Joey Barton, former premiership footballer and manager of Bristol Rovers, was charged with a common assault on his wife. The prosecution sought to rely upon Body Worn Footage and refused to call his wife. Following detailed submissions on res gestae and upon the duty of the prosecution to call evidence, the case was stayed by a District Judge at Wimbledon Magistrates’ Court on 31st October 2022 on the basis that he could not receive a fair trial. Simon was instructed by Richard Derby of Potter Derby solicitors. Click the links below for the news reports: Mirror Sun Daily Mail

Dapinder Singh KC, instructed by Amelia Fosuhene at Brady’s Attorneys, spent 2 months in the Cayman Islands defending the former Treasurer of the Cayman Islands Football Association before the now Chief Justice. The defendant was accused of involvement in corruption, false accounting, and money laundering from the Confederation of North, Central America, and Caribbean Football Associations (CONCACAF). The investigation was instigated after the Vice President of FIFA and President of CONCACAF was the subject of a highly publicised arrest in Zurich.

Libertas Chambers are delighted to announce that our clerking team and 15 of our Barristers have been ranked in the latest editions of the Chambers & Partners and Legal 500 directories. Head of Chambers Simon Csoka KC had the following to say “In Libertas Chambers’ second year together and in what was a very tough year for the criminal defence bar, we are delighted to see many of our silks and juniors ranked as leading practitioners in Crime, Financial Crime / Fraud, and Professional Discipline. We congratulate them all and also acknowledge the many achievements of all of our other members over the last 12 months together with the hard work of our clerking team.” Director of Clerking Marc King adds “We are a modern vibrant Set combining a modern business approach with the best traditions of the Bar. Libertas continues to move forward with the recent recruitment of further Silks and juniors.” Libertas thanks all those who provided such positive assessments and congratulates all our clients, partners and colleagues who have also been ranked. Libertas Chambers – Leading Set – Crime & Financial Crime – View Chambers & Partners profile Individual Ranked QCs & Juniors Simon Csoka QC –  Ranked in: Crime, Financial Crime – View Chambers & Partners profile “Simon is excellent. He is really clever and thinks outside the box.” “His written work is fantastic.” “Simon is a go-to silk. He has a brain like a computer and it is a joy to work with him.” “A man with a brain the size of a planet, he is fearless and will stand up to judges when no one else will.” “He is great with difficult clients as he has a very calming influence on them and can deal with people from all strata of society.” Legal 500 – Crime – Tier 1 ‘Simon is a truly exceptional advocate. Probably the finest exponent of the art of cross examination on any circuit in England and Wales. Frighteningly bright, masters complex briefs very easily and has a chair side manner that never fails to impress both professional and lay clients. Easily one of the finest criminal and regulatory silks in the country.’ Leonard Smith QC – Ranked in: Crime, Financial Crime – View Chambers & Partners profile “A ferocious advocate with great gravitas, who’s brilliant in court.” Legal 500 – Crime – Tier 3 ‘Leonard is relentless in his case preparation to ensure that when he gets to his feet to advocate in court he can delivery the best possible case for his client.’ Adam Kane QC – Ranked in: Crime, Financial Crime – View Chambers & Partners profile “Juries warm instantly to the elegant manner in which he puts his case.” “Adam works hard, communicates with his clients and is able to foresee the legal landscape.” “Adam can spot the details of a case. He captivates juries.” “He gets to the heart of the issue quickly and makes very persuasive closing and opening speeches.” “He is a very well-established and highly regarded silk in financial crime. He does some of the biggest cases and is an excellent advocate.” “An excellent practitioner who puts his clients at ease. He expertly deciphers complex evidence and leaves the client in no doubt as to what the case against them is.” Legal 500 – Crime – Tier 4 & Fraud Tier 3 ‘Adam is a great legal mind and strategist. His knowledge of the facts and the evidence in the case may only be surpassed by his knowledge and command of the law. ‘ ‘Adam is an incredibly erudite courtroom performer. His greatest asset is his way with words. He is charming in front of a jury but firm with witnesses when firmness is called for. He is always well-prepared and often spots arguments that others have overlooked.’ Siobhan Grey QC – Ranked in: Crime – View Chambers & Partners profile “Very hard-working and persuasive. She is technically gifted and calm under pressure.” Legal 500 – Crime – Tier 4 ‘Siobhan is open-minded, methodical, meticulous and scientific in her approach to forensic evidence.’ Felicity Gerry QC – Ranked in Crime – View Chambers & Partners profile “A wonderful fighter with an extraordinary intellect, she’s very efficient and very good with clients.” Legal 500 – Crime – Tier 3 ‘Felicity is a leading expert on the law of joint enterprise who commands respect from judges as to the correct framework to now be applied.’ Keith Mitchell – Ranked in: Financial Crime – View Chambers & Partners profile “Keith is extremely personable and good at putting clients at ease. He is also a strong jury advocate.” Legal 500 – Fraud – Tier 3 ‘Keith is an excellent all-round barrister – he is good with clients, pro active and attentive to instructing solicitors, top quality advocacy and very persuasive written work.’ Roxanne Morrell – Ranked in: Crime – View Chambers & Partners profile “Extremely conscientious and meticulously professional.” James Walker – Ranked in: Crime – View Chambers & Partners profile “A very bright individual who is particularly good at any case involving huge reams of paperwork.” Gerard Hillman – Ranked in: Crime, Financial Crime – View Chambers & Partners profile “Gerard is really approachable and has brilliant client care skills. He is a go-to for financial crime matters.” “Gerard has very good client skills. He is an extremely able lawyer who is very realistic and has great judgement.” “He’s highly experienced and knows how to keep even the most fraught case from going off the rails.” “An outstanding barrister for major crime cases.” Legal 500 – Crime – Tier 3 & Fraud Tier 4 ‘A seriously accomplished counsel, Gerard is formidable, intellectual and a strong advocate. He has an excellent courtroom presence and is a strategic thinker.’ Darren Snow – Legal 500 – Professional Discipline & Regulatory – Tier 4 “Darren has appeared in a number of complex cases for nurses before the NMC in the last year alongside work chairing several high-profile police disciplinary tribunals.” Marie Spenwyn – Ranked in: Crime – View Chambers & Partners Profile “She is meticulous, methodical and very proactive, thinking about the trial from the word go and doing the very best for her client.” “A tough opponent who is one of the most organised barristers out there.” Frances Hertzog – Ranked in: Crime – View Chambers & Partners Profile “She’s an effective cross-examiner who’s calm under pressure.” “Very committed and extremely patient with difficult and vulnerable clients.” Matthew Lawson – Legal 500 – Crime Tier 4 ‘Matt is extremely approachable, responsive and clients love to have him on their side. His client care skills are exceptional’ Ayaz Qazi – Legal 500 – Crime – Tier 4 ‘Ayaz is, without the least hesitation, a class act. His approach to cases is based on excellent preparation and thoroughness to the extent of minute detail.’ Oliver Cook – Ranked in: Crime – View Chambers & Partners profile “He is well received by clients of every stripe and is extremely approachable.” Legal 500 – Crime Tier 4 ‘Oliver is a brilliant barrister who can inspire juries to deliver positive verdicts for his clients in the most demanding cases. He is the barrister that you need on your side when you are in trouble.’ You can read more about what the Guide says about us by visiting Chambers Guide 2023

