were accused of being part of a plot to carry out a bombing campaign in Birmingham.

D

Represented MD who was accused of plotting with her two daughters to carry out a terrorist attack in Westminster. The three defendants were widely reported as being the first ever female terrorist cell in the UK and according to the prosecution “planned to launch an attack, using knives, against members of the public, selected largely at random, in the environs of the Palace of Westminster in central London. This would have been an attack that would at the very least have caused widespread panic, but was intended to involve the infliction of serious injury and death.”

CC

Kieran was instructed to represent CC on an appeal against her convictions for conspiracy to murder and conspiracy to cause explosions in the Court of Appeal in Belfast. Kieran did not represent Miss C at first instance. Miss C was originally convicted of plotting to kill police officers by luring them to a particular area and then detonating a number of explosive devices. One such device was in fact detonated causing serious injury to a police officer. The appeal lasted three days in the Court of Appeal. The appeal was successful, and all convictions were quashed.

DK

DK was accused of being part of a Real IRA plot to purchase an arsenal of weapons in Eastern Europe said to have amounted to tonnes. The weapons he was alleged to have tried to purchase was rocket launchers, sea to air missiles and plastic explosives on behalf of the Real IRA.

The case involved Mi5. Mi5 were responsible for setting up the “sting” in Eastern Europe.

Following legal argument concerning entrapment and disclosure failings in the prosecution case, the trial judge dismissed the case against Mr K.

AT

Kieran represented Mr Taj who was accused of being party to a plot to set fire to the premises of a publishing company in order to prevent the publication of a book said to be offensive to Muslims called “The Jewel of Medina”.

Usman Khan

Mr K was charged with eight others of a number of terrorist related plots including a plan to blow up the London Stock Exchange and to purchase land abroad and train terrorists with a view to returning to the UK. Having pleaded guilty to part of the indictment Mr Khan received a custodial sentence. Whilst he was attending a course as part of his rehabilitation, he carried out the fatal attacks on London Bridge in which he stabbed to death two individuals.

SK

Mr K and his wife had planned to carry out a terror attack on a Jewish community in north-west England in an attempt to carry out “jihad at home.”

TA

Mr Aziz was accused with two others of being part of a plot to carry out a bombing campaign in Stoke.

McGeough

Mr McGeough was accused of attempted murder of a soldier in N Ireland. The victim managed to shoot his assailant before he managed to escape. The same man ended up in a nearby hospital where he was kept under guard by the police, however, he managed to escape and eventually made his way to Sweden where he claimed political asylum. The asylum application, in which admissions were made, formed the main body of evidence against him. Following his conviction Mr McGeough appealed unsuccessfully to the Supreme Court.

Crawley

John Crawley and his co-defendants were known as the “A-Team” (John Grieve Head of Scotland yard Anti-Terror Unit). They were accused of being an IRA cell who had come to England to blow up a number of key electricity power stations positioned around London. The economic loss was said to be incalculable.

Murphy

Kieran represented Jimmy Murphy who was part of an IRA cell in London. Mr Murphy and his co-defendants were convicted of planning to carry out a huge explosion in the City. When arresting the defendants in Hammersmith, West London, one of the suspects, Diarmuid O’Neil was shot dead. The case received very wide press coverage both here and abroad.

Money-Laundering & Confiscation

Kieran Vaughan KC is one of the country’s most highly respected money-laundering barristers. Kieran’s experience in dealing with such cases is vast and covers the largest sums to the smallest cash finds. Not only are money laundering charges extremely serious (bringing with them a sentence up to 14 years custody), but they bring with them the threat of confiscation of assets. Confiscation can result in the seizure of assets and the imposition of a lengthy sentence in default. Such is Kieran’s expertise in this area that he was invited by Sweet and Maxwell, the leading legal publisher, to co-author a text book on confiscation.

Kieran is widely recognised for many years by the main directories as being one of the UK’s top barristers. The Legal 500 2024 described Kieran as “possibly the best KC of our generation. He is an amazing lawyer with tactical nous and a wonderful court manner. His cross-examination is skilful and incisive, his legal arguments are well prepared and persuasive, and he is committed to the clients he represents. A brilliant all-rounder – not a hint of any weakness.”

Notable Cases – (for press coverage on each case – click on hyperlink)

HBoS

Kieran represented the first defendant, David Mills, who was accused of defrauding HBoS to the sum of over £245 million. The case made significant headlines both nationally and internationally, and has resulted in a review by Dame Linda Dobbs following Lloyds Banking Group’s acquisition of HBoS.

