Hugo Keith KC

Joint Head of Chambers

Call: 1989 / Silk: 2009

“Hugo is a real fighter and immensely impressive.”

Chambers UK 2025: Extradition

“Hugo is one of the best silks around.”

Chambers UK 2025: Inquests & Public Inquiries

“Hugo Keith KC is a fantastic advocate and a great communicator.”

Chambers UK 2025: POCA Work & Asset Forfeiture

“Hugo is a brilliant public lawyer. In terms of written arguments and advocacy, he is a top choice.”

Chambers UK 2025: Sanctions

“Hugo has an unbeatable combination of depth of experience and fluent advocacy.”

Legal 500 2025: Business & Regulatory Crime

Hugo Keith KC is recognised as one of the legal profession’s leading King’s Counsel. In the current Chambers and Partners Guide to the UK Bar he is ranked in no less than seven categories: ‘Star’ ranked in Extradition and in Financial Crime; Band 1 in Financial Crime: Corporates and Inquests & Inquiries; Band 2 in Sanctions and Administrative & Public Law; and Band 3 in Proceeds of Crime & Asset Forfeiture. He is Joint Head of Chambers at Three Raymond Buildings.

He was a member of the ‘A’ Panel of civil Treasury Counsel for 8 years, during which time he regularly appeared on matters of public and criminal law both on behalf of Government departments and as amicus curiae before the High Court, Court of Appeal and House of Lords. He has appeared in 15 cases before the House of Lords/Supreme Court. He won the Chambers and Partners award for criminal barrister of the year 2008, and took silk in 2009.

As well as his regular appearances in the High Court and Supreme Court, he has been instructed in some of the most high profile cases of recent years. He represented Princess Anne when she was prosecuted, and represented The Queen in the Inquest into the death of Diana, Princess of Wales. He appeared on behalf of Malcolm Calvert in the Cazenove inside dealing case. He was appointed leading Counsel to the Inquests into the London Bombings of 7 July 2005 and, subsequently, appeared in the Leveson Inquiry on behalf of Rebekah Brooks. He appeared in the Mark Duggan, Alexander Litvinenko and Westminster inquests, and represented the Home Secretary in the El-Gizouli judicial review (concerning one of the ‘Jihadi Beatles‘) and the Electoral Commission in its proceedings against Leave.EU. He appeared on behalf of Airbus in the largest Deferred Prosecution Agreement yet concluded, and advised Chelsea FC in relation to aspects of its sale in May 2022.

Hugo is instructed by companies, high net-worth individuals, and politically exposed persons relating to all aspects of extradition (including advising on Interpol and on international restraint), international criminal/corporate liability, and criminal judicial review. His extradition and MLA cases include the leading cases of Berezovsky, US v Bermingham (the Natwest Three), Abu Hamza, Gary McKinnon, Shrien Dewani and Hamdi Ipek. He has successfully defended clients in every extradition case in which he has been instructed against the Russian State.

He is also a recognised specialist on sanctions law, and particularly since February 2022, has been consulted by many of London’s leading law firms and by a significant number of global businessmen, industrialists and corporations in relation to their sanctions exposure. He is acting on behalf of a number of sanctioned individuals in connection with their challenges to the UK Government.

In the field of financial and international crime, he advised on the UK’s first Deferred Prosecution Agreement (Standard Bank Plc) and appeared in two of the most recent DPAs (Guralp Systems Limited and Airbus). He has been involved on behalf of individuals or corporate bodies in a large number of the SFO’s highest profile investigations of recent years: LIBOR, EURIBOR, FOREX, Alstom, Autonomy, Rolls Royce, TescoUnaoil, ENRC and Glencore.

He is an expert on search and seizure, restraint and confiscation, and appeared in the leading cases of Rawlinson & Hunter Trustees and Others (search warrants), Golfrate (search warrant), and Malabu Oil and Gas (international MLA restraint).  He is also a renowned appellate advocate, and has appeared in a significant number of leading criminal cases in the UK higher courts. He has appeared twice in the Hong Kong Court of Final Appeal, including in the appeal concerning the former Chief Secretary of Hong Kong.

He is currently Lead Counsel to the UK Public Inquiry into the Covid-19 pandemic.

He is a Deputy High Court Judge.

