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Chris came to the Bar after working for the United Nations in New York. A founder member of Doughty Street Chambers, Chris specialises in financial services law, FSMA regulation, financial crime, bribery, and corporate compliance. He provides pre-charge advice, and represents individuals and companies within the banking and financial services industry in criminal matters. He also appears on behalf of those facing regulatory proceedings brought by the FCA in the UK, and by the DFSA in Dubai.

Chris co-wrote 'Bribery: A Compliance Handbook', published by Bloomsbury Professional in 2014.

 His ongoing cases include:

  • R v Prevost, Power and Henry - representing the Government of the British Virgin Islands in the prosecution of police officers on charges of conspiracy to pervert the course of justice, theft and misfeasance.

Past fraud and corruption cases of note include: 

  • R v Scheffer and others - representing UN consultant in relation to the corrupt award of contracts for pharmaceutical goods in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
  • R v Wadsworth and another - Successful defence of former bank employee who stole £1m in cash.
  • R v Greatrex and Stephens - representing the former Chairman of the Union of Democratic Mineworkers in a fraud on miners’ charities.
  • R v Ash and Malkin - representing the MD of a leading Swiss based furniture manufacturer alleged to have corruptly procured multi-million pound contracts from Network Rail.
  • R v Leigh Greest - representing former trader in $15 million theft from Commerzbank, and complex international offshore money laundering operation.
  • The State v Ferguson and others - advising the defence on aspects of committal proceedings in Trinidad, involving allegations of corruption arising from the construction of Piarco International Airport, Port of Spain.
  • The State v Franklyn Khan - on behalf of the Government of Trinidad, prosecuting former government minister for bribery.
  • The State v Karamath and others - on behalf of the Government of Trinidad, advising in the prosecution of a company charged with a conspiracy to defraud the government in relation to the construction of a multi-million dollar water desalination plant.
  • R v Lynch - Keiron Fallon/ Betfair Fraud.
  • R v Fisher - Jubilee Line Fraud.

Chris’s general criminal practice includes homicide, particularly cases which involve medicine and forensic science; and appeal work. Cases of note include:

  • R v Graham Coutts - Murder retrial after a successful appeal to the House of Lords. Medical issue: breath control/ accidental strangulation.
  • R v Siôn Jenkins - Acquitted of the murder of foster daughter Billie Jo. Retrials involved multi-disciplinary and complex scientific and medical evidence.
  • R v Ruby Thomas and another - Defending in Trafalgar Square homophobic manslaughter. Issue: Brain injury/causation.
  • R v Edward Erin [Court of Appeal] - Appeal by consultant convicted of administering poison to his mistress in an attempt to terminate her pregnancy.

Chris also represented the Forensic Science Service in the Home Office Review into forensic work carried out during the investigation into the death of Damilola Taylor.

Chris’s practice also includes health and professional discipline and regulation, representing doctors and dentists in disciplinary proceedings. He co-wrote 'Professional Discipline and Healthcare Regulators: a Legal Handbook'  published in September 2012 by Legal Action Group.

In 2008 Chris was appointed Special Counsel to the House of Commons Constitutional Affairs Committee's Enquiry into Party Funding. He was also appointed as a special adviser to the Commons Public Administration Select Committee in their Enquiry into Propriety and Honours. His written Advice on reforming the law of bribery is annexed to the Committee’s Report. 

International Work

Chris has worked extensively in the West Indies, and is a member of the Bars of the Eastern Caribbean and Trinidad and Tobago, and a member of the American Board of Criminal Lawyers. In 2016 he was appointed by the Government of the Virgin Islands to advise in and prosecute a high profile police corruption case. 

Lecturing

Chris has lectured on comparative civil liberties issues at universities throughout the US, including Yale and Stamford; In September 2014, he delivered a four part series of comparative seminars at Yale Law School on the Art and Ethics of Advocacy.

 

In May 2016, Chris chaired an IICE panel discussion on new legal initiatives for corporate integrity and compliance. He has previously spoken on such topics as 'The Inherent Importance of Legal Advice Privilege and Litigation Privilege in Preventing Third Party Disclosure'  at the Global Investigations Summit 2014; and 'the Impact of the Bribery Act in Jersey' at Davies and Ingram Keynote Address 2013.

