• SFO Panel (B)
  • CPS Specialist Fraud Division
  • CPS Serious Crime Panel
  • CPS Counter Terrorism Panel
  • Rape and Serious Sexual Offences Panel

  • Criminal Bar Association
  • Extradition Lawyers Association
  • Fraud Lawyers Association

  • St Catherine’s College, University of Oxford

Instructing Benjamin Isaacs

For more information please contact our clerks by calling +44 (0)20 7242 3555.

Benjamin Isaacs is instructed by individuals, businesses and various investigative and regulatory bodies to advise on complex financial crime cases.

Benjamin has particular experience in advising on Deferred Prosecution Agreements, having been instructed by the SFO on one of its largest investigations into corporate bribery and corruption to date and represented the companies in two of the DPAs to have been approved so far. In 2022, he successfully represented the SFO in a £400 million fraud trial.

He also advises businesses conducting internal investigations and often acts for financial service providers facing regulatory action, whether in the UK or offshore.

Benjamin’s experience extends to civil and public law cases and he is often asked to advise clients from different jurisdictions on matters governed by English law, frequently in the context of arbitration.

Benjamin also maintains a busy Crown Court practice prosecuting and defending major organised crime, with a particular focus on fraud and money laundering allegations.

Benjamin has acted in a number of cases involving senior public officials with complex jurisdictional issues and has a particular interest in bribery and corruption. He has prosecuted cases requiring consent from the Director of Public Prosecutions and he has advised victims on applications for such consent. He also advises on matters to do with extradition and mutual legal assistance and repatriation.

Benjamin is well placed to advise on judicial review proceedings where the public law intersects with the criminal law and is praised for his drafting. He has acted on behalf of individuals and agencies in the High Court on cases concerning a range of topics from search powers to offender repatriation to decisions to prosecute (or not).

Benjamin is ranked in The Legal 500 and Chambers UK Bar and is described as a “go to corporate crime junior” with “excellent analytical skills,” as well as “a very articulate and bright individual and an extremely good barrister.”

He is fluent in Hebrew.

Benjamin is qualified to accept instructions directly from clients and is registered under the Bar Council’s Public Access Scheme, meaning that members of the public who seek specialist advice can come direct to him. In addition, he welcomes instructions from solicitors, in-house law departments, qualified foreign lawyers, and clients licensed by the Bar Council to give instructions direct to barristers under the Bar Council’s Licensed Access Scheme. For more information please visit our Direct Access page here.

Legal Expertise

Crime & Regulatory

Benjamin has achieved success in a number of high-profile cases involving allegations of fraud, bribery, money laundering, multi-handed conspiracies. He has successfully prosecuted and defended a number of murder trials. He has particular experience advising on sensitive disclosure issues and in cases involving allegations of police misconduct and abuse of process.

He has also defended and prosecuted cases involving alleged sexual offending of the utmost seriousness, and has particular experience of cases involving s.41 applications.

Notable Crime & Regulatory cases

Operation Epicruish

Instructed by Counter-Terrorism Unit following investigation into offence of Preparing Acts of Terrorism and the Dissemination of Terrorist Material. D collected materials on how to make explosives and distributed ISIS execution videos via Instagram.

R v Elahi

Secured convictions in series of sexual offences committed in multiple jurisdictions against approximately 2,000 individuals through online ‘sugar daddy’ websites. D blackmailed victims for sexualised images, which he would sell through encrypted platforms. The victims aged from eight month old babies through to adults. Alongside these offences, D also provided a ‘masterclass’ to other paedophiles teaching them how to avoid detection. His offending was almost unprecedented in scale and has been described by NCA investigators as the ‘worst they’ve ever seen’ and by the Judge as the worst online predator she had ever come across. Sentenced to 32 years. The investigation was carried out by the NCA in conjunction with various law enforcement agencies around the world, including the FBI.

Operation Silentpool (ongoing)

Prosecution of 4 linked trials involving a murder, the supply of over a tonne of class A drugs, firearm offences and large-scale money laundering.

R v O (2019)

Successful abuse of process argument following disclosure failings by Prosecution leading to offer of no evidence in historic abuse case.

R v M (2019)

Acquittal on charge of Conspiracy to Murder.

R v Jervis & Others (2019)

Torture and murder of Leicester jeweller.

View case >
Operation Hector (ongoing)

Acting alone in 8 handed drugs conspiracy.


Financial Crime

Benjamin has substantial experience of large-scale investigations and complex trials and he regularly advises authorities, individuals and businesses from the earliest stages of an investigation.

