Dermot Keating KC

Barrister

“He is able to strike the balance between seeing the big picture and getting into the detail of the matter. He is excellent on his feet, very strong with witnesses and superbly persuasive”. - Chambers UK

In March 2024, Dermot was appointed King’s Counsel. He was only one of three appointees whose field of practice included both criminal and civil law. This award of excellence reflects his expertise and experience in the following practice areas: Public Inquiries and Inquests, Criminal law including financial crime and regulatory/professional disciplinary proceedings.

Dermot has over 25 years experience in courts and tribunals. He is ranked as a leading barrister by the major legal directories in two practice areas: Financial Crime and Public Inquiries & Inquests.

He has extensive experience of working on and leading in the most complex and challenging cases in a number of spheres including criminal law and public inquiries. He is able to master the detail and maintain a strategic and tactical approach: “He is always on top of the material, providing forensic attention to detail” (Chambers UK 2024 Inquests and Public Inquiries)“. “He is clearly meticulous in his preparation and is able to identify pitfalls before they occur” (Legal 500 2022, Fraud Crime).

As an advocate he has appeared in a number of high profile cases with extensive media coverage including live streamed hearings in the Covid-19 Public Inquiry and the Grenfell Tower Public Inquiry. The Directories remark on how “Dermot is a measured, calm and persuasive advocate” (Chambers UK 2024 Inquests and Public Inquiries). “He is excellent on his feet, very strong with witnesses and superbly persuasive”. (Chambers UK 2022 Financial Crime)

Dermot is renowned for his client care and working positively within a multidisciplinary team. He has extensive experience in advising and representing Company Directors, accountants, doctors, nurses and other professionals. He provides strategic direction and is renowned for his tactical approach in hearings. The Directories note that he “Gives you a road map in terms of where he wants to go, works extremely well with clients and is very, very good in court when dealing with judges and the prosecution.”- (Chambers UK 2020 Financial Crime). ‘Dermot is a great tactician and has a very nice manner with witnesses who he charms into agreeing with his points. His clients clearly trust his judgement.’ (Legal 500 Fraud: Crime 2024). “He is calm, focused and makes clients feel at ease. He works hard to secure the best result for clients and has an excellent presence when in court”. - (Legal 500, Fraud: Crime 2021)

Comfortable before a jury, judge or panel, Dermot adapts to his audience, and has the benefit of the perspective of sitting as a Recorder, DDJ, Tribunal Judge, and fitness to practise panel chair. The directories states: "He knows his audience and is very fluent. He is bright, clever and a pleasure to deal with”. "Dermot is utterly charming. He is really well received with a very approachable style of advocacy." (Chambers UK 2024 Financial Crime)

Dermot is passionate about the profession and is actively involved in supporting and training those within the profession. He is a pupil supervisor, member of the chambers EDI committee and an Inner Temple advocacy and ethics trainer. He is also part of the Inner Temple mentorship and scholarship panels.

Appointments

King's Counsel (March 2024).
Recorder, South Eastern Circuit (2022-present) and authorised to deal with Serious Sexual Offences.
Deputy District Judge (Magistrates' Courts) (2022-present)
Senior Chair of The Health Service Products (Pricing, Cost Control and Information) Appeals Tribunal (2020). Dermot was appointed by the Judicial Appointments Commission to work with the Department of Health and Social Care to set up this new tribunal.
First Tier Tribunal Judge (Social Entitlement Chamber) (2013-present)
Former Chair of the Fitness to Practice Panel, Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) (2013-2021)
Legal Advisor, General Pharmaceutical Council (GPHC) (2018-present)

Associated Work

Vulnerable Witness Advocacy trainer -part of the original cohort of trainers, who trained future trainers for this profession wide cascade of training.
Inner Temple advocacy and ethics trainer who trains external pupils and junior practitioners.
Inner Temple Mentor scheme.
Regularly lectures externally and internally on areas relating to disclosure, fraud and sentencing.
Pupil Supervisor and former head of Chambers pupillage committee.

Professional Memberships

Inner Temple.
Association of Regulatory and Disciplinary Lawyers (ARDL)
Member of the Criminal Bar Association and former secretary and committee member.
Member of the South Eastern Circuit and former committee member.

Education

LLB (Hons) Brunel University

For my privacy notice click here

Public Inquiries

Covid-19 UK Public Inquiry -Dermot is appointed as Counsel to the Inquiry (CTI) for Module 2 focusing on Core UK Decision Making and Political Governance. This is the primary module considering central government decisions made in response to the pandemic and the imposition of restrictions such as lockdowns. Dermot acted as a leading junior counsel, supporting Lead Counsel and leading a team dealing with Cabinet Office and ministerial witnesses. Extensive advocacy in the midst of widespread and televised media coverage. Witnesses included: Secretary of State, minister of state, senior civil servants, scientific, behavioural and academic experts, and senior civil servants.
Grenfell Tower Fire Public Inquiry - Dermot is appointed as Counsel to the Inquiry (CTI) and is the lead for Module 4 (the “aftermath”). This involved a consideration of the actions of central, local government and the TMO in the immediate aftermath of the Grenfell Tower fire, against the regulatory framework including the Civil Contingencies Act and Regulations. Dermot, led a team on this module, preparing for the main hearings, and ensured the module was ready and heard on time. The phase 2 Inquiry report is expected to be published in 2024.

