William has a broad practice in fraud and general crime, both prosecuting and defending.
He has been highly recommended as a leading silk in crime by The Legal 500 for four years and is ranked as a leading silk for London crime by Chambers and Partners. William is frequently instructed by the Serious Fraud Office. As a defence advocate he has had success in securing acquittals and stays for abuse process as a result of defects in the prosecution's disclosure process.
His experience in general crime includes murder, gross negligence manslaughter, serious sexual offences, corruption, and drug importation, manufacture and supply.
Since 2003, William has developed a speciality in defending doctors and dentists charged with sexual assaults on patients and has had considerable success in that field. This has led to disciplinary work, in particular before the General Medical Council. Within a short time William has become recognised by Chambers & Partners who now also rank him as a notable practitioner in the field of professional discipline, with clients singling him out for his "extremely fair and approachable manner." He is regularly instructed by Radcliffes LeBrasseur for the Medical Protection Society and by the Medical Defence Union.
William has lectured to the MDU and MPS on the defence of doctors charged with sexual assaults upon patients. In 2007 he was invited by the British Council to address the Legislative Affairs Department of the National People's Congress of China on the treatment of suspects in the criminal justice system of England and Wales.
Key cases
- R v Bolton (2008): representing a son charged with the attempted murder of his terminally ill mother by tampering with a syringe driver
- R v Prudhoe & Ors (2007): SFO prosecution concerning an £88m factoring fraud
- R v Concrete Company Ltd, Dighton & Burrows (2007): prosecuting senior managers and a company for gross negligence manslaughter and breach of health and safety - following the death of a worker
- R v Hall (2006): prosecution of a father who killed his 3 year old daughter to punish his wife for having an affair
- R v Tate (2006): doctor charged with indecent assault on 18 patients. Acquitted
- R v Chopra [2006] EWCA Crim 2133; (2007) 1 Cr App R 16 (Radcliffes): dentist convicted of indecent assault on 3 patients. On appeal authority for admissibility of similar fact and bad character evidence under CJA 2003
- R v Khurana [2006] EWCA Crim 1946: doctor charged with sexual assault on three female patients
- R v Miller & Miller (2006): prosecuting parents with learning difficulties whose children died in a fire. Found fit to plead and convicted of cruelty. Convictions upheld in CACD
- R v Asim Nasar & Ors (2006): defending in a multi-handed gang murder. The case collapsed when William exposed disclosure defects in the prosecution case
- R v Sykes & Ors (2004): SFO prosecution. Conspiracy to steal £3m pension fund
- R v Phillips (2003): neurologist charged with indecent assaults on 33 patients. Acquitted
- R v Cowie (2003): doctor charged with indecent assaults on 5 patients. Convictions quashed on appeal. Acquitted in retrial
- R v Franklin & Anor (2003): prosecuting a scrapyard owner for the double execution/murder of two travellers
- R v Matthews, Alleyne & Ors [2003] EWCA Crim 192; (2003) 2 Cr App R 30: the "Tyringham Bridge" case - prosecuted four men for the kidnapping and murder of a schoolboy. On appeal authority on intent
Contact William Coker QC
Phone: +44 (0) 20 7242 3555
Fax: +44 (0) 20 7242 2511
Email: clerks@7br.co.uk