R v MS (Harrow Crown Court 2022)
Represented the Defendant accused of money laundering. The case concerned Hawala banking, Iranian sanctions and allegations of investment fraud.
Robert has developed a successful practice in a number of different areas. He predominantly deals with complex cases and those involving difficult points of law. He has appeared in all three divisions of the High Court as well as regularly appearing in the Crown Court and Court of Appeal.
He mainly defends individuals and companies. He tends to be instructed in serious cases involving allegations of fraud, tax evasion, insider dealing, perjury, gross negligence manslaughter and murder. He regularly defends professionals and has a particular interest in criminal cases with a regulatory dimension.
He is particularly interested in money laundering and the proceeds of crime. He has advised numerous high-profile individuals on restraint orders, freezing orders, interim freezing orders and external requests made by foreign states.
Recently Robert has developed a specialism in sanctions work. Most of this work is confidential. He has advised companies, designated individuals and law firms on the impact of the sanctions imposed upon Russia.
Robert also regularly appears before professional tribunals and has considerable experience of acting for police officers at gross misconduct hearings and at inquests.
Robert also acts for companies in licensing hearings and those accused of breaching environmental permits, health and safety legislation and food safety permits.
Robert accepts direct access instructions.
Represented the Defendant accused of money laundering. The case concerned Hawala banking, Iranian sanctions and allegations of investment fraud.
Leading Counsel for the Defendant in an auction fraud connected to defrauding the elderly. The case involved 14 complainants, many of whom were vulnerable.
Defended two individuals and an Estate Agency charged with fraud and trading standards offences
Junior Counsel for the first defendant in a trial arising out of a shooting by police officers dealing with a robbery in Wimbledon.
Represented a Defendant charged with an allegation of rape between a boyfriend and girlfriend.
Represented a Police Officer accused of sexual assault whilst on duty, dealing with a missing person.
Represented a Police Officer accused of causing GBH with intent by shaking his baby.
Defended the first Defendant in an 8 week trial where the Prosecution alleged a conspiracy to defraud the elderly. PM was acquitted of conspiracy.
Prosecuted for the Information Commissioner a loss adjuster for offences under the Data Protection Act 1998.
Successfully defended a crystal glass company charged with polluting the air with excessive lead emissions.
Defended a police officer charged with corrupt or improper exercise of police powers. Court ruled there was no case to answer.
Defended a police officer charged with harassment with violence. The complainant was his former partner who was a CPS prosecutor. Following cross examination and submissions the Court ruled there was no case to answer.
Defended a police custody sergeant accused of perjury relating to a death in custody.
Defended a Nepalese Colonel in relation to two allegations of torture that allegedly occurred during the Nepalese civil war. The case was prosecuted in England on the basis of universal jurisdiction. The Defendant was acquitted of both charges
Money Laundering/Proceeds of Crime:
Representing the respondent in an application for a Restraint Order following a request from Denmark
Junior Counsel for the Respondent in an application for a Prohibition Order following a request from the USA. Case related to the 1MDB fraud.
Junior Counsel for the Respondent in an application for a declaration relating to a US arrest warrant.
Junior Counsel for the Respondent in an application for a Prohibition Order following a request from the Malaysian Authorities. Application was withdrawn following written submissions. Case related to the 1MDB fraud.
Junior Counsel for the Respondent in an application for a Extension of the Moratorium Period. Application was withdrawn following written submissions. Case related to the 1MDB fraud.
Successfully defended a businessman whose account was frozen. Case turned on the interpretation of money services bureaus.
Advised a firm of solicitors faced with a Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 Production Order. The case concerned difficult issues of legal professional privilege and the crime/fraud exception.
Acted for Defendant in an application by the Crown to increase the available amount under section 22 of POCA. The case involved consideration of the law of resulting and constructive trusts. The Court refused the Crown’s application and the Defendant’s wife retained her house.
Successfully negotiated a reduction of £1M in the confiscation for Defendant convicted of insider dealing where the defendant was alleged to have profited by £1.4M
Advised and represented an individual facing an Unexplained Wealth Order and an Interim Freezing Order.
Successfully appealed a sentence for money laundering. Case turned on the construction of the sentencing guideline.
Advised and represented an individual in relation to a restraint order. £250,000 was excluded from the restraint order and returned to the Defendant.
Advised a firm of solicitors on their responsibilities when a money laundering operation for political exposed persons was revealed in privileged circumstances.
Successfully appealed a sentence for money laundering. Case turned on the construction of the sentencing guideline.
Represented victims in a civil recovery claim relating to a sophisticated property fraud in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. The victims were awarded £1.28 million
Successfully defended the first and second defendants in the largest confiscation order ever brought by the Environment Agency. No confiscation order was made.
Junior Counsel for the Defendant in a £96 million benefit fraud
Defended a successful trader charged with insider dealing.
Representing a trader in high value supercars accused of tax evasion.
Defended in a £50 million VAT fraud.
