Darren Snow

Darren is a specialist defence lawyer with a wide range of experience defending in murder & serious violence, sexual offences, organised crime, drugs conspiracies, public order, fraud, money laundering, proceeds of crime and regulatory cases. Darren is presently instructed for the Defence in a substantial drugs conspiracy case with a value of £45 million, a complex money laundering case and several encrochat cases due for trial in 2022.  Whilst now a focused defence specialist Darren draws upon wide prosecution experience and is a Grade 3 Prosecutor and a member of the CPS Serious Crime and Fraud Panel.

Darren defended the third defendant in R v O’Brien & Others, a multi-handed £57 million organised crime conspiracy to steal rare rhino horn and Chinese jade artefacts from museums across the UK to ship to China, one of the largest cases of its kind ever. He also defended in R v M, a £500,000 banking diversion fraud, where he successfully argued that his client, a vulnerable female bank employee, who was targeted and groomed, was unfit as a result of a mental health breakdown whereupon the case resolved through a contested fitness to plead procedure. He secured a non-custodial sentence.

In recent years Darren has defended in several complex county lines drug conspiracies concerning the supply of Class A drugs along the South Coast, the Midlands and in East Anglia.

Notable Cases:

R v WS & Others – Representing one of the defendants in this multi handed drugs smuggling conspiracy concerning £45 million of MDMA imported in Australia concealed within a digger being shipped to Australia. The prosecution case relies heavily upon intercepted Encrochat communications. Due for trial 2021/2022.

R v B & Others – Representing the Defendant in respect of allegations of involvement in a £5 million money laundering conspiracy controlled from the UAE. Again, an Encrochat case. Due for trial in 2022.

R v OH – Defence Counsel in case involving multiple rape, firearms and serious violence offences against a former girlfriend stretching over 10 years.

R v M & Others – Prosecution junior, instructed by CPS Serious & Organised Crime Group in a conspiracy to rob and steal cash machines. 6-week trial working closely with the CPS and Flying Squad officers.

R v SAV – Represented second defendant in Class A county lines conspiracy focused upon crack and heroin supply in Great Yarmouth Norfolk. Extensive Cell site and police surveillance evidence.

R v TC – Junior Counsel led by Henry Grunwald KC – Murder – Northampton – incident inside KFC Restaurant.

R v O & Others – Represented the third defendant in this £57 million conspiracy to steal – re widescale thefts of rare rhino horn and jade artefacts from museums for resale in China. Also appeared in the subsequent POCA proceedings listed for 5 days, securing a £1 order on behalf of his client in the face of a £30m benefit figure.

R v. R & Others – Represented the third defendant in this £250,000 theft of watches from a Russian Billionaire – only Defendant to maintain a not guilty plea to trial. Acquitted on a submission of no case to answer.

R v P – Prosecution counsel in £1.5 diversion fraud committed against construction company. Guilty plea on day one of trial.

R v. C – represented defendant in £1.5million fraud through a dating website, victim defrauded by a fake boyfriend with numerous transfers to overseas bank accounts. Only Defendant to maintain her pleas to trial and acquitted. All other Defendants pleaded guilty.

R v. M – Defence counsel for female bank clerk involved in £500k fraud.  Manipulated by gang, defence of duress, defendant suffered mental health breakdown in the lead up to trial, Case resolved through the fitness to plead procedure, contested by the Crown, found unfit and case resolved through trial of issue with a non-custodial mental health disposal.

R v O – Defence in allegations of gang related intimidation of a key witness informant placed in witness protection following a murder trial. Client was a professional footballer with Leyton Orient.

R v B – Defence in alleged £350,000 money laundering case involving international cash transfers from Pakistan and associated hawala banking practices.

R v B – Defence in death by careless driving case where motorist hit two horses killing one rider and seriously injuring another. Successfully defended at Newton Hearing securing non-custodial sentence.

Darren Snow is a member of our regulatory team. He is a leading practitioner in professional disciplinary practice and very experienced defending in regulatory proceedings in the criminal courts and other tribunals.

Darren has a lot of experience defending in health & safety, environmental and serious motoring cases incl death by dangerous driving, on behalf of companies, directors and individuals. He has been instructed to advise corporate clients in the early stages of criminal & regulatory investigations. His recent work has included advising clients facing criminal investigations by the HSE and CKC in the private healthcare and care home industries.

