Edward Rees QC

"An impassioned speech maker" and "a real fighter": Chambers Directory 2008

Edward Rees was appointed silk in 1998 and is regularly listed as a leader in crime and fraud. Leader of Doughty Street Regulatory and Financial Crime Team.
Honorary Fellow in Criminal Process at the University of Kent.
Current Member of the Law Commission standing advisory panel.
Co-author with Richard Fisher and Paul Bogan of Blackstone's Guide to the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (3rd ed. 2008)
Author of annual confiscation and asset recovery chapters of Blackstone's Criminal Practice.
Member of Bar Council (1997/9)
Member of Criminal Bar Association Executive Committee (1997/9)

Notable Recent Cases:

• R v Bard & Others (Leeds CC) - Drax Power Station protest - prevention of crime and necessity defences
• R v Brett (CA) - Unsuccessful prosecution Court of Appeal application to quash jury acquittal
• R v Belben (Chelmsford CC) - killing of father by 15 year old - diminished responsibility - negative reaction to prozac.
• R v Guney - Incitement to murder mother of child of Dodi Fayed
• R v Khan (CCC) - murder - anonymity order.
• R (Chief Con of Manchester) v City of Salford M.C. (DC) - Cash provisions of POCA 2002 and immigration offences.
• R v Nguyen (CA) - Important decision re:"bad character" provisions of CJA 2003
• R v Portwine (CCC) - trial of animal rights activists under Serious Organised Crime and Police Act.
• R v Serrano (CA) - CCRC referral of 1982 murder conviction.
• R v Barot & Others (Woolwich CC) - "Gas Limos Project"/radioactive "Dirty Bomb" terrorist trial
• R v Olditch & Pritchard (Bristol CC) - anti-war action against American B52 bombers @ RAF Fairford - prevention of crime and protection of property defences
• R v Ajibade [2006] 2 CrAppR (S) 70 (CA) - confiscation - valuation of controlled drugs
• R v H.M. Coroner for Wiltshire and Swindon - (QBD) judicial review - counsel for family of airman volunteer unlawfully killed in 1953 nerve gas experiments at Porton Down
• R v Ayliffe (Cardiff CC) - "The Barry 13" - Greenpeace volunteers intercepting American ship carrying GM crops - defences of prevention of crime and necessity
• R v Lewis (Blackfriars CC) - abuse of process - £170 million MTIC fraud
• R v Grant [2005] 3 WLR 437 - abuse of process - police monitoring solicitor/client conversations at police stations.
• R v Syron Martin (CCC) - shooting in Tottenham High Road - provocation/Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.
• R v A Juvenile (CCC - murder of a 14 year old by another 14 year old; provocation involving conduct disorder)
• R v Causley (Exeter CC) - retrial of notorious 1985 "no body" domestic murder following a CCRC referral to the CA.
• R v James (CA) - CCRC referral of 1986 murder conviction.
• Beckles v UK (European Court of Human Rights) - re: right of silence
• R v Hakala (CA) CCRC murder referral
• R v Jama: (CCC) Asperger's Syndrome as a basis for diminished responsibility;
• R v Allan (CA): Prison telephone intercepts and the Interception of Telecommunications Act 1985.
• In Re P (CA) The necessity for an independent and impartial tribunal in wasted costs hearings.

Past

• Trial and appeals of Winston Silcott for the murder of PC Blakelock;
• Whitemoor Prison breakout trial;
• M25 prison escape trial;
• Orgreave Miners trial;
• St. Paul's, Bristol riot trial;
• "Bradford Twelve" trial;
• Trial of Ron Brown MP;
• The Rettendon Murders (3 men shot dead in a Range Rover in Essex);
• Numerous important VAT frauds
  

Year of Call

1973

Queen's Counsel

1998

Education

LLB (Hons)

Email Address

e.rees@doughtystreet.co.uk

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Specialist Teams

Member :

• Criminal Law
• Extradition
• Regulatory and Financial Crime