Legal Expertise

Financial & International Crime (Individuals & Corporates) overview

In the field of financial and international crime, Hugo advised on the UK’s first Deferred Prosecution Agreement (Standard Bank Plc) and has been involved on behalf of, or otherwise defended, individuals or corporate bodies in most of the SFO’s high profile investigations of recent years.

Notable Financial & International Crime (Individuals & Corporates) cases

Autonomy/Hewlett Packard

LIBOR

Guralp Systems Limited

Swift (Nigeria)

Tesco

Barclays/Qatar

EURIBOR

FOREX

Unaoil

Airbus

Criminal / Regulatory overview

He is a renowned appellate advocate, and has appeared in a significant number of leading criminal cases in the UK higher courts, including the Supreme Court. He has appeared twice in the Hong Kong Court of Final Appeal, most recently in the appeal concerning the former Chief Secretary of Hong Kong.

Notable Criminal / Regulatory cases

Financial Services Authority v Calvert

Insider dealing.

Torex

Misstatement of accounts.

Rebekah Brooks

HKSAR v SZE Mei Mun

HKSAR appeal concerning prosecution disclosure.

R v Ferdinand

Overseas corruption.

Serious Fraud Office v Zlochevsky

Restraint of assets; Ukrainian Minister.

Malabu Oil & Gas Ltd v DPP

Restraint of assets; Nigerian Minister.

R v HKSAR v Kwan Francis

HKSAR corruption appeal.

Inquests & Public Inquiries overview

He has appeared in many of the UK’s most important inquest proceedings and public inquiries.

Notable Inquests & Public Inquiries cases

Diana, Princess of Wales

7/7 Bombings

Mark Duggan

Alexander Litvinenko

The Westminster Terrorist Attack Inquests

Public & Administrative Law

Public & Administrative Law overview

Hugo was a member of the ‘A’ Panel of civil Treasury Counsel for 8 years, during which time he regularly appeared on matters of public and criminal law both on behalf of Government departments and as amicus curiae before the High Court, Court of Appeal and House of Lords. He has appeared in 14 cases before the House of Lords/Supreme Court. He is still regularly instructed in public law cases.

Notable Public & Administrative Law cases

R (Akarcay) v Chief Constable of West Yorkshire [2017] EWHC 159 (Admin); [2017] 2 WLUK 128

International MLA.

R (Duggan) v Assistant Deputy Coroner for the Northern District of Greater London Court of Appeal [2017] EWCA Civ 142; [2017] 1 WLR 2199

Judicial review of Coroner's directions.

R (Unaenergy Group Holding Pte Ltd) v Director of the Serious Fraud Office [2017] EWHC 600 (Admin); [2017] 1 WLR 3302

Judicial review of SFO in relation to MLA request.

R (Birks) v Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis [2018] 4 WLUK 159

Judicial review arising out of police misconduct proceedings.

R (El Gizouli) v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2019] EWHC 60 (Admin); [2019] 1 WLUK 111

JR of MLA.

Attorney General v MGN Ltd
[1997] 1 All ER 456 (contempt by newspapers)

Nicholls v Nicholls
[1997] 1 WLR 314 (committal orders in family proceedings)

R v Secretary of State ex parte Furber
1998 1 Cr App R 208 (juvenile offenders)

R v Stratford Youth Court ex parte S
[1998] 1 WLR 1758 (youth courts)

R v CICB ex parte Moore
[1999] 2 All ER 90 (compensation)

R v CICB ex parte K
[1999] QB 1131 (compensation)

R v St Helens Justices ex parte Jones
[1999] 2 All ER 73 (default fines)

Elias Gale v CE
[1999] STC 66 (VAT)

Cowan v MPC CA
[2000] 1 All ER 504 (legality of police powers)

R v Manchester Stipendiary Magistrate ex parte Granada HL
[2000] 1 AC 300 (legality of cross-border warrant)

R (A) v CICAP
[2001] QB 774 (compensation)

R (Bulger) v Secretary of State
[2001] 3 All ER 449 (challenge to Home Secretary’s tariff in Bulger case)

R v CICAP ex parte Brown
[2001] 2 WLR 1452 (compensation)

R (DPP) v Redbridge Youth Court
[2001] 4 All ER 411 (admissibility of child video recording)

R (DPP) v Acton Youth Court
[2001] 1 WLR 1828 (disclosure of PII material in Magistrates’ Courts)

