Trevor Burke KC

Call: 1981 / Silk: 2001

“Excellent with clients…”

Chambers UK 2023: Crime

“Trevor is a really good and strong jury advocate.”

Chambers UK 2023: Financial Crime

“He is an absolute legend.”

Chambers UK 2023: Financial Crime

“He displays such breadth and versatility in his practice.”

Chambers UK 2023: Financial Crime

“Trevor is the calm head you need in an incredibly high-profile and high-stake case. He has a a very assured manner.”

Chambers UK 2023: Financial Crime

Trevor Burke KC is a highly renowned practitioner at the Criminal Bar, once mooted as “the next George Carman”.

His practice is wide-ranging and encompasses serious crime, fraud and professional discipline, as well as regulatory law. He has appeared in many leading and high profile cases as can be seen from the Notable Cases list. Trevor’s practice has an increasingly international element and he regularly undertakes advisory work in the USA, Northern Ireland and the Cayman Islands, where he has a growing practice as a crime, fraud and money-laundering specialist.

Legal Expertise

Crime overview

Trevor is considered to be a top criminal silk and a notable trial lawyer. He has been involved in many serious criminal matters, both public and privately funded work. His criminal expertise includes:

  • Murder
  • Drug related offences
  • Corruption
  • Money laundering
  • Serious sexual offences

Notable Crime cases

Thorbjørn Olesen

Represented professional golfer who was cleared of sexual assault whilst on a flight.

William Clegg

Represented a banker cleared of assault BA cabin Crew.

Arif Ansari

BBC Asian Network's head of news found not guilty over the naming of a sexual abuse victim in a live radio broadcast.

Nathan Gray

Tory aide who worked as an election agent for the MP Craig Mackinlay in 2015 was cleared of falsifying an election expenses claim.

Darren McKie

A police inspector who murdered his wife in their home and dumped her body in a lake.

Alan Smith

Chauffeur whose client was the undercover reporter known as the 'fake sheikh', both accused of perverting the course of justice.

Cheryl Carter (Operation Weeting/Leveson Inquiry)

Leading counsel of successful acquittal of the PA to Rebekah Brooks, accused of attempting to pervert the course of justice in the phone hacking investigation.

Fashanu, Grobbelaar & Others

Football corruption.

Nigel Benn

Allegation of assault.

Terry Marsh

Allegation of student fraud.

Gary Glitter

Allegation of rape, downloading child pornography.

Peter Buck (REM)

Endangering an airplane.

Marlon King

Assault.

Jonathan King

Costs.

Taylor Sisters

Murder conviction overturned, non-disclosure and adverse press reporting.

John Hasse

Alleged corruption of a former Home Secretary to secure a Pardon.

David Gunn

Trusthorpe contract killing.

White Collar Crime overview

Trevor is recognised as a leading practitioner in Financial Crime. He has extensive experience spanning the last 20 years. His expertise includes:

  • Fraud civil and criminal
  • VAT fraud
  • Market manipulation
  • Disqualified directors
  • Insider dealing
  • Advance fee frauds
  • Mortgage frauds

He is regularly instructed on domestic and international matters, mainly in the Cayman Island, where he has become the leading counsel for all of their major fraud matters.

Notable White Collar Crime cases

Padelis

Large scale fraud on the Health Service by a locum supply company.

J Patel

London Metal Market advance fee fraud. This multi-handed case involved a worldwide conspiracy to defraud which resulted in a $600M loss to various banks and lending institutions. Mr Patel was the Senior Vice President of Structured Finance at RBG, a company involved in buying and selling all types of metal. The allegation was that the company set up false commodity trade finance programmes and invoicing schemes which resulted in payments being made on the strength of invoices when no metal in fact existed. During the trial it was necessary to cross-examine witnesses who worked for: RBG; the lending institutions; the insurers; the liquidator as well as all the auditors of RBG and from other various institutions. Mr Patel was the only defendant against whom the Judge ruled at the conclusion of the Prosecution case that there was insufficient evidence to go to the Jury and verdicts of not guilty were entered at half time.

Kounnou

Insurance fraud.

Bank of America

Fraud.

Michael Elsom

Senior trader accused of tax evasion involving film financing schemes.

Andrew Rybak

Leading counsel in a £70 million contracts corruption case.

Cayman Islands overview

Trevor is regularly instructed on domestic and international matters, mainly in the Cayman Islands, where he has become the leading counsel for all of their major fraud matters. His international expertise includes:

  • Money laundering
  • Serious crime including murders and drug related cases
  • Corruption
  • Enforcing Foreign Judgements

He has recently spent many months working in the Cayman Islands, Nigeria & Dublin on a large arbitration.

Notable Cayman Islands cases

Euro Bank Corporation

$250,000,000 money laundering allegation. Trial lasted almost 11 months stayed as an abuse of process.

Hurricane Ivan

Civil fraud arising out of insurance claims as a result of Hurricane Ivan.

Canover Watson

Medicare fraud.

Cheryl Carter (Operation Weeting/Leveson Inquiry)
Leading counsel of successful acquittal of the PA to Rebekah Brooks, accused of attempting to pervert the course of justice in the phone hacking investigation.

