We are delighted to announce that Chris Daw QC has taken up a tenancy at Serjeants’ Inn Chambers.

Chris is our third lateral recruit so far this year and the 12th over the last 18 months or so. His arrival follows that of Jonathan Davies and Sophia Roper to enhance our expertise respectively in employment and professional discipline; and Court of Protection and inquests.

Chris has a national reputation for serious crime, commercial fraud, business regulation and professional discipline. Recommended by the Legal 500 for his “excellent tactical analysis, good rapport with clients and extraordinary courtroom presence”, his work includes:

• representing Chelsea captain John Terry, in the criminal and FA regulatory proceedings, following the alleged racial abuse of Anton Ferdinand during a Premier League match;
• acting for a multi-national in a major international criminal investigation by UK regulators; representing two retired Chief Superintendents, Terry Wain and Donald Denton, in the Hillsborough inquests; and
• advising a luxury goods brand in connection with the criminal prosecution of an employee who was subsequently convicted and jailed for computer misuse and hacking.

As well as strengthening our professional discipline and police teams, Chris will significantly enhance our Business and Specialist Crime team. Our barristers are already instructed in difficult and high-profile criminal and regulatory cases in the crown and civil courts and tribunals: in addition to a stellar standing for medical and police crime, we have built up a strong financial services practice in recent years, both defending (for example the Logica insider dealing case which goes to trial in November) and prosecuting (we are instructed by banks and overseas clients such as the Dubai FSA). The team also deals with numerous Health and Safety cases.

Chris comments:

“The boundaries between regulatory and criminal investigations are breaking down all the time: I am joining Serjeants’ Inn because my specialist background in serious crime and fraud – for companies, wealthy individuals and professionals – is a natural fit with Chambers’ market-leading position in regulatory law and professional discipline.”

Angus Moon QC, Joint Head of Chambers, adds:

“Many of us have worked with Chris and we are delighted he is joining us.  His arrival is timely given the recent increase in prosecutions and other actions against professionals, particularly in sectors for which Serjeants’ Inn is well known, such as financial services, police and healthcare.  We are able to field a team, comprising both silks and exceptional juniors, which can take on any criminal or regulatory case, including the most serious and complex proceedings in the appellate courts.”