Direct Access

Licenced under the Direct Access scheme.

Chris regularly provides companies and individuals with compliance and pre-charge advice.

 

Formerly the Bar Council's Chairman of Public Affairs, he sits as a Recorder of the Crown Court. He was appointed a bencher of Gray's Inn in 2002. 

Professional Discipline and Regulation

Christopher  is a contributing editor to Professional Discipline and Healthcare Regulators: a Legal Handbook to be published in September 2012 by Legal Action Group. His recent cases include:

  • GDC v Gagoh Defending dentist on health and safety charges.
  • GMC v W Advising doctor in future fitness to practice proceedings.
  • GMC v T  Defending doctor charged with disciplinary offences alleging misrepresentation.

Medical and forensic science work

Christopher  represented the Forensic Science Service in the Home Office Review into forensic work carried out during the investigation into the death of Damilola Taylor. He has advised forensic service providers on regulatory matters, data protection and related criminal justice issues. Recent cases have included:

  • R v Stretch and Puttock. Acting for the FSS on issues of Crown Court disclosure and confidentiality.
  • R v Reed, Reed and Garmson Advising the FSS in appeal on methodology and admissibility of DNA evidence in England and Wales.
  • In the matter of the Forensic Science Service and the Metropolitan Police Advising the FSS on data protection for DNA samples.
Criminal Appeals
  • R v Powell and English (House of Lords) Redefining the doctrine of joint enterprise in murder.
  • The State v Charles and others (Privy Council) Joint enterprise.
  • R v Williams, Yemoh and others Appeal on secondary party liability in murder /manslaughter.
  • R v Cornwall Appeal on bias following service of journalist on jury in murder trial.
  • R v Edward Erin (Court of Appeal) Appeal by consultant convicted of administering poison to his mistress in an attempt to terminate her pregnancy.
  • R v Baxendale Appeal against conviction for murder arising from the unchallenged admission by previous representatives of a previous conviction for a murder committed abroad.
Homicide and Related Grave Offences
  • R v Graham Coutts Murder retrial after a successful appeal to the House of Lords. Medical issue: breath control/ accidental strangulation.
  • R v Siôn Jenkins Charged with murder of foster daughter Billie Jo. Retrials involved multi-disciplinary and complex scientific and medical evidence.
  • R v Ruby Thomas and another. Defending in Trafalgar Square homophobic manslaughter. Issue: Brain injury/causation
  • R v Edward Erin (Court of Appeal) Appeal by consultant convicted of administering poison to his mistress in an attempt to terminate her pregnancy.
Regulatory and Financial Crime

Christopher formerly led the Doughty Street Regulatory and Financial Crime Team.

Current and recent cases include:

  • R v Scheffer and others (ongoing) representing UN consultant in relation to the award of contracts for pharmaceutical goods in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
  • R v Wadsworth and another. Successful defence of former bank employee who stole £1m in cash. Issue: Duress, clinical depression and PTSD.
  • R v Greatrex and Stephens (representing the former Chairman of the Union of Democratic Mineworkers  in a fraud on miners’ charities).
  • R v Ash and Malkin (representing the MD of a leading Swiss based furniture manufacturer alleged to have corruptly procured multi-million pound contracts from Network Rail.
  • R v Leigh Greest (representing former trader in $15 million theft from Commerzbank, and complex international offshore money laundering operation.)
  • In the matter of D.R. (advising on breaches of regulatory guidelines by Trustee in Bankruptcy, and applying to discharge a restraint order)
  • The State v  Ferguson and others  (Advising the defence on aspects of committal proceedings in Trinidad, involving allegations of corruption arising from the construction of Piarco International Airport, Port of Spain)
  • The State v Franklyn Khan (on behalf of the Government of Trinidad, prosecuting former government minister for bribery.)
  • The State v Karamath and others (on behalf of the Government of Trinidad, advising in the prosecution of a company charged with a conspiracy to defraud the government in relation to the construction of a multi-million dollar water desalination plant.

Past cases of note include:

  • R v Fisher (Jubilee Line Fraud)
  • R v Lynch (Keiron Fallon/ Betfair Fraud)