In 2017 he defended in R v Bertram; the “Kent Mattress Mountain” case prosecuted by the Environment Agency. Darren’s environmental law experience includes defending in water pollution cases and several substantial cases regarding controlled waste disposal and commercial scale fly-tipping.

Darren has particular experience acting for hauliers, coach operators and other transport businesses in criminal cases and associated DVSA regulatory cases. He has defended commercial operators in prosecutions for tachograph offences, dangerous loads, regulatory non-compliance, controlled waste disposal, dangerous driving and fatal accidents.

Notable Cases:

EA v B – Defence of director of a recycling business, described in the media as the “Kent Mattress Mountain” prosecuted by the Environment Agency.

EA v BC Ltd – Defence of chemical company charged in respect of accidental chemical escape causing 30 miles of pollution of river, loss of fish stocks and substantial clean-up costs.

EA v D – Appeal against £45,000 fine for unlawful waste disposal in respect of fly tipped waste outside D’s business which he disposed of by way of a series of bonfires. Reduced to £1500.

EA v GB Ltd – Defence in illegal waste disposal case concerning commercial scale fly tipping alongside M2 in Kent. 15 Co Defendant companies.

Darren has a growing reputation in this field defending in complex and challenging cases in disciplinary hearings before regulators and on appeals before the High Court. He has built a reputation for sensitive client handling and solid case preparation putting his clients at ease. He was ranked as a leading junior in the Legal 500 in this field for the first time in 2020.

Darren has acted for a wide range of professions – police, prison, military, legal, teaching and healthcare personnel facing their professional regulators, criminal courts, public inquiries and inquests. He is a very experienced advocate in healthcare related work acting for doctors, nurses, midwives and paramedics. He was counsel for the nurse, instructed by the Royal College of Nursing, in the 2019 Professional Standards Authority Appeal in the High Court of Ndlovu where the PSA sought to challenge the outstanding outcome Darren had secured for his client in NMC fitness to Practice proceedings.

In the last few years much of Darren’s work has been defending nurses and midwives before the Nursing & Midwifery Council in misconduct and health cases. He has been instructed in a wide range of cases including some of the most serious allegations of misconduct re patient death in clinical, mental health and midwifery practice and allegations of sexual assault against patients.

Darren has acted pro bono for several nurses and doctors in NMC and GMC cases providing advice and representation through Advocate, the Bar Pro Bono Unit.

Darren is developing an expertise in police and legal regulatory work. In 2017 Darren was appointed to the Bar’s misconduct body, TBTAS. He sits on misconduct cases prosecuted by the BSB. In 2018 he was appointed as a legally qualified chair on Police disciplinary tribunals and began sitting in 2019. Darren welcomes defence instructions on behalf of police officers, prison officers and legal professionals facing disciplinary and criminal proceedings.

Darren is increasingly involved in Sports regulatory work representing athletes in anti-doping and safeguarding cases.  He is an authorised lawyer with the Football Association and sits as a chair on England Boxing’s safeguarding panel. He is a member of Sports Resolutions’ Pro Bono Panel.

Notable Cases:

NMC V JG & Others – representing a midwife in this ongoing case concerning the care provided to a woman who lost her baby during birth. The case involves complex issues re CTG monitoring and interpretation and treatment provided by 5 midwives over the course of several shifts on the ward. Instructed by Thompsons & the Royal College of Midwives.

LTA v JP – Representing the Appellant in an appeal against LTA Safeguarding Panel decision to impose a lifetime ban from tennis coaching in respect of allegations of sexual misconduct with under 16 athletes. Criminal proceedings discontinued through lack of evidence. Instructed through Sports Resolutions Pro Bono Panel.

NMC v DO – representing mental health nurse re allegations of failures to monitor & treat MH patient in the community. Patient murdered his grandmother – patient convicted of diminished responsibility due to unmedicated MH state at time. 3-week NMC hearing leading to striking off order. Instructed by the Royal College of Nursing.

UKAD v DB – represented Rugby League player found to have taken cocaine out of competition. Original 2-year suspension reduced to 3 months under 2021 UKAD Regulations. Instructed by Sports Resolutions Pro Bono Panel.