SA

Kieran was privately instructed to represent Mr A who was accused of money laundering. This was the largest ever Met police cash seizure and one of the largest ever cash seizures in the UK. The police seized over £5,000,000 in cash from a flat in Fulham, London (the photographs within the reports say it all!). The evidence revealed an international plan to move large amounts of cash from the UK. The amount of money laundered was staggering. The case received a huge amount of national newspaper and television coverage.

CS

CS was charged with fraud and money laundering. The prosecution was brought by Essex Trading Standards against a number of individuals who were trading in solar panels and ancillary products. The fraud was said to be in the region of £6.5 million. Mr S was acquitted of fraud and received a suspended sentence of imprisonment for money laundering.

Kuksov

Mr Kuksov was charged with laundering over £12 million.

Gerard Grischew

Kieran successfully defended Mr Grischew on a privately funded basis. The trial lasted for over eight weeks. Mr Grischew was accused of being the head of a multi-million pounds international money laundering organisation. The operation was said to have involved the movement of millions of pounds of sterling to Germany, Ukraine and Dubai where the money was converted into foreign currency and exchanged for precious items such as high value watches (some worth £500,000 each) and gold. In what was a complex and difficult case part of the defence involved calling evidence from Dubai and Gibraltar and Germany.

H

Successfully defended a very wealthy and successful businessman who was accused of being involved in an international money laundering operation.

Aminov

Mr Aminov was found in possession of over £300,000 in cash. Following a guilty plea Mr Aminov received a suspended sentence of imprisonment.

P

Successfully defended an individual related to a premiership footballer who was accused of money laundering.

L

Mr L was accused of being responsible for organising an international money laundering operation through a number of bureau de changes in central London. The prosecution case was that he was behind the laundering of over £6,000,000, but that this was the tip of a much larger iceberg.

JB

Represented a defendant in the case involving Terry Adams in relation to a number of allegations of money laundering in what has been described as one of the largest and most detailed cases in British history. It was alleged that Adams was the head of one of the most successful criminal families the country has ever known.

LM

Defended LM who was a defendant in the Tommy Adams money laundering case. The main evidence in the case came from a listening device that was implanted in a café in Holborn that was used by Tommy Adams and LM.

Nicolas

Successfully defended a defendant who was accused of being party to stealing and money laundering of £1,000,000 worth of gold bullion in Belgium. The case involved, amongst other matters, the use of foreign intercept telephone evidence. The case received an enormous amount of publicity partially due to the fact that one of the defendants was stepfather to a TOWIE actor. Mr Nicolas was acquitted of all counts.

Serious Sexual Offences

Given the sensitivities concerning offences of a sexual nature, it is not possible to list all the many significant cases of this kind that Kieran has been involved in. That having been said, Kieran has extensive experience in dealing with all allegations of a sexual nature including rape, indecent assault and the possession of indecent images. For further details of Kieran’s experience in this area please speak to his clerk.

Kieran is widely recognised for many years by the main directories as being one of the UK’s top barristers. The Legal 500 2024 described Kieran as “possibly the best KC of our generation. He is an amazing lawyer with tactical nous and a wonderful court manner. His cross-examination is skilful and incisive, his legal arguments are well prepared and persuasive, and he is committed to the clients he represents. A brilliant all-rounder – not a hint of any weakness.”

Notable Cases – (for press coverage on each case – click on hyperlink)

Ched Evans

At the time of his original trial (at which he was not represented by Kieran) Mr Evans was a professional footballer. Subsequent to his conviction Kieran led the case for Mr Evans in the Court of Appeal. Having heard legal argument over a number of days the Court quashed Mr Evans’ conviction.

PF

Successfully defended PF who, along with three others, was accused of raping a fellow student at the Royal Agricultural University. Following legal arguments relating to disclosure the prosecution offered no evidence against all defendants on all counts. The case achieved significant national press coverage due to the fact that it was largely as a result of successfully obtaining the complainant’s mobile phone download that resulted in the case being dismissed.

Z

Kieran represented a retired senior BBC employee who was accused of possessing indecent images. Received a suspended sentence.

S

Mr S was a retired businessman who was accused of a number of very serious sexual offences children in what turned out to be a police sting operation mounted against him. Mr S pleaded guilty to the offences and received a suspended sentence of imprisonment.

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