Advised on a dispute over a major construction project in Dubai which was undermined by corruption and concerned money laundering in Malaysia.
Advised on the law of money laundering in the UK, Seychelles and Isle of Man in relation to a multi million pound dispute involving two sets of Russian interests in a mobile telephone company in Kyrgyzstan. This involved making submissions to the Financial Intelligence Unit of the Seychelles.
Represented a company accused of MTIC fraud in the First tier and Upper-tier Tax Tribunal. The company’s appeal was eventually upheld and the company was awarded £1.4 million
Represented a company accused of MTIC fraud in the Tax Tribunal. The company's appeal was upheld and the company was awarded £900,000.
Represents individuals and public authorities who have been made interested persons.
Represented officers in the inquests into the deaths of 4 men, killed by Stephen Port
Represented the Husband of the deceased who died from a fall from her hotel window in Dubai. The husband had been accused of murder.
Represented two police sergeants in a 13 week inquest into the death of a man suffering excited delirium who died under police restraint whilst detained under section 136 of the Mental Health Act.
Represented two police constables and a police sergeant in a five week inquest. The deceased suffered mental health difficulties and died after setting fire to his flat.
Advises companies, designated individuals, individuals connected to designated individuals and law firms on the impact of sanctions. Most of this work is confidential.
Junior counsel for a designated individual involved in the proposed sale of Chelsea Football Club
Junior Counsel for a multinational German company that required advice on how to exit Russia.
Advised an Electronic Payments business on the impact of Russian sanctions and asset freezes where payments had been sent to designated banks.
Advised a Cayman company providing management services. Advised on UK sanctions imposed against Russia and Myanmar.
Advised a multinational company about oil and gas sanctions
Advised a company on trade sanctions and dual-use and critical industry technology
Represents officers facing gross misconduct hearings.
Excessive force
Successfully represented an officer accused of assault by penetration on another officer
Defended an officer accused of breaching the Data Protection Act.
Defended an Inspector for allegations of corruption and perverting the course of justice.v
Successfully represented PC S who faced allegations dating back to 2013. Allegations dismissed because of delay.
Successfully represented PC A who faced allegations dating back to 2013. All allegations dismissed.
Successfully represented the custody sergeant who faced allegations arising out of the death in custody of Sean Rigg.
Successfully represented the response sergeant who faced allegations arising out of the death in custody of Terry Smith.
Represents individuals facing criminal and disciplinary charges.
Successfully defended a C/Sgt charged with perjury. The Court ruled that the alleged lie was not material to the proceedings.
Successfully defended a Captain accused of arson with intend to endanger life. A flare had been set off following a mess dinner which malfunctioned and caused approximately £2 million of damage to the nearby barracks. Following expert evidence and submissions the court ruled there was no case to answer.
Represents individuals in the County Court and the High court in claims for false imprisonment.
Successfully represented a tax adviser who was unlawfully arrested by HMRC.
Successfully represented an individual who was unlawfully arrested for possession of indecent images of children. The Judge concluded that the assessment of the images as indecent was ‘absurd’ and tainted by malice.
Represents requested persons at first instance and on appeal to the High Court.
Represented an individual who faced over 9 years 5 different sets of extradition proceedings. MW was eventually discharged on the basis of the passage of time.
Represented an antiquities dealer who was subsequently discharged from extradition proceedings.
R v PM
(Chelmsford Crown Court 2018)
Defended the first Defendant in an 8 week trial where the Prosecution alleged a conspiracy to defraud the elderly. PM was acquitted of conspiracy.
R v Woodgate and Clark Ltd
(Maidstone Crown Court 2017)
Prosecuted for the Information Commissioner a loss adjuster for offences under the Data Protection Act 1998
R v G Ltd
2017
Successfully defended a crystal glass company charged with polluting the air with excessive lead emissions.
R v K
(Southwark Crown Court 2017)
Defended a police officer charged with corrupt or improper exercise of police powers. Court ruled there was no case to answer
R v S
(St Albans Crown Court 2017)
Defended a police officer charged with harassment with violence. The complainant was his former partner who was a CPS prosecutor. Following cross examination and submissions the Court ruled there was no case to answer
R v PW
(Southwark Crown Court 2016)
Defended a police custody sergeant accused of perjury relating to a death in custody.
R v Colonel Kumar Lama
(2016 Central Criminal Court)
Defended a Nepalese Colonel in relation to two allegations of torture that allegedly occurred during the Nepalese civil war. The case was prosecuted in England on the basis of universal jurisdiction. The Defendant was acquitted of both charges
NCA v X
(2019 High Court)
Advised and represented an individual facing an Unexplained Wealth Order and an Interim Freezing Order
R v Masters
[2019] EWCA Crim 650
Successfully appealed a sentence for money laundering. Case turned on the construction of the sentencing guideline.
R v JW
(2019 Southwark Crown Court)
Advised and represented an individual in relation to a restraint order. £250,000 was excluded from the restraint order and returned to the Defendant.
