Peter is ranked by Legal 500 and Chambers UK as a leading barrister in international crime, financial crime, extradition and sanctions.
“Peter is a giant in this field. He has a deep knowledge of international crime and extradition”; “an intelligent, tactically astute and decisive advocate, who impresses with his ability to master complex arguments.”
“Peter is committed to achieving the best results for his clients. He is an extremely knowledgeable lawyer and a pleasure to work with. On his feet, Peter is calm and collected, with the ability to easily guide the judge and jury through the most complex arguments.'”
"Instructed for the defence in major SFO cases. He regularly tackles matters involving allegations of bribery and market manipulation, and is an expert on sanctions work.”
Peter is relied on to protect his clients from the adverse reputational consequences of regulatory investigations. He has over twenty-five years’ experience defending in criminal and regulatory cases where the outcome depends on excellent witness examination and trial advocacy.
Peter is head of Doughty Street International’s Sanctions Team. Clients value his international criminal law and public law experience for advice on sanctions and regulatory compliance.
Peter is consistently ranked Band 1 in extradition law. The landmark extradition cases in which he has acted (Popoviciu, Love, Symeou, Elashmawy, Tollman, Fenyvesi, Turner among many others), shaped the law under the 2003 Act. He has successfully challenged extradition on grounds of abuse of process, political persecution, insufficiency of evidence and human rights arguments on prison conditions, fair trial, family rights and mental health.
He is a natural choice to advise on international investigations of financial crime, fraud and breaches of sanctions, where experience and insight across these fields is required.
Peter advises senior managers in corporate internal investigations at the highest level. He acted as leading counsel for the defence in SFO v Williams & Kallakis, for a senior director of BAe Systems Plc in the SFO Tanzania bribery investigation and in the seminal IIG Plc, SFO trial.
Legal 500 ranks Peter as a leading barrister for fraud and international criminal cases:
“An intelligent, tactically astute and decisive advocate, who impresses with his ability to master complex arguments”
Chambers UK says:
"Really personable and strong on the detail." "He's able to guide the client and the jury through the problems and he's totally unflappable. Every cross-examination is a masterclass from him."
Recent instructions include:
Peter has also been engaged with Business and Human Rights compliance and remedial advice for many years and is a regular participant at the OECD Global Forum on Responsible Business Conduct.
Peter has longstanding experience in sanctions work including trade sanctions and export controls. His practice encompasses compliance and licensing advice to businesses and individuals, as well representation in enforcement investigations. Peter has acted in a number of high-profile US Sanctions cross-border cases and in investigations by the United Nations. He also acts for designated persons in reviews and challenges to UN and FCDO designations.
Chambers UK says:
"Peter is a really excellent sanctions barrister. He is engaged, involved in the details and on top of everything."
"Peter has a very good grasp of sanctions guidance, He is exceptional and has an engaging personality, making a standout sanctions lawyer."
"Peter is a really measured advocate who judges and prosecutors listen to. He's the epitome of reasonableness and fairness."
His recent work includes:
Peter is the editor of the Westlaw insights pages on Financial Sanctions and regularly writes on developments in sanctions policy. He is a contributing advisor to the Ukraine Justice Alliance pro bono project on Sanctions and Reparations and director of the London Sanctions Advisors Association.
Peter has acted in the landmark cases which have shaped the law of extradition since the commencement of the Extradition Act 2003. He is consistently “Top Ranked” in Band 1 of Chambers UK, and commended as:
"A very thorough lawyer who is hands-on, dedicated and very passionate about human rights." [2019]
“extremely knowledgeable when it comes to complex extradition matters” [2020]
"Peter has an enormous amount of experience in dealing with extradition cases, and his experience of both prosecuting and defending is invaluable."
Peter has been instructed in highly sensitive requests where extradition has been sought by states as diverse as India, Azerbaijan, Iraq, Brazil, Thailand, Peru, Pakistan, Colombia, Antigua, Paraguay, Hong Kong, the Russian Federation and the UAE, as well as the USA and Commonwealth jurisdictions. He also regularly acts in Part 1 cases and has particularly deep knowledge of the political and human rights situation in Romania, Hungary and CIS states.
Peter can advise how to assemble expert witnesses and human rights materials and present effective arguments in court to demonstrate:
His recent instructions include:
Peter advises on Interpol Red Notices
Peter is an expert in mutual legal assistance requests and has also drafted extradition requests and arrest warrants on behalf of regulators and private prosecutors in the UK. He is regularly instructed to represent those extradited to the UK and advise on issues of specialty and abuse of process that can arise in these situations.
A complete list of Peter’s appeal cases is available on request.
Peter has over 25 years’ experience in defending people accused of serious criminal offences, and preserving the reputations of those falsely accused.
He has defended in cases ranging as widely as conspiracy to burgle the Fitzwilliam Museum, the manslaughter of 50 Chinese immigrants, the handling of stolen diamonds and cocaine supply "on an industrial scale". He has particular experience in terrorist cases and representing those subject to ancillary orders.
In very many of the cases in which he has acted the prosecution has been stopped or discontinued following legal submissions on disclosure, abuse of process or the sufficiency of the evidence. Peter also brings his experience in Judicial Review proceedings to successfully challenge decisions of the CPS to prosecute and, when acting for victims of crime, not to prosecute.
Peter has also advised on private prosecutions both on behalf of victims of crime and for those accused of crime by private prosecutors.
Peter acts on behalf of parties affected by proceedings under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (PoCA). He represents third parties and interested persons in restraint and confiscation proceedings and acts in civil recovery proceedings in the Magistrates’ Court and the High Court.
His recent work includes:
Peter regularly acts in civil recovery proceedings pursuant to Parts 5 and 6 of PoCA before the High Court.
He can advise on:
Peter is presently instructed in respect of six pending High Court CRO matters