NMC v N – representing mental health nurse where patient committed suicide. Allegations of negligent assessment of patient and falsifying records. 6-week hearing. Findings of dishonesty and clinical failures but in context of young nurse with minimal training/support – resolved with a caution. Professional Standards Appeal to the High Court where HC held sanction as unduly lenient.  Upon further NMC hearing resolved with a short suspension enabling the nurse to return to work with full support of her employer. Instructed by the Royal College of Nursing.

NMC v GP – representing midwife who faced allegations of negligent assessment of pregnant lady, resulting in still birth days later. Allegations the midwife tried to cover up failings & falsify records. Findings of limited clinical failures, no integrity or dishonesty issues found proved – resolved with a caution. Instructed by Royal College of Midwives & Thompsons Solicitors.

HCPC v M – representing a paramedic facing allegations of negligent clinical assessment where patient later died. All allegations dismissed following uncovering of evidence of intervening events with the patient – known by employers’ investigators but not disclosed to this registrant nor to coroner at an inquest. All charges dismissed on submission of no case to answer. Instructed by Thompsons Solicitors.

NMC v N – Defence Counsel – male nurse facing allegations of serious sexual assault of a female patient and drug maladministration. Acquitted of all sexual misconduct allegations. Defence involved complex expert evidence on morphine side effects, confabulation & false memory syndrome. Instructed by the Royal College of Nursing.

Darren Snow is a member of our Civil team with a focus upon commercial dispute resolution work. Darren is an accredited mediator with wide experience in mediation, arbitration and negotiation work.

Darren has a wealth of experience in the investigation, defence, and resolution of commercial disputes. He has experience in arbitration work and Mediation. He is an accredited commercial mediator and has trained with the CIArb, CEDR, and the Academy of Experts.  Darren has experience in insurance work and the associated areas of professional negligence, product liability, and general liability claims. He spent 14 years working with insurers – in senior claims roles, as an international loss adjuster, and as in-house counsel. He has experience working in Australia and Singapore on large-scale litigation. Darren qualified as a solicitor before completing pupillage and has also been called to the Northern Irish Bar.

Darren Snow is a member of our public law team. He has a keen interest in civil liberties work drawing upon his background in criminal defence work. He is a specialist in inquest work, often dealing with sensitive cases involving deaths in hospitals, secure care premises and prisons. He has experience dealing with Art 2 Jury inquests and connected professional discipline and criminal cases.

Darren is gaining a strong reputation in this field representing interested parties, insurers and the families of the deceased. He has been appearing as an advocate at inquests for over 10 years. He is unafraid to press hard for answers when required and is equally robust in protecting the interests of his clients when necessary. Much of Darren’s recent work has been for interested parties where there is a cross over with criminal and regulatory proceedings. He is very experienced representing insurers and their policyholders at Inquests.

Recent Art 2 Inquest work has included inquests concerning a prisoner who died at HMP Belmarsh whilst on the health wing and the death of a patient who escaped a secure mental health unit and was discovered days later at her home having committed suicide.

Darren has provided training on Inquest practice to solicitors and healthcare defence organisations. He completed the Kings College Coroners Course, taught by Sir Peter Thornton KC, the former Chief Coroner, in 2019.

Notable Cases

North London Coroners Court Re Dunwell – represented mental health nurse in 1-week jury inquest re death of secure mental health patient who had consumed spice.  Extensive scrutiny of the hospital security and observations regime. Neglect findings.

Walthamstow Coroners Court Re Sandwell – represented the GP practice nurse in this inquest investigating the death of Lauren Sandwell, a university student who died from meningitis. Extensive examination of the GP practice’s approach to providing the meningitis vaccine to teenagers leaving for university.  As sensitive case with significant media interested. Presently instructed on behalf of the nurse in forthcoming NMC proceedings

Croydon Coroners Court Re Horton – Represented nurse in 4-week Art 2 inquest re suicide of a secure mental health patient who escaped whilst on 15-minute observations without detection, returned to her home, where she remained for several weeks and was found to have committed suicide. Neglect Findings.

Southwark Coroners Court Re Sadhushi – Represented a nurse in a 3-week Art 2 inquest concerning the death of a prisoner on the health wing at HMP Belmarsh. Heavy scrutiny of the Hospital, Metropolitan Police and Local authority.

Milton Keynes Coroners Court Re McManus – Represented nurse in Art 2 inquest concerning the death of a patient who took his own life at a secure mental health establishment operated by the Priory.