His advisory work is focused on multi-jurisdictional investigations into fraud, bribery and corporate offending. He acted for the two companies that signed DPAs with the SFO in SFO v AB Ltd and CD Ltd. He acted for the SFO in one of it’s largest investigations to date in respect of corporate bribery and corruption allegations. He is currently instructed as junior for the SFO in a multi-million Pound fraud, due for trial in 2022.

Benjamin has appeared as both a led and leading junior in a number of high value Fraud and Money Laundering prosecutions, often with an international element. He also advises on all matters relating to Proceeds of Crime applications and has successfully appeared in the Court of Appeal on such matters. He has also acted in various cases concerning Insolvency offences and Director Disqualifications.

Benjamin also has significant experience advising on Account Freezing and Forfeiture Orders and related applications.

He has provided substantial advice on private prosecutions and applications for AG and DPP consent to prosecute.

Benjamin has provided seminars and training on a range of topics, most recently on Cannabis regulation and POCA, Legal privilege in the context of internal investigations and Unexplained Wealth Orders.

Notable Financial Crime cases

SFO v David Ames

Junior for Prosecution on one of few successful SFO trials to end in a conviction. £400m Fraud by Abuse of Position Case attracting significant media coverage internationally. Investigation lasted close to a decade. D sold off-plan properties across Caribbean resorts that he never built. D partnered with Liverpool Football Club and many celebrities.

R v P

Advising global investment company in relation to interest from the financial regulator and US SEC in relation to its handling of funds linked to a huge Ponzi fraud. Raises complex points of law concerning the rights of beneficial owners to assets held in trust and the scope of AML obligations in off-shore jurisdictions. Involves close contact and negotiation with the enforcement agency and financial regulator, analysis of the business model and advice on restraint and confiscation law and the AML Code.

SFO v AB Ltd and CD Ltd (2021)

Acted for the two companies in the 11th and 12th DPAs to be approved.

R v X (2020)

Instructed in parallel FCA/SFO investigation following referral by National Economic Crime Centre (NECC).

R v A (2021)

Instructed by Insolvency Service to prosecute Disqualified Director.

R v Lowther [2020] EWCA Crim 1387

Successful in Court of Appeal on POCA matter.

R v Singh (2019)

Successful prosecution under s.1 Bribery Act 2010 arising in banking sector.

R v Khan & Others (2018)

The ‘crushed Ferrari’ case. High profile fraud and money laundering case.

R v Davis & Others (2018)

Long running investigation involving a series of money-laundering conspiracies.

Operation Jade (2018)

Long-running property fraud involving large corporate loser and overlapping civil proceedings with complicated disclosure issues.

SFO investigation into one of the UK’s largest companies in respect of bribery and corruption of foreign officials in multiple-jurisdictions (ongoing).

Advising a UK investment company in respect of possible regulatory breaches and applications for FCA permission.


Offshore & International Disputes

Benjamin has been instructed in cases in the UK, the Caribbean, the Channel Islands, the Gulf and South East Asia. He is experienced in international matters involving civil and commercial law (particularly fraud), arbitration, financial regulation and international crime.

Benjamin has particular experience advising on issues arising in multi-jurisdictional investigations and matters concerning dual criminality. He also advises on issues concerning mutual legal assistance, extradition and Interpol notifications. He has a strong background representing requesting states and individuals in court and has appeared in a number of reported cases.

Notable Offshore & International Disputes cases

USA v Fesenko

Defence of Requested Person facing extradition for wire fraud valued at $137m in the US.

SFO investigation into one of the UK’s largest companies in respect of bribery and corruption of foreign officials in multiple-jurisdictions (ongoing).

Advising an off-shore financial service provider in respect of an AML/CFT compliance investigation by the regulator.


  • SFO Panel (B)
  • CPS Specialist Fraud Division
  • CPS Serious Crime Panel
  • CPS Counter Terrorism Panel
  • Rape and Serious Sexual Offences Panel

  • Criminal Bar Association
  • Extradition Lawyers Association
  • Fraud Lawyers Association

  • St Catherine’s College, University of Oxford

Instructing Benjamin Isaacs

For more information please contact our clerks by calling +44 (0)20 7242 3555.

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Frequently asked questions

Yes, please call Chambers mainline number +44 (0)20 7242 3555 and you will be directed to the out of hours phone lines.

As a direct access client, please visit our direct access page and complete the initial form, a member of the clerking team will then be in touch to discuss the next steps.

Choosing the right barrister for your case can be difficult, with so many to choose from. Our clerks will be happy to guide you with your choice. Their wealth of knowledge and experience will help you decide the right barrister not just for the case but someone who will work with you.

Some barristers have the ability to “conduct litigation” for direct access clients. Our clerks will be able to assist you as to which of our members are trained and accredited to do so.

Please visit our direct access page for the initial steps on instructing a barrister, or contact our clerks on +44 (0)20 7242 3555.

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