R (August) v CICAP
CA [2001] 2 WLR 1452 (compensation)

R (IRC) v Kingston
[2001] 4 All ER 721 (judicial review of Crown Court)

R (Stevens) v Truro Magistrates Court
[2002] 1 WLR 144 (Securities in criminal proceedings)

AG v Ebert
[2002] 2 All ER 789 (vexatious litigants)

R (Percy) v DPP Times
(2002) 166 JP 93 (public order/ECHR)

Wilkinson v Lord Chancellor
CA [2003] 1 WLR 1254 CA (guidelines on contempt)

R v Spear HL
[2003] 1 AC 734 (court-martial system)

A-G’s Ref (No 2 of 2001) HL
[2004] 2 AC 72 (whether breach of Art 6 requires stay)

R (Mullen) v SSHD HL
[2005] 1 AC 1 (statutory and ex gratia compensation)

R (Williamson) v Sec State Education HL
[2005] 2 AC 246 (corporal punishment/ECHR)

Ward v Commissioner of Police for the Metropolis HL
[2005] 2 WLR 1114 (legality of mental health warrant)

R (CPS) v SE Surrey Youth Court
[2006] 1 WLR 2543 (dangerous offenders)

R v Van Hoogstraten
[2006] EWHC 1315 (Ch) (Article 6)

R (Da Silva) DPP
DC [2006] EWHC 3204 (Admin) (Stockwell shooting judicial review)

R (Bermingham) v SFO
[2007] QB 727 (the “Natwest Three”)

Ayliffe v DPP HL
[2007] 1 AC (war protestors)

R (USA) v Bow St
[2007] 1 WLR 1157 (disclosure in extradition)

R (Bermingham and Others) v SFO and AG DC
[2007] 727 (Enron litigation)

R (Pereira) v Inner South London Coroner
[2007] 1 WLR 3256 (judicial review of the De Menezes inquest)

DPP v Haw
[2008] 1 WLR 379 (demonstration outside Parliament)

Tollman v Govt of USA
DC [2008] 3 All ER 150 (Extradition passage of time)

Pilecki v Poland HL
[2008] 1 WLR 325 (Extradition EAW’s)

Abu Hamza v USA
[2008] 1 WLR 2760 (extradition of terrorist suspect)

R (Corner House) v SFO HL
[2008] 3 WLR 568 (SFO investigation into BAe)

R (Harris) v Secretary of State
[2009] 2 All ER 1 (compensation in miscarriage of justice case)

R (Securicor) v SIA
[2009] 2 All ER 211 (judicial review of Security Industry Authority)

AF v SSHD (No 3) HL
[2010] 2 AC 269 (Control Orders)

R (Perinpanathan) v City of Westminster Magistrates Court
CA [2010] 1 WLR 1508 (costs of public authorities)

R (Secretary of State) v Inner West London Assistant Deputy Coroner
[2011] 1 WLR 2564

Superintendent of Her Majesty’s Foxhill Prison PC
[2012] UKPC 10

Rozanski v Poland SC
[2012] 1 WLR 1604 (extradition)

HH and PH v Deputy Prosecutor of the Italian Republic, Genoa SC
[2012] UKSC 25 (extradition)

JP Morgan Chase Bank National Association v Director of the Serious Fraud Office
[2012] Lloyd’s Red FC 655 (mutual legal assistance)

R (Rawlinson and Hunter Trustees) v Central Criminal Court
[2013] 1 WLR 1634 (search warrants)

R (Tajik) v City of Westminster Magistrates’ Court
[2013] 1 WLR 2283 (extradition)

Zakrzewski v Poland SC
[2013] 1 WLR 324 (extradition)

R v Austin (Herbert Charles)
[2014] 1 WLR 1045 (PII; abuse of process)

R v J
[2014] 1 Cr App R 21 (corruption)

South Africa v Dewani
[2014] 1 WLR 3220 (extradition)

R (Golfrate Property Management Ltd) v Southwark Crown Court
[2014] 2 Cr App R 12

SSHD v CC
[2014] 3 All ER 760 (control orders)

Puceviciene v Lithuanian Judicial Authority
[2016] 1 WLR 4937 (extradition)

R (Akarcay) v Chief Constable of West Yorkshire
[2017] EWHC 159 (Admin); [2017] 2 WLUK 128 (international MLA)

