Ranked consistently in the top echelons for fraud silks in London in Chambers Directory and Legal 500, Gareth continues to attract attention in the fast-changing world of fraud, as well as general crime. In 2009 he is described as: “fantastic as he’s in all the biggest cases in the UK” and: “very well thought of as an energetic, effective silk”. Commentators have described him as: “ the epitome of the modern breed of silk: he works hard, looks after his clients, and is always bang up-to-date on any new developments in the law”, “bright and enthusiastic” and “in anyone’s list of the best”.
Gareth’s practice remains anchored in advisory and trial work in company and commercial crime and regulation. His high profile cases have ranged from market abuse and corruption to conspiracy to defraud and offences involving company directors mainly prosecuted by the Serious Fraud Office.
Gareth retains a general criminal practice having defended in a number of high-profile murders since taking silk including representing David Morris in the South Wales “Clydach Murders” of three generations of the same family. He has defended in criminal cases for nearly 30 years and is often instructed in serious and sensitive criminal allegations. He is recommended in Chambers and the Legal 500 for Crime.
Gareth couples his criminal work with a regulatory and disciplinary practice. He has appeared before the Regulatory Decisions Committee of the FSA, the General Medical Council, in police disciplinary hearings and is involved in sports discipline. He represented a number of police officers at the Victoria Climbie Inquiry.
In 2008-9 Gareth has been instructed in a number of corruption cases involving multi-jurisdictions and parallel proceedings including the US, Nigeria, Kenya, Indonesia and Iraq. He is instructed by a major US Law firm and in off-shore jurisdictions. He is also instructed to represent two company directors accused of breaches of UK export sanctions to Iran.
In recent years he has been involved in an impressive portfolio of cases including the Jubilee Line Extension Fraud (R v Rayment & Ors), The Versailles fraud (arising from the collapse of Versailles Group Plc then valued at £630 million: R v Cushnie & Ors), the Balfron Anglo-Danish Pension Fraud, the Mars Confectionary Corruption (R v Harper & Ors) and Millennium Dome Corruption (R v Barron & Ors) cases - both of which concerned the preferential awarding of contracts - and the fraud trial arising from the £900 million collapse of Independent Insurance (R v Bright & Ors).
Gareth has wide experience of all aspects of fraud investigation and trial work. He has advised on the Wickes Plc prosecution (R v Rosenthal & Ors) and the SFO pharmaceutical investigation. He has advised widely on the criminal obligations of company directors and has appeared before the RDC of the FSA.
Gareth has recently advised an off-shore jurisdiction on the extension of its extradition law. He has experience of defending companies and their officers in prosecutions bought by the HSE and Environment Agency, including in an Anglo-Dutch depleted uranium prosecution.
Gareth has advised on the effect of the Money Laundering Regulations 2007 and is a member of the Bar Council Money Laundering Committee. He has also appeared to defend an allegation of contempt in Proceeds of Crime Act restraint order proceedings.
Contact Gareth Rees QC
Phone: +44 (0) 20 7242 3555
Fax: +44 (0) 20 7242 2511
Email: clerks@7br.co.uk