Arif Ansari
BBC Asian Network’s head of news found not guilty over the naming of a sexual abuse victim in a live radio broadcast.

Nathan Gray
Tory aide who worked as an election agent for the MP Craig Mackinlay in 2015 was cleared of falsifying an election expenses claim.

Darren McKie
A police inspector who murdered his wife in their home and dumped her body in a lake.

Alan Smith
Chauffeur whose client was the undercover reporter known as the ‘fake sheikh’, both accused of perverting the course of justice.

Fashanu, Grobbelaar and others
Football corruption

Nigel Benn
Allegation of assault

Terry Marsh
Allegation of student fraud

Gary Glitter
Allegation of rape, downloading child pornography

Peter Buck (REM)
Endangering an airplane

Marlon King
Assault

Jonathan King
Costs

Taylor sisters
Murder conviction overturned, non-disclosure and adverse press reporting

Terry Adams

John Hasse
Alleged corruption of a former Home Secretary to secure a Pardon

David Gunn
Trusthorpe contract killing

White Collar Crime

Padelis
Large scale fraud on the Health Service by a locum supply company

J Patel
London Metal Market advance fee fraud
This multi-handed case involved a worldwide conspiracy to defraud which resulted in a $600M loss to various banks and lending institutions.  Mr Patel was the Senior Vice President of Structured Finance at RBG, a company involved in buying and selling all types of metal. The allegation was that the company set up false commodity trade finance programmes and invoicing schemes which resulted in payments being made on the strength of invoices when no metal in fact existed.  During the trial it was necessary to cross-examine witnesses who worked for: RBG; the lending institutions; the insurers; the liquidator as well as all the auditors of RBG and from other various institutions. Mr Patel was the only defendant against whom the Judge ruled at the conclusion of the Prosecution case that there was insufficient evidence to go to the Jury and verdicts of not guilty were entered at half time.

Kounnou
Insurance fraud

Bank of America
Fraud

Michael Elsom
Senior trader accused of tax evasion involving film financing schemes.

Andrew Rybak
Leading counsel in a £70 million contracts corruption case.

Cayman Islands

Euro Bank Corporation
$250,000,000 money laundering allegation.  Trial lasted almost 11 months stayed as an abuse of process.

Civil fraud arising out of insurance claims as a result of Hurricane Ivan.

Canover Watson
Medicare fraud.

“Excellent with clients and someone with great negotiations skills.”  Chambers UK 2023:  Crime

“Trevor is a really good and strong jury advocate.”  Chambers UK 2023:  Financial Crime

“He is an absolute legend.  The cases he has been involved in over the last 35 years speak for themselves.”  Chambers UK 2023:  Financial Crime

“He displays such breadth and versatility in his practice.”  Chambers UK 2023:  Financial Crime

“Trevor is the calm head you need in an incredibly high-profile and high-stake case.  He has a a very assured manner.”  Chambers UK 2023:  Financial Crime

“Excellent with clients and always presents his cases in an attractive manner.”  Chambers UK 2022:  Crime

“He provides very astute advice.”  Chambers UK 2022:  Financial Crime

“A brilliant advocate who is just the most calming influence in fraught cases. He offers a first-rate service and is happy to go the extra mile.”  Chambers UK 2021:  Crime

“A tremendously versatile silk with a personable manner.”  Chambers UK 2021:  Financial Crime

“An outstanding strategist as well as a fantastic advocate.” Chambers UK 2019: Crime

“He is charming and juries like him.” Chambers UK 2019: Crime

“A tremendously versatile silk with a personable manner.” Chambers UK 2019: Financial Crime

“He’s a very effective advocate.” Chambers UK 2019: Financial Crime

“Trevor is great in court and has a fantastic track record in general crime.” Chambers UK 2018: Crime

“He’s an accomplished performer.” Chambers UK 2018: Crime

“Popular both domestically and in jurisdictions outside the UK such as the Cayman Islands.” Chambers UK 2018: Financial Crime

“His long experience makes him a go-to advocate for the defence of senior professionals involved in high-stakes matters.” Chambers UK 2018: Financial Crime

“A very, very smooth and accomplished silk.” Chambers UK 2017: Crime

“Tremendously versatile, polished, great with clients and someone with very good judgement.” Chambers UK 2017: Crime

“An eloquent and stylish silk at the top of his game.” Chambers UK 2016: Crime

“A highly respected financial crime expert with over two decades of experience in this area. Has a thriving practice in revenue fraud, insider dealing and market abuse cases. He’s got a brilliant legal mind and is extremely quick to get to the point. He’s a leading jury advocate.” Chambers UK 2016: Financial Crime

  • Member of the South Eastern Circuit
  • Member of the Criminal Bar Association
  • BA Hons (Law)
  • Called 1981
  • Silk 2001

I, Trevor Burke 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 trevor.burke@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 retain personal data for no longer than 7 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 (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 10.07.2018

Data Protection Policy

Legitimate Interests Assessment

Trevor Burke KC 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.

Related news