Adrian has a criminal practice at the highest level both locally and nationally. He both prosecutes and defends. He specialises in the most important and difficult cases.
He has particular ability and experience in cases which are very complicated. These include ones that are complicated due to either their very nature or allegation, or the sheer volume of material; such as large-scale frauds, multi defendant murder cases, or extensive drug cases. He has the ability to digest and then marshal a huge volume of evidence. He has the strong ability to understand the complex, but also then explain it to others in clear, simple, and attractive terms. He has a very good understanding of the financial world and finds commercial concepts easy to understand and deal with.
He regularly undertakes criminal cases of the most serious nature – both in terms of the offence but also the consequences for the individual. He is regularly instructed by professionals in difficulty as he also has a very strong regulatory practice. He is described as having a “charming jury manner” along with “brilliant client care”. He prides himself on his relations with his client and further his ability to build and lead a team.
Adrian is sought out and instructed by specialist organisations for these skills, be it prosecuting for CPS Organised Crime, Specialist Fraud Division, CPS Special Crime and Counter Terrorism Division, or defending for the Police Federation, the Prison Officers Association or specialist solicitors representing high net worth clients.
He has extensive appellate experience in the Court of Appeal.
Languages
French
Other Information
Master of the Bench of the Inner Temple
Vice Chairman of the Anglo Thai Society
Member of the International Committee of the Inner Temple
Governor of the Warwick Independent Schools Foundation
Trustee of the Thomas White Charity
Recommendations
“ Adrian is sharp and thorough. He has an enviable ability to sift huge amounts of complex information and distill it quickly and simply, getting to the crux of the case with ease. He has common sense in abundance and is tactically brilliant, always knowing which points to take and how best to articulate them.”
Legal 500 2023
“He takes a tactical approach to cases and there is never a stone left unturned. His preparation and the tactics he deploys are second to none.”
Chambers UK 2022
“He is fiercely bright and, whilst sensible, does not shy away from seeking results for clients that others may not dare to pursue. Always meticulously well prepared, he goes through the detail of his cases with a fine-tooth comb.”
Legal 500 2022
“He has an absolutely fantastic manner and he glides through a court case like a swan on water. He is a fantastic jury advocate.” “A very good problem-solver.” “Adrian is a first-class barrister, who has an innate sense for the right tactical approach to a case and a magical touch with juries.”
Chambers UK 2021
“Recent work includes serious violent crime and fraud cases.”
Legal 500 2021
“Adrian is a first-class barrister, who has an innate sense for the right tactical approach to a case and a magical touch with juries and tribunals.”
Chambers UK 2020
“A highly regarded silk. Known for his expertise in handling cases concerning misconduct in public office and the legal sector. “Charming to deal with and clearly knows his stuff.”
Chambers UK 2020
Tier 1 Leading Silk
Legal 500 2020
Notable Cases
R v Joseph Trevor (Stafford)
Prosecution for Murder of teenager who raped and stabbed to death a female friend who out of sympathy had offered him a place to sleep when intoxicated.
R v Bahia (Leicester)
Defence of one of 7 charged with the importation of 500kg of class A drugs. The trial lasted 12 weeks. The Attorney General referred the case to the Court of Appeal.
R v Mirza (Birmingham)
The successful prosecution for murder of a drug dealer who stabbed one of his clients. Complex joint enterprise.
Re R (Westminster Magistrates)
Successfully represented a property development company and its director facing a private prosecution, and then obtained their costs on its discontinuance.
Re B (Court of Appeal)
Instructed by the CPS in the Court of Appeal to argue if the IPP regime was compatible with Convention Rights.
R v H (Birmingham)
Represented a police officer charged with the attempted murder of his wife by strangulation.
R v Giles (Worcester)
Prosecuted a man accused of baby shaking.
Middlesbrough Football Club (Nottingham)
Represented the Club avoiding payment of a quarter of a million pounds to a player intermediary convicted of fraud.
R v Jeffrey (Birmingham)
Insurance backed defence of a professional lorry driver charge with causing serious injury by his dangerous driving.
R v Greenfield and Others (Birmingham)
Successfully represented one of three serving officers charged with perjury at an Inquest into the high profile death in custody of Kingsley Burrell.
R v Ozgur Kaplan (Leeds)
Represented Mr Kaplan charged with cheating the revenue in a multi million pound importation of alcohol through Poland. The trial lasted for 3 months.
Coughlan v NCA (High Court)
Represented Mr Coughlan seeking to commit a serving officer of the NCA to prison for contempt of court for dishonesty in a proceeds of crime hearing. The case was the first of its type.
R v Shariff (Stratford Magistrates Court)
Successful representation of a company director charged with criminal offences.
R v M (Birmingham Magistrates Court )
Successfully represented an Assistant Chief Constable charged with criminal offences.
R v Fisher (Stafford Crown Court)
Successful defence of a high-profile company director alleged to have raped his ex-partner. Case struck out as an abuse.
R v Reynolds (Worcester Crown Court)
Defence of a financial adviser charged with fraud. Overlap with FSA allegations.
Operation Falkenbach (Southwark Crown Court)
Instructed by the CPS Fraud division to prosecute a 10 defendant multi million pound international money laundering ring which operated through Money Transfer Bureaus and spanned the world from China to the Gulf.
R v Melissa Swift (Birmingham Crown Court)
Prosecution of a Residential Home nurse who attempted to murder the elderly patients in her care.
R v W and R v F (Old Bailey)
Defending separate News International Journalists charged with conspiracy to commit misconduct in public office as part of Operation Elveden.
R v Lee Dunkley (Warwick Crown Court)
Successful defence of a man charged with murder where the issue was diffuse axonal head injury causation.
Operation Springtide (Stafford Crown Court)
A 4 month Fraudulent Trading trial involving the selling of hot tubs.
R v David Anslow (Birmingham Crown Court)
Represented Mr Anslow charged with the contract killing shooting of Michael Regan.
R v F (Leeds Crown Court)
Represented a prison officer charged with misconduct in a public office which included allegations of sexual relations and smuggling to inmates.
R v FB (Norwich Crown Court)
Represented Mr FB charged with a high yield investment fraud worth over GBP40 million. The trial lasted 4 months.
R v Munir Ali (Birmingham Crown Court)
Successful prosecution of the son of a councillor charged with election fraud.
R v Mangat (Court of Appeal)
Court of Appeal hearing that challenged the conviction of a nurse convicted of gross negligence medical manslaughter.
Operation Budapest (Warwick Crown Court)
The prosecution of an entire Outlaws Chapter for the shooting of a Hells Angels biker on the M40.
The largest investigation ever undertaken by Warwickshire police. Received a Chief Constables Commendation.
Memberships
Association of Regulatory and Disciplinary Lawyers
Criminal Bar Association
Qualifications
MA (Hons) Trinity Hall, Cambridge.