We are delighted to confirm Darren Snow’s appointment as an independent specialist member of the Football Association’s Safeguarding Review Panel. Darren’s appointment builds upon his experience with England Boxing chairing their safeguarding panel and his recent appointment to UK Athletics safeguarding panel. Darren has wide experience advising, investigating and defending in safeguarding cases. He is also a legal advisor with Sports Resolutions’ Safeguarding Case Management Programme. For further information on the F.A’s safeguarding policies and work please see their website: Safeguarding – Rules & Regulations | The Football Association (thefa.com) Libertas Chambers offers a wide range of experience in disciplinary and regulatory Sports work. For further information contact our senior clerk, Marc King.

Chambers is delighted to announce that Darren Snow has been invited to join Sports Resolutions’ Safeguarding Case Management Programme (SCMP). Sports Resolutions are the leading independent dispute resolution service for sport. Sports Resolutions provides case management assistance to National Governing Bodies for various Sports in relation to safeguarding matters, providing advice and assistance with investigations and hearings. Darren will be working with Sports Resolutions to provide tribunal representation, expert opinion and with assistance with arbitration and mediation across the full range of sport safeguarding work. For further information on this new initiative: National Safeguarding Panel | Sport Resolutions

Simon Csoka QC and Michael Lavery (Exchange Chambers) secure acquittals on all counts for their client at Southwark Crown Court. He was the only defendant acquitted. The trial, prosecuted by the SFO with two QCs, a junior and over 30 disclosure juniors, ran for five months at Southwark. The case concerned a Cayman Islands based investment fund which provided litigation funding for no-win no-fee cases in the UK. The fund collapsed in 2012 with losses of over £100 million to pension investors internationally. There was an extensive offshore group of companies in Cayman, Switzerland, Panama, the Marshall Islands and the Isle of Man. Richard Emmett was the senior partner of a substantial firm of solicitors which received the largest share of the funding. He was charged with fraudulent trading and money laundering. Mr Csoka QC was instructed by Mr Paul Schofield of Farleys solicitors. Simon and Michael would like to thank him and his team in the Financial Crime department for their thorough and proactive preparation of Mr Emmett’s defence. Links: The Times Financial Times Daily Mail

Adam Kane QC secured the acquittal on all counts of the oldest of 3 brothers charged with murder, attempted murder and wounding offences in Bradford. After a 6-week trial the jury acquitted Aizaz Khan over his involvement in a revenge machete attack following an earlier brawl in the City centre. In evidence, Mr Khan denied deliberately rounding up his siblings and others and driving them, armed, to and from the attacks. Mr Kane QC was instructed by Kingsman Solicitors, and thanks the instructing partner Jabran Hussain and his junior Imran Khan for supporting his observance of the Bar’s days of action throughout the trial.

Felicity’s young adult client was acquitted of murder and attempted murder at Bradford Crown Court on Thursday 14th July 2022. The prosecution had alleged that there was a joint plan to exact revenge after an attack upon her client’s friend. The jury convicted three in the group, one as principal in murder and wounding with intent and the others as secondary parties in manslaughter. It was accepted by the prosecution and obvious from the CCTV footage that her client had no weapon and chased nobody. However, the judicial directions set out the prosecution case based on an inference that he jumped out of a car and stood in the road so that relevant people knew he was there and by doing so, his actions encouraged and were intended to encourage the principal offender to carry out his attacks. Plainly by the verdicts, the jury rejected the prosecution case theory that Felicity’s client was part of a plan to attack and they must also have concluded that he did not encourage any such conduct at the scene. This is a case that demonstrates the value of precision on how a case is put and the effort that needs to be exerted to properly reach not guilty verdicts. You can read more about the case here, but it is important to note the sentencing remarks do not reflect Felicity’s client’s case: https://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/news/20282656.kian-tordoff-murder-trial-every-word-judges-sentencing-speech-full/. We also ask you to bear in mind there have been some dreadful racist comments in relation to this matter on social media. Felicity takes the issue of race in the criminal justice system very seriously. You can read her article on race and joint enterprise. Felicity led Sanjeev Sharma of Equity Chambers and was instructed by Ali and Co Solicitors in Bradford.