Daren Samat
Year of call
1992
Instructing Daren Samat
For more information please contact our clerks by calling +44 (0)20 7242 3555.
A highly experienced and exceptional advocate, Daren Samat returned to independent practice in late 2019 having spent eleven years working as head of advocacy at one of the country’s leading defence firms.
Since joining 7BR, Daren’s practice has continued to thrive in general crime both defending and prosecuting. He is often instructed as leading counsel in cases of the utmost gravity, complexity and sensitivity, which include; homicide, terrorism, firearms, serious sexual offences and drugs and, in many of these cases, he is against King’s Counsel.
In addition to general crime, Daren defends and prosecutes in cases of fraud and financial crime. He advises both individuals and corporates in fraud, money laundering, corruption, and Proceeds of Crime Act proceedings whether that be nationally or internationally.
Daren also regularly appears before the Court Martial both in the UK and in Military Courts overseas in cases as diverse as; procurement fraud, firearms offences and serious sexual offences. Though he most often receives instructions to defend he has, more recently, received instructions from the Service Prosecution Authority.
Daren has also represented a number of professional individuals charged with disciplinary offences before their Regulatory Bodies including accountants and sport’s people. He has also advised and prosecuted cases in the Crown Court for Fire Authorities pursuant to the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005.
Additional
Daren has provided training to lawyers in this and other jurisdictions, including Guernsey and Isle of Man, giving him an insight and understanding of the law in each jurisdiction.
He is a lead facilitator of the Vulnerable Witness Training program for Middle Temple, for whom he also provides training to newly qualified barristers and bar students.
Daren is an approved pupil supervisor.
Legal Expertise
Crime & Regulatory
Yahoo News >
DerbyshireLive >
BBC News Derbyshire >
Derbyshire Constabulary >
Northamptonshire Police >
The Guardian >
ITV News >
Derbyshire Constabulary >
Leicestershire Live >
Daily Mail >
The Sun >
Leicester Mercury Daily Blog >
ITVX Documentary >
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Crime & Regulatory
Notable Crime & Regulatory cases
Rostislav GODLA (Derby CC)
Daren appeared for the prosecution of Rostislav Godla for multiple serious offences including; robbery (within the home); attempted murder; wounding with intent; false imprisonment, and; arson with intent. The case called for very sensitive handling given the vulnerability of the victim and required close co-operation of the CPS and Police throughout the case. The case also included consideration of the new Sentencing Council guidelines for kidnap and false imprisonment issued on 1 April 2025. The defendant was given an extended determinative sentence of 18 years' imprisonment with the licence period extended by a further 5 years making a total sentence of 23 years.
BBC News Derbyshire >Yahoo News >
DerbyshireLive >
R v Marsden (Derby CC)
Daren appeared for the Crown in the trial of R v Tony Marsden. Following a 7-day trial at Derby Crown Court Marsden was unanimously convicted of the "single punch" manslaughter of David after the jury rejected his claims that he had acted in self-defence. The case also included issues as to the causation of death and required expert forensic pathologist and neuropathologist evidence to be called. Marsden was jailed for 4 years and 3 months.
BBC News >BBC News Derbyshire >
Derbyshire Constabulary >
R v X, Y & Z (Youths) (Birmingham CC)
Daren was instructed as leading counsel for the Crown (leading Helen Rodger of 7BR) in Operation Harp which arose from the investigation of three youths charged with a joint enterprise attempted murder by stabbing. Given the complexity of the case and the very young age of the defendants, each of them were represented by a KC and junior. The case involved highly sensitive and complex issues; vulnerable witnesses and defendants alike and made use of s.28 YJCE 1999 and other adapted special measures and, for reasons which cannot be made public due to the sensitive nature of the case, the case was transferred off circuit to Birmingham Crown Court to be tried. The trial judge allowed special measures for each of the defendants to have a registered intermediary in court and allowed each defendant to sit together with an appropriate adult and RI in the well of the court as the trial and sentencing took place.
Northamptonshire Telegraph >Northamptonshire Police >
R v CA (Derby CC)
Daren was led by Vanessa Marshall KC of 7BR who represented the prosecution in the murder trial of Carl Alesbrook who was accused of shaking a four-month-old baby to death. Following a 23-day trial before Lord Justice Baker and a jury, Alesbrook, only 16 at the time, was convicted of murder and a separate s18 against the same infant. This was a complex investigation and trial which involved the evidence of multiple expert witnesses to deal with medical issues, mobile phones and social media use.
BBC News Derbyshire >The Guardian >
ITV News >
R v EH and 10 Others "Operation Wildflower" (Derby CC)
Daren was instructed as leading counsel for the Crown (leading Helen Rodger of 7BR) in Operation Wildflower, a year-long Derbyshire Constabulary investigation into a London based Albanian Organised Crime Network involved in the supply of drugs throughout the county and neighbouring towns. 11 gang members were prosecuted to trial and after an 8-week trial, all were convicted. The case involved significant challenges to call data records, cell site and surveillance evidence, by leading counsel for the defence and required a careful response and handling by Daren. Additionally Daren successfully resisted 5 appeals settling the Crown's written RN's. Following the Crown's written submissions, they were not called upon by the CACD.