Re S
(A Firm of Solicitors)
Advised a firm of solicitors on their responsibilities when a money laundering operation for political exposed persons was revealed in privileged circumstances.
R v MA, MA, MA 2016
(Blackfriars Crown Court)
Successfully appealed a sentence for money laundering. Case turned on the construction of the sentencing guideline.
NCA v Robb
[2015] Ch 520
Represented victims in a civil recovery claim relating to a sophisticated property fraud in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. The victims were awarded £1.28 million
Environment Agency v UWMS Ltd
(Worcester Crown Court 2015)
Successfully defended the first and second defendants in the largest confiscation order ever brought by the Environment Agency. No confiscation order was made
FCA v FAM and WAC
(Southwark Crown Court 2018, Retrial 2019)
Defended a successful trader charged with insider dealing
R v JO
(Chelmsford Crown Court 2019)
Representing a trader in high value supercars accused of tax evasion
R v AC
(Wood Green Crown Court 2017)
Defended in a £50 million VAT fraud
Re M
Advised on a dispute over a major construction project in Dubai which was undermined by corruption and concerned money laundering in Malaysia
Re T
Advised on the law of money laundering in the UK, Seychelles and Isle of Man in relation to a multi million pound dispute involving two sets of Russian interests in a mobile telephone company in Kyrgyzstan. This involved making submissions to the Financial Intelligence Unit of the Seychelles
S Ltd v HMRC
(2013 – 2018)
Represented a company accused of MTIC fraud in the First tier and Upper-tier Tax Tribunal. The company’s appeal was eventually upheld and the company was awarded £1.4 million
H Ltd v HMRC
[2011] UKFT 860 (TC)
Represented a company accused of MTIC fraud in the Tax Tribunal. The company’s appeal was upheld and the company was awarded £900,000
Inquest touching the death of TS
(Woking 2018)
Represented two police sergeants in a 13 week inquest into the death of a man suffering excited delirium who died under police restraint whilst detained under section 136 of the Mental Health Act.
Inquest touching the death of MT
(Southwark 2017)
Represented two police constables and a police sergeant in a five week inquest. The deceased suffered mental health difficulties and died after setting fire to his flat.
PC S
(Metropolitan police 2019 – recommended by the IOPC)
Successfully represented PC S who faced allegations dating back to 2013. Allegations dismissed because of delay.
PC A
(Metropolitan police 2019 – recommended by the IOPC)
Successfully represented PC A who faced allegations dating back to 2013. All allegations dismissed.
PS W
(Metropolitan police 2019 – recommended by the IOPC)
Successfully represented the custody sergeant who faced allegations arising out of the death in custody of Sean Rigg
PS R
(Surrey police 2017 – directed by the IOPC)
Successfully represented the response sergeant who faced allegations arising out of the death in custody of Terry Smith
R v C/Sgt B
(Bulford 2019)
Successfully defended a C/Sgt charged with perjury. The Court ruled that the alleged lie was not material to the proceedings.
R v Cpt N
(Bulford 2017)
Successfully defended a Captain accused of arson with intend to endanger life. A flare had been set off following a mess dinner which malfunctioned and caused approximately £2 million of damage to the nearby barracks. Following expert evidence and submissions the court ruled there was no case to answer.
B v HMRC
Successfully represented a tax adviser who was unlawfully arrested by HMRC
X v Y
Successfully represented an individual who was unlawfully arrested for possession of indecent images of children. The Judge concluded that the assessment of the images as indecent was ‘absurd’ and tainted by malice.
MW v Poland
(2008 – 2017)
Represented an individual who faced over 9 years 5 different sets of extradition proceedings. MW was eventually discharged on the basis of the passage of time
Symes v Greece 2013
Represented an antiquities dealer who was subsequently discharged from extradition proceedings
Emma Makepeace
Deputy Senior Clerk
“Tenacious and not afraid to take difficult legal points.” Chambers UK 2022: Crime
“He is exceptionally bright.” Chambers UK 2022: Crime
“He is exceptionally bright.” “His drafting is fantastic.” Chambers UK 2022: Financial Crime
“Very good with clients, he is fantastic and his attention to detail is excellent.” Chambers UK 2021: Crime
“He is phenomenally bright and hard-working, and does heavyweight work.” Chambers UK 2021: Crime
I, Robert Morris, 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 robert.morris@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:
I retain personal data for no longer than 15 years after the case has come to an end or as otherwise required by law.
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 (eg 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 1.0 – 25.05.2018
Robert Morris is qualified to accept instructions direct from clients under the Bar Council’s Public Access Scheme. This means 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 further information please contact our Clerks.
| Address | 3 Raymond Buildings, Gray’s Inn, London WC1R 5BH |
|---|---|
| DX | 237 LDE |
| Opening hours | 08:30 – 18:30 |
| Telephone | +44 (0)20 7400 6400 |
|---|---|
| clerks@3rblaw.com | |
| Senior clerk | Robert Morris |
