Instructing Gareth Weetman
For more information please contact our clerks by calling +44 (0)20 7242 3555.
Gareth Weetman has 25 years of experience as an advocate and during that time he has developed a wide-ranging practice in which he is instructed in serious and complex criminal and personal injury cases.
He is entrusted by defence and CPS teams with cases of particular sensitivity, including those involving serious sexual allegations, child witnesses, vulnerable parties, intermediaries and mental health issues. He is well regarded for his approachable manner, both in and out of the courtroom, and his ability to judge the right pitch for a particular case or witness. He frequently handles trials involving allegations of sexual or physical abuse of children.
He is a member of the Attorney General’s panel of Special Advocates and is also a grade 4 prosecutor, appointed to the advocate lists for Rape and Serious Sexual Offences, Serious Organised Crime and Fraud. He regularly conducts CPS Complex Casework trials and is frequently instructed as lead junior counsel. His role as a Special Advocate involves written and oral advocacy in the High Court, SIAC and other tribunals pertaining to cases of alleged extremist activity and Closed Material.
Gareth also conducts personal injury work for Claimants and Defendants. His cases span long-term disability, fatal accidents, brain injury, stress and industrial disease work. He is able to transpose the trial skills that he has developed in jury cases to good effect in the examination of witnesses in both County Court and High Court proceedings and in cases concerning alleged historic abuse.
He is a member of Gray’s Inn’s panel of advocacy trainers, providing tuition sessions for younger members of the profession. His own experience first developed at University, where he was President of the Cambridge Union and an award-winning debater and public speaker. He studied law at Christ’s College, Cambridge.
Recommended as a leading junior in Legal 500 and Chambers & Partners guides 2014-2023.
Having been promoted in 2013 to the highest grade of qualification for prosecution work, Gareth appears for both the Crown and Defence in complex and serious cases. His works spans the spectrum from very high value fraud and money laundering trials to multi-party murder cases. He is a member of the Attorney General’s panel of Special Advocates and is on the list of approved Counsel for the Complex Casework Unit.
Prosecution of 5 men who were convicted of a conspiracy to bring 1.4 tonnes of cocaine, worth £112,000,000, into the Country.
Prosecution of a couple who laundered over £1,000,000 in cash derived from drug smuggling.
Defence of a man accused of being a key member of a county lines cocaine supply ring.
Prosecution of a gang of three men who carried out armed robberies on retail outlets.
Prosecution of a man for rape whose defence was ‘parasomnia’, namely that he was asleep at the time of the act. Convicted.
Prosecution of a ‘county lines’ gang supplying substantial quantities of cocaine across the Midlands.
Prosecution of a man for defrauding an elderly and vulnerable lady for whom he exercised Power of Attorney.
Gareth has developed a high-level practice for both Claimant and Defendant personal injury work. His work spans long-term disability, fatal accidents, brain injury, stress and industrial disease work.
With 20 years’ experience of regular trials, he has a particular skill for witness handling and advocacy in liability trials, including issues pertaining to alleged fraud, malingering or exaggeration of claims.
His personal injury and criminal experience are also combined in cases relating to alleged sexual and physical abuse (both historic and recent), civil actions against the police and inquests.
He is frequently entrusted to handle difficult interlocutory applications, such as relief from sanctions applications and setting aside default judgments, where careful and persuasive written and oral submissions are required.
Gareth has combined his experience of high-level investigative and prosecution work with 20 years of personal injury cases to develop a particular specialism in pleading and establishing fraud. His advocacy experience, spanning criminal and civil trials, leaves him well disposed to the requirements of successful, incisive cross examination of a party accused of fraud. He is frequently instructed on behalf of a major national retailers and insurers to advise on the gathering and presentation of evidence in such cases. He has successfully argued for findings of ‘fundamental dishonesty’ to be made, with associated orders as to costs against that party.
Instructing Gareth Weetman
For more information please contact our clerks by calling +44 (0)20 7242 3555.
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