25 Bedford Row Barristers Chambers | Peter Doyle QC

Practice

A criminal defence practice with particular emphasis on “mainstream” serious crime and fraud, revenue and VAT offences, including money-laundering, insider dealing, companies act offences, confiscation proceedings and regulatory work. Advises and represents officers of ACPO and other ranks.

Peter Doyle QC is associated with the following areas of expertise:

Crime
Fraud & Financial Litigation
Inquest and Public Inquiries
Regulatory and Disciplinary
Restraint, Confiscation & Asset Recovery

Directories

Recommended as a leading Silk in fraud in the Legal 500 and Chambers & Partners 2013.

Chambers UK 2013- "a breath of fresh air", interviewees "unhesitatingly recommend him " as a silk who "brings encyclopaedic knowledge" to to his cases. Instructing solicitors say he is " a perfect antidote to the SFO".

"employs his great presence in court to achieve the best result with minimum intervention"
"counsel of choice in complicated commercial fraud cases"
"Very smooth but also very tough"
" A lawyer who argues the points of law immaculately"
“An iron fist in a velvet glove in terms of his courtroom demeanour”.
“regarded as a respected Silk in fraud and crime”
"a very accomplished lawyer".
“you could not hope for a more solid advocate”
"excellent client care skills and total recall of the facts of the case"

Cases

Fraud and Financial Regulation / Proceeds of Crime Act

R v Jaggers - Overseas based investment fraud. Money laundering-successful submissions that Crown Court lacked jurisdiction as substantial activity occurred abroad. Operation and limitations of Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 re promotion to UK investors from outside UK of shares in USA companies. Acquitted of allegations under Financial Services and Management Act 2000.
R v Godley & Others - Instructed on behalf of former director in alleged conspiracy to defraud (SFO prosecution) arising out of the collapse of investment group. Alleged losses in the order of £250m.
R v Doutrepont & Others - Instructed by second defendant in alleged multi-million pound Ponzi fraud. Eventually prosecution accepted guilty plea from him to lesser offence of making reckless financial statements to investors. Acquitted of main charges.
R v Allen and others – Investment fraud. Bank and Finance House defrauded of over £2m during expansion of Babushka Vodka bars in UK.
R v Prudhoe - defence of lead defendant in multi-million pound invoice discounting fraud committed against three private banks. Abuse of process- submission that SFO had effected for its own purpose the deportation of the defendant from Jordan in the absence of an Extradition Treaty “disguised extradition”.
R v Ford – Court of Appeal (Criminal Division) - the power of the courts to confiscate pension funds where defendant’s interest is only a future contingent one.
Webber v Webber - (President of Family Division) instructed by CPS as Intervener. Issue post POCA whether the former practice in ancillary relief and enforcement of confiscation order proceedings (reserved to a judge with experience of both jurisdictions) was to be applied in the Crown Court.
R v Greaves – Fraud – Confiscation. Proper approach to apportionment of ‘benefit’ where the defendant is acting as agent for principal alleged fraudsters where proceedings against the latter are discontinued but their guilt maintained.
R v Reeves - VAT fraud. Defendant who was an expert in radio transmission technology, alleged to have covertly monitored radio traffic between customs officers to thwart their attempts to break a carousel fraud.
R v Woodcock – defence of Isle of Man entrepreneur bringing company to Aim. HMRC prosecution re tax evasion and money laundering in connection with investment funds obtained in the UK and Russia.
British Petroleum v Brown –defence in High Court of senior BP buyer in claim for recovery of secret profits in bid irregularities for supply of North Sea oil rig equipment.
R v Butt - defence of Credit Suisse Compliance Officer re allegations of insider dealing by use of price-sensitive information to run spread-betting club.
R v Bowes – defence of private air cargo operator for alleged VAT fraud.
R v Dimsey – defence of Jersey accountant – Revenue fraud – Treatment of off-shore profits and extent of meaning of “pecuniary advantage”. Case went to House of Lords now reported as R v Dimsey (HL(E) (2001) 3 WLR 843.
R v Garvey – million pound aviation re-insurance fraud – defence of Lloyds underwriter.
R v Maxwell - defence of Ian Maxwell in £400 million alleged pension fraud.