R (Duggan) v Assistant Deputy Coroner for the Northern District of Greater London Court of Appeal
[2017] EWCA Civ 142; [2017] 1 WLR 2199 (judicial review of Coroner’s directions)

R (Unaenergy Group Holding Pte Ltd) v Director of the Serious Fraud Office
[2017] EWHC 600 (Admin); [2017] 1 WLR 3302 (judicial review of SFO in relation to MLA request)

Mueller v HM Area Coroner for Manchester West
[2017] EWHC 3000 (Admin); [2017] 11 WLUK 530 (Coroner’s powers)

R (Birks) v Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis
[2018] 4 WLUK 159 (judicial review arising out of police misconduct proceedings)

Serious Fraud Office v Guralp Systems Ltd
Crown Court (Southwark) [2019] 10 WLUK 864 22 Oct 2019
Deferred Prosecution Agreement: Bribery of foreign public officials; Corruption

R (El Gizouli) v Secretary of State for the Home Department
[2019] EWHC 60 (Admin); [2019] 1 WLUK 111 (JR of MLA)

Director of the Serious Fraud Office v Airbus SE
Crown Court (Southwark) [2020] 1 WLUK 435 31 Jan 2020 Deferred prosecution Agreement: £1bn fine.

Adamescu v Romania
Divisional Court [2020] EWHC 2709 (Admin) 20 Oct 2020
Leading extradition case concerning bribery of foreign public officials; Inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment; prison conditions; Right to fair trial; Romania

Attorney General v BBC
Queen’s Bench Division [2022] EWHC 826 (QB) 7 Apr 2022
Government/AG claim for injunction against the BBC concerning allegations against alleged M15 agent [2022] EWHC 826 (QB); [2022] 4 WLR 74

R (on the application of NCA) v Westminster Magistrates’ Court
[2022] EWHC 2631 (Admin) 19 Oct 2022
Challenge to NCA account freezing orders by global Russian businessman

A v France
King’s Bench Division (Administrative Court) [2022] EWHC 3214 (Admin) 20 Dec 2022 Leading extradition case concerning French prison conditions
[2022] EWHC 3214 (Admin)

Mazepin v Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs
[2023] EWHC 1777 (Admin) 8 Jun 2023
Challenge to sanctions by Russian racing driver

R (on the application of Cabinet Office) v Chair of the UK Covid-19 Inquiry
King’s Bench Division (Administrative Court) [2023] EWHC 1702 (Admin)
Challenge by Cabinet Office to Covid Inquiry’s order for disclosure of Boris Johnson’s WhatsApps

Key contacts

“In public law, Hugo’s expertise is unparalleled.”  Chambers UK 2025: Administrative and Public Law

“Hugo is a real fighter and immensely impressive.”  Chambers UK 2025:  Extradition

“Hugo Keith KC is one of the top people at the financial crime Bar.”  Chambers UK 2025:  Financial Crime

“I don’t know how he absorbs the level of information which he does and distils it.”  Chambers UK 2025:  Inquests & Public Inquiries

“Hugo is one of the best silks around.”  Chambers UK 2025:  Inquests & Public Inquiries

“Hugo Keith KC is a fantastic advocate and a great communicator.”  Chambers UK 2025:  POCA Work & Asset Forfeiture

“A hands-on silk who gets to grips with the detail of a case quickly and better than anyone. He is seriously persuasive in court.”  Chambers UK 2025:  POCA Work & Asset Forfeiture

“Hugo is a brilliant public lawyer. In terms of written arguments and advocacy, he is a top choice.”  Chambers UK 2025:  Sanctions

“Hugo is fantastic on his feet.”  Chambers UK 2025:  Sanctions

“Hugo has an unbeatable combination of depth of experience and fluent advocacy.”  Legal 500 2025:  Business & Regulatory Crime

“Hugo is highly intelligent and hard working. An exceptional choice for difficult and high profile inquests and inquiries.”  Legal 500 2025:  Inquests & Inquiries

“Hugo is incredibly astute. His knowledge in a wide area is superb. He is always available and takes care of his clients.”  Chambers UK 2024:  Admin & Public

“Hugo Keith is maybe the best extradition barrister, he is at the top of his game. He is extremely clever, quick and hard-working with the ability to dig into the detail.”  Chambers UK 2024:  Extradition