Trading Standards and Consumer Protection Regulations

Nottingham Trading Standards v BZ: leading junior counsel in multi defendant case representing a company director charged with fraud offences stemming from a BBC Watchdog expose.
Telford v W - Instructed to advise and represent company and director, in relation to allegations of fraudulent trading. Allegations focused on interpretation of the Consumer Contract Regulations 2013 dealing with cancellation terms and conditions.
Operational Angel: R v S and others - Instructed as leading counsel in reputedly the largest National Trading Standards prosecution. Fraud and CPUTR regulatory offences for over 300 complainants. Trial spanned six months. Represented first defendant and acquitted of Fraud offences. Successfully argued in subsequent confiscation proceedings that the £9m benefit figure was incorrect and unfair. Benefit figure determined at £450k.
Hertfordshire County Council v MT - Leading counsel acting for a businessman in a trading standards prosecution pursuant to the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008. Complex and voluminous investigation involving multiple complainants. Secured pleas to regulatory offences alone and the defendant received a suspended prison sentence. The case featured in the Channel 5 programme “Cowboy Builders”.
Westminster CC v W - Represented Company facing prosecution and a deprivation order under the Town and Country Planning Act 1990. Successfully opposed deprivation of signage valued at £150k and reduced costs the prosecution authority sought by £40k.

Professional Disciplinary

Dermot has an interest in Healthcare Regulation that is completed by his work in criminal proceedings and his range of judicial and quasi judicial appointments. He has experience of cases that cross into the criminal sphere, having represented doctors, dentists, accountants and other professionals. He has previously led one of the first prosecutions of two pharmacists under the Health Act 2006.
He has completed two four-year terms as Chair of the Fitness to Practice Committee at the Nursing Midwifery Committee (NMC). During that time, he has chaired a wide spectrum of hearings nclude case management meetings, interim orders, substantive hearings, substantive order reviews and restoration hearings.
He is appointed as a Legal Advisor, General Pharmaceutical Council (GPHC). He advises lay panels for both Investigatory and Fitness to Practice committees on law and procedure.
He has represented doctors before the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service (MPTS).
He has presented cases before the General Dentist Council (GDC).

R v B - Homicide. High profile cold case murder where B was arrested 10 years after the offence. Case spanned seven months and two trials at the Central Criminal Court. Notably for the cut-throat defence between the defendant (an illegal immigrant) and his co-defendant and employer –‘a millionaire’. News Link
R v B - Homicide. Successfully represented a defendant charged with the stabbing of a 14 year old school boy. This was a catalyst for the ‘war on knife crime’ media campaign.
R v C - Leading case on minimum sentences for firearm offences. This identified a lacuna in the law in relation to offenders aged 18-20. Preceded by a media campaign on sentences for firearm offences and the subsequent change in the law.
R v C- “Operation Manola” - Successfully defended the first defendant in this multi handed large drug importation case.
R v M- “Operation Fronton” - Defended one of the three primary suspects in this multi handed kidnap case investigated by New Scotland Yard Kidnap Unit.

Reported Cases

R v BZ [2023] EWCA Crim 205 -appeal against terminating ruling.
R v G [2015] EWCA Crim 1941 -appeal against terminating ruling and leading case on e-disclosure
R v Allaraj [2012] EWCA Crim 986 – Sentence reduced in immigration case
R v Gu [2012] EWCA Crim 133, [2012] 2 Archbold Review 2- Appeal against conviction allowed for ancient common law offence of running a disorderly house.
R v McMahon [2012] EWCA Crim 210 - Appeal involving interpretation of the dangerousness provisions in light of the recent Supreme Court case of Smith
R v McIntosh and Marsden [2011] EWCA Crim 1501 - Leading case on treatment of hidden assets in confiscation proceedings.
R v Crombie [2011] EWCA Crim 1404 - Successful appeal on sentence on grounds of age and ill health
R v Barnard [2011] EWCA Crim 1906 - Appeal against sentence for an appellant who used his finger as a fake weapon for multiple ‘armed’ robberies.
R v Brooks [2009] EWCA Crim 367 - Successful argued for IPP sentence to be quashed and replaced with determinative sentence.
R v Campbell [2006] EWCA Crim 726 - Leading case on minimum sentences for firearm offences. This identified a lacuna in the law in relation to offenders aged 18-20. Proceeded by a media campaign on sentences for firearm offences and the subsequent change in the law.
R v Wolin [2005] EWCA Crim 3066 - Drugs sentence reduced from initial 12 years at Crown Court to five years on appeal.

Operation Cornflour: represented principal defendant in ‘boiler room’ fraud concerning the sale of ‘fancy’/coloured diamonds. W was acquitted of fraud.
Operation Dojo: Represented principal defendant and company director on multi million pound duty evasion case.
Operation Aquamarine: £40m Mortgage fraud case, representing mortgage advisor who was acquitted.
Operation Incubus: multi defendant Duty evasion case.
Operation Amazon: R v G - Represented company director and one of the principal defendants in complex carbon credit fraud that spanned eight years.
Operation Angel: Leading counsel for principal defendant and company owner acquitted of fraud involving over 300 complainants.
Cumbria CC v. W - Leading counsel in a trading standards prosecution arising from a recycling fraud.
R v T- Leading counsel defending company director charged with fraud and regulatory offences.
R v G - SFO prosecution. Represented the CEO of a major UK company in international ‘Ponzi’ fraud.