BBC News Derbyshire >Derbyshire Constabulary >
R v AF "Operation Carter" (Leicester CC)
Daren was instructed to defend in Operation Carter, an EMSOU prosecution arising from foreign law enforcement agency's breaking of the end to end encrypted "encro-chat" phone system and subsequent passing of evidence to the UK NCA. Daren represented one of the alleged ring leaders and had to advise on issues of fitness to plead. In the event, despite the position Daren's lay client was alleged to hold within the OCG he was able to secure maximum credit for his plea and a sentence which survived an attempt by the AG to refer it as unduly lenient. Daren was further instructed to deal with the POCA proceedings.
Express News >Leicestershire Live >
R v JG (Court Martial Sennelager, Germany)
Daren was instructed to defend a Commissioned RAF Officer charged with sexual offences against a junior officer. The trial was heard before the Court Martial (sitting remotely in Sennelager, Germany). The was the first Court Martial case heard overseas that fully utilised the Military Court's new digital case system during the trial and was a test case for use of this equipment. Daren was instrumental in this pilot. The case also received widespread media coverage given the potential diplomatic issues involved.
The Times >Daily Mail >
The Sun >
R v AB and 7 others; "Operation Feather" (Leicester CC)
Daren led by Collingwood Thompson KC of 7BR was instructed to prosecute in both the trial and the subsequent re-trial of Operation Feather an eight-defendant double murder case, referred to in the media as the "Tik-Tok murder trial," due to one of the defendants being a well-known social media influencer. From the outset Daren helped the CPS to direct and advise the murder investigation team. At trial he presented much of the Crown's case and took an active role in cross examination of defendants at both trials. After almost two months the original trial before The Honourable Mr. Justice Saini had to be aborted due to jury irregularities, the subsequent retrial lasted 3 months before the resident judge at Leicester Crown Court (HHJ Spencer KC) sitting with a new jury. The case involved complex issues related to the directions to be given to a jury in an alleged joint enterprise murder with further consideration of the directions necessary for the alternative manslaughter and/or death by dangerous driving. There was considerable media interest in the case and an ITV documentary.
BBC News >Leicester Mercury Daily Blog >
ITVX Documentary >
R v AA (Leicester CC)
Defence of the principal defendant in a multiple murder trial. The case involved five deaths and became known as the Leicester explosion trial after receiving nationwide media attention. Led by James House QC.
BBC News >R v KM (Birmingham CC)
Defence of a young man of good character charged with a stabbing inside a night club. The issue was self-defence. Led by James House QC.
R v DL (Bristol CC)
Defence of a vulnerable alcoholic charged with the murder of her violently abusive partner. Led by James House QC.
R v MV (Birmingham CC)
Terrorism offences and trial of serving Army NCO charged with membership of National Action, a neo Nazi group and a proscribed organisation. Also charged with possession of items of use in terrorism. The case attracted international media attention. Led by Pavlos Panayi QC.
BBC News >R v JW (Aylesbury CC)
Defence of vulnerable teenager with profound Asperger syndrome charged with rape of his "best friend". Instructions had to be taken via an intermediary and the trial conducted with the use of special measures. Junior alone.
R v KA (Bristol CC)
The case attracted media attention due to the salacious nature of the death which resulted from a drug's overdose following "chem-sex" and sado-masochistic sexual acts between consenting homosexual partners. Led by Pavlos Panayi QC.
R v RO (Birmingham CC)
Defence of a double category A prisoner (who was already serving life for murder) charged with the further murder of a fellow category A whilst at HMP Long Lartin. This was a cut-throat defence and late instruction. Led junior.
R v DC (Reading CC)
Defence of vulnerable psychiatric inpatient charged with the attempted murder of a local shop assistant. The defence involved calling contested psychiatric evidence to support the contention that the defendant’s unusual belief system was based in reality. Junior alone.
The Telegraph >R v RH (Bristol CC)
Defence of the principal defendant in a nationwide paedophile ring who met via the dark web. RH had previously served a sentence for earlier sexual offences and upon his release he befriended a young couple, groomed them whilst they were pregnant and later raped their baby, which was filmed for distribution on the dark web. The case received national media attention. Junior alone.
R v EG (Courts Martial (Bulford) Military Court)
Defence of a former RAF Intelligence SNCO prosecuted for multiple historic sexual offences against 13 children whilst serving in 1970s-1980s in the then West Germany. The case involved multiple jurisdiction issues and received national media coverage. Daren also appeared for EG in further proceedings involving historic sexual allegations by a further 8 children. Leading counsel.
BBC News >R v CH (Bristol CC)
Defence of a Swindon taxi driver accused of the murders of Sian O'Callaghan and Rebecca Godden Edwards. CH made confessions extracted by oppression which were later excluded following successful legal argument. This led to a terminating ruling on one count. The applications to exclude were followed by abuse of process arguments which arose due to the blanket and national media coverage. This case has been the subject of both an ITV documentary and a recent television drama series. Led by Richard Latham QC.
BBC News >BBC News >
R v CH (High Court QBD)
Further defence of CH upon the Crown's subsequent application to prefer a voluntary bill re-charging him with the murder of Rebecca Godden Edwards. CH was alleged to be a serial killer and in this case Daren settled the defence written pleadings and successfully opposed the Crown's application. Junior alone.
Instructing Daren Samat
For more information please contact our clerks by calling +44 (0)20 7242 3555.
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