1 Inner Template Lane, Barristers Chambers
Colin prides himself on approaching all cases with the same level of professionalism and infectious enthusiasm irrespective of the seriousness or complexity of the matter concerned. He is happy to accept instructions in any of Chambers' practice areas and has a particular interest in criminal defence, regulatory and claimant employment matters.
Year of call: 2010
Professional Experience
Crime and Regulatory:
Prior to pupillage Colin was an authorised Grade C, VHCC Fee Earner by the Legal Services Commission, gaining experience in complex fraud and money laundering cases together with associated confiscation matters. He was also an accredited police station advisor representing both private and legally aided clients.
Colin has quickly developed a broad criminal practice representing clients in a variety of matters in the Magistrates’ Court, Youth Court and Crown Court. He is equally adept at representing young and vulnerable defendants as well as professional clients alike, with the latter including doctors and company directors. He has successfully acted at trial in driving matters, assaults, harassment, robberies, burglaries and the like, and has further appeared in confiscation, ASBOS and SOPO matters.
Colin predominantly defends but has acted on behalf of the Crown Prosecution Service, the Probation Service and Local Authorities in the belief that for a defence barrister to be truly one step ahead, the barrister has to have trodden those steps as a prosecutor.
Criminal Cases of Note:
R v X: Crown Court matter acting for a client in Money Laundering proceedings successfully securing a suspended sentence.
R v S: Defence Counsel in £12k benefit fraud.
R v S: Instructed privately to give pre-charge advice in relation to a £500k fraud.
R v B: Instructed to defend the brother of a well-known celebrity; national press coverage.
R v D: Successful abuse of process argument resulting in a stay of proceedings.
R v L: Instructed in forthcoming trial where the defendant is charged with seven matters, including two ABHs.
R v Y: Successful submission of no case to answer based upon the failings in the conduct of Police Officers who identified a suspect after reviewing CCTV footage.
Prison Law:
Colin has appeared before Parole Boards in respect of license recall, Lifer Review, and has experience of Prison Adjudications. Colin provides as a matter of formality full and detailed attendance notes so that those instructing are well positioned to consider challenging any adverse decision at an early stage. Colin considers it important to combine persuasive pragmatic arguments with robust legal submissions in all areas of prison law.
Prison Law Cases of Note:
S of S v K: Full Lifer review hearing conducted before HHJ Samuels calling several live witnesses and challenging the OS and OM at length on their refusal to support the prisoner’s application for transfer to open conditions after serving twelve years for murder. The Parole Board adopted Colin’s closing submissions in their written decision and found in favour of the prisoner.
S of S v T: Colin successfully argued that the line of authorities pertaining to adjournments in Criminal Proceedings applied to the Secretary of State in respect of prison adjudications. To this end, the charge against Colin’s client was dismissed.
Civil Law:
Prior to pupillage Colin’s work at a niche London law firm encompassed, amongst other practice areas, employment and professional negligence. Colin further gained experience as an advocate for excluded school pupils as part of a probono project. Colin retains an interest in these practice areas and has been instructed in Employment cases both in an advisory capacity and at trial, and will often provide initial advice in conference for solicitors to assist in assessing merits and damages for the purposes of CFAs.
Civil Cases of Note:
O v N: Successfully represented the claimant in an action against two respondent companies for unfair dismissal which arose as a result of a company take over; cross-examination of the second respondent forced full admissions during the course of his evidence resulting in a significant offer of settlement mid-trial. Colin was descried by his instructing solicitors as having “run rings around the other side”.
X v G: Colin appeared before the IAP in respect of a permanent exclusion of a child from school who had a Statement of Special Educational Needs. He was successful in this appeal.
CBC v M: Instructed to resist a standalone application for an ASBO brought by a Local Authority.
O v P: Recently instructed in a disability discrimination claim listed for a 5 day trial.
International:
Colin was a defence intern at the Special Court for Sierra Leone during the trial of Charles Taylor, the ex-president of Liberia. He also gained experience as a paralegal in domestic cases which involved an international dimension, including assisting in the preparation of a £36million cross-border telecommunication fraud. In pupillage he has assisted in extradition matters.
Publications:
Disabled Children, a legal handbook (published by LAG). Colin was a researcher for this leading textbook on child disability law, focusing on researching and drafting content in respect of Statements of Special Educational Needs.
Education:
BPP, Holborn, London: Bar Vocational Course, Outstanding (top 2.5% in year)
Dip in Professional Practice, Distinction (top 2.5% in year)
Nottingham Law School: LLB (Hons) (top 2.5% in year)
Humboldt University: International Criminal Law (summer school)
Scholarships / Prizes:
Nottingham Law School: European Funding Award
Middle Temple: Jules Thorn Scholarship
Middle Temple: Accommodation Estates Award
Middle Temple: Certificate of Honour for performance in Bar Finals
WLR Mooting Cup: National, Quarter Finalist
Bar Mock Trials: National, Finalist
telephone: +44 (0)20 7427 4400
fax: +44 (0)20 7427 4427
email: clerks@1itl.com
vcard: add to your contacts