“He is first class and has a brain the size of a planet.”  Chambers UK 2024:  Financial Crime

“Hugo is absolutely excellent and able to handle intricate complexities.”  Chambers UK 2024:  Financial Crime

“He is absolutely top notch, very commercial and very easy to work with.”  Chambers UK 2024:  Financial Crime

“Hugo is a phenomenal powerhouse of ability, who produces practical advice easily. He is an absolutely top-notch inquiries lawyer.”  Chambers UK 2024:  Inquests

“Enormously talented. You see other people’s arguments and you compare them to Hugo’s. His are infinitely better in form and infinitely better researched.”  Chambers UK 2024:  POCA Work & Asset Forfeiture

  • MA Hons Magdalen College, Oxford
  • Elected Member of the Bar Council 1995-1998
  • Member of Attorney General’s panel of civil Treasury counsel “B” Panel 1995-2001
  • Member of Attorney General’s panel of civil Treasury counsel “A” Panel 2001-2009
  • Special Advocate
  • Silk 2009
  • Bencher of Gray’s Inn 2013
  • Joint Head of Chambers 2020
  • Deputy High Court Judge 2024

I, Hugo Keith KC, am a data controller and can be contacted at 3 Raymond Buildings, Gray’s Inn, London WC1R 5BH or by telephone on 020 7400 6400 or by email at hugo.keith@3rblaw.com. My Data Protection Policy can be found below.

All personal data that I process is for the purposes of providing legal services, conducting conflict-checks, marketing, defending potential complaints, legal proceedings or fee disputes, keeping anti-money laundering records, training other barristers and pupils and when providing work-shadowing opportunities, and/or exercising a right to a lien. The types of data I process vary upon the nature of the legal matter in relation to which I am engaged to advise, but can include names, contact details, biographic details and ‘special category personal data’ (such as details of racial or ethnic origin, political opinions, religious or philosophical beliefs, health, sex life and criminal convictions and proceedings).

Depending upon the circumstances of the case, the legal bases upon which I process personal data are (i) the performance of a contract to which the data subject is a party or in order to take steps at the request of the data subject prior to entering into a contract, (ii) the processing is necessary to comply with legal obligations to which I am subject, or (iii) the processing is necessary for the legitimate interests set out above, except where such interests are overridden by the interests or fundamental rights and freedoms of the data subjects which require protection of personal data, in particular where the data subject is a child. When I rely on (iii) legitimate interests, my ‘Legitimate Interests Assessment’ can be found here. When I process data which has not be obtained directly from the data subject (e.g. personal data contained in evidential materials), it will have been supplied to me as part of my instructions in circumstances covered by legal professional privilege.

Depending upon the circumstances of the case, I may share the personal data with:

  1. my Chambers, which supplies professional and administrative support to my practice;
  2. Courts and other tribunals to whom documents are presented;
  3. my lay and professional clients;
  4. potential witnesses, in particular experts, and friends or family of the data subject;
  5. solicitors, barristers, pupils, mini pupils and other legal representatives;
  6. ombudsmen and regulatory authorities;
  7. current, past or prospective employers;
  8. education and examining bodies;
  9. business associates, professional advisers and trade bodies.

I normally retain personal data for no longer than 15 years after my involvement in the particular matter or case has come to an end, or as otherwise required by law. Many of the matters in which I have advised or acted give rise to proceedings long after my own involvement has ended, and the retention of data is particularly required for the purposes of conflict checks, further proceedings and AML checks.

I do not intend to transfer data to any country which is not either within the European Union, ‘white listed’ by the EU or otherwise permitted by EU law (e.g. to the USA under the provisions of the ‘Privacy Shield’).

Under the GDPR, data subjects whose personal data I process have the right to request from me access to, and rectification or erasure of, their personal data, the right to the restriction of processing concerning them, the right to object to processing as well as the right to data portability. Data subjects also have the right to lodge a complaint with the Information Commissioner’s Office (ico.org.uk).

In cases where there is a contract between me and the data subject, the provision of personal data is a contractual requirement and the data subject is obliged to provide the personal data in order that I can supply legal services. A failure to provide such data may mean that I will not be able to provide the legal services.

Rev 1.1 – 24.05.2018

Data Protection Policy

Legitimate Interests Assessment

Related news