Crime

R v O'Brien - instructed for lead defendant in multi-million pound boiler room fraud
R v Medd-Hall - Conspiracy to blackmail. One of several defendants who allegedly campaigned to close down Huntington Life Science animal research centre by blackmailing suppliers and potential suppliers. Defendant alleged to have been the main researcher both in the UK and abroad of supplier/investor details.
R v Veal – Murder. Husband killing wife in frenzied multi-weapon attack.
R v Mire – Murder. Kidnapping of burglary victim who having been assaulted at the initial scene, fell from the back of a vehicle when been driven by defendants. Died two days later. Issue causation – accidental death or murder.
R v Rudwick - Rape and sexual offences requiring cross-examination of several child and vulnerable witnesses. Martial Arts teacher tried for offences against pupil committed over several years. Role of Child Protection Officers and Social Services in dealings with the defendant and victim where to their knowledge and with parent approval the defendant had been allowed or encouraged to effectively act in loco parentis. Issues of disclosure.
R v Barker – Misconduct in Public Office. Defence of senior Customs Officer accused of facilitating the release of large quantity of heroin to dealers in the UK without authority. His responsibility under International Treaty working from Pakistan was to arrange for controlled and supervised importations of heroin with a view to arresting dealers in the UK. Issue- were the drugs released accidentally or deliberately.
R v Choudry - Manslaughter. Defence of one of three doormen who restrained a violent man who died at the scene. Issues as to cause of death.
R v Samir - Murder. Defence of young man accused of murdering his former lover. Was she beaten to death or were her fatal injuries caused by a fall down stairs. Issue centred on disputed forensic evidence re causation.
R v Lotts - Defence of father alleged to have arranged a contract to kill abuser of his son. Mistaken identity. Innocent victim killed. Charges of Murder, Conspiracy to Murder.
R v Karakostas – defence of Consular Official in alleged multi-million pound sale of arms to the IRA.
R v Attwell - defence of one of three Surrey Police officers who interviewed one of the “Guildford Four”. Allegations that interviews fabricated resulting in miscarriage of justice. Trying factual issues nineteen years after the event. Reconstructing the investigation.
R v Beckett – defence of Deputy Chief Constable of Surrey alleged to have indecently assaulted a member of his civilian staff.
R v Burton – Misconduct in Public Office (“the Sussex shooting case”) Allegations that senior officer in charge of firearms operation which resulted in the fatal shooting of a suspect was mounted on flawed intelligence.

Public Inquiries

The Victoria Climbié Inquiry – represented Commanders in charge of the Child Protection Teams following the cruel treatment and subsequent murder of Victoria. Complete review of multi-agency relationships and role of police in protecting vulnerable children.
The Marchioness/Bowbelle Inquiry – represented one of the lookouts on the Bowbelle following the collision between it and The Marchioness. Complete review of history of the use of the vessels, command structures and practices on the River Thames.
The Stephen Lawrence Inquiry – represented the three Senior Investigating Officers in charge of the murder investigation. Review of the quality of the investigation and rebutting allegations of corruption and individual racism. Complete review of procedures then in place for racist killing investigations.

Instructed on behalf of CEO of a company the subject of a BIS Inspectors Inquiry (Reported 2009) into the affairs of Phoenix Venture Holdings Limited, MG Rover Group Limited and other companies.

Tribunal/Discipline

Has advised and appeared for the defence in a wide range of cases on behalf of all officer ranks. Specialises in cases involving members of the Association of Chief Police Officers the latest being instructed on behalf of the Chief Constable of Cleveland - Operation Sacristy.