Featured Successful Defence in Multi-Million Pound VAT Fraud Case involving the Film Industry Libertas Chambers Secures Successful Defence in Multi-Million Pound VAT Fraud Case involving the Film Industry Three of our silks and three of our senior juniors represented the lead defendants in this trial at Southwark, which followed a ten year investigation by HMRC. We represented the CEO and key employees of this London based multi-Oscar winning company. This was a complex case involving sub-contracting in film industry both in the UK and overseas. Our barristers mounted a comprehensive attack upon the disclosure system in this prosecution, which consisted of millions of documents. This involved detailed analysis and criticism of the handling of documentary and digital material. We also uncovered wholesale failures to comply with HMRC internal procedures in relation to the distinction between civil and criminal investigations, and the consequences that flow in relation to PACE rights and abuse of process. The trial was opened to the jury 6 weeks ago and they were then sent away whilst these issues were litigated. The prosecution offered no evidence today, 14th March 2025. This outcome underscores Libertas Chambers’ commitment to providing outstanding legal representation and defending our clients fearlessly with skill, precision, and integrity, in the most challenging and high-stakes cases. Our team continues to set a standard of excellence in corporate and financial crime litigation, and we are very pleased to have successfully safeguarded the interests of our clients in this significant case. Our barristers worked as formidable teams with the expert assistance and preparation of the solicitors listed below. We thank them for their instructions. Their skill, experience and expertise was an indispensable and integral part of the successful outcome. Simon Csoka KC and Roxanne Morrell acted for the CEO, and were instructed originally by Tony Barnfather and then Simon Morgan (Sherrards.) Felicity Gerry KC and Matthew Lawson acted for the Head of Accounts, and were instructed by Zeeshan Khan (Rahman Ravelli.) Ayaz Qazi KC and Jonathan Page acted for the Accounting Manager, and were instructed by John Kaye (Carson Kaye.) For further information, please contact our clerking team
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Featured Chambers & Partners and Legal 500 Guides 2025 – Our Rankings Announced Libertas Chambers are delighted to announce that we, and 13 of our Barristers have been ranked in both the latest editions of Chambers & Partners and the Legal 500 directories for 2025. Libertas thanks all those who provided such positive assessments and congratulates all our clients, partners and colleagues who have also been ranked. Head of Chambers, Simon Csoka comments “In Libertas Chambers’ fourth year we have continued to thrive, with members engaged in high profile fraud and criminal trials across the country and beyond. We are delighted to see many of our silks and juniors ranked as leading practitioners in Crime and Financial Crime / Fraud. We congratulate them all and also acknowledge the many achievements of all of our other members over the last 12 months, together with the hard work of our clerking team. We also extend our gratitude to our instructing solicitors for their continuing support and their positive feedback in the guides.” Chambers & Partners Ranks – Click to view the members profile, including ranks and recomendations. Simon Csoka KC – Crime, Band 3 Felicity Gerry KC – Crime, Band 4 Adam Kane KC – Crime, Band 2 M Ayaz Qazi KC – Crime, New Silks Roxanne Morrell – Crime, Band 5 Oliver Cook – Crime, Band 5 Marie Spenwyn – Crime, Band 5 Jane Greenhalgh – Crime, Band 3 James Walker – Crime, Band 6 Gulam Ahmed – Crime, Band 6 Gerard Hillman – Crime, Band 4 Frances Hertzog – Crime, Band 6   Libertas Clerking Team & Department – Crime, Band 4 Simon Csoka KC – Financial Crime, Band 2 Adam Kane KC – Financial Crime, Band 3 Keith Mitchell – Financial Crime, Band 3 Gerard Hillman – Financial Crime, Band 3 Libertas Clerking Team & Department – Financial Crime, Band 4   Legal 500 Ranks Libertas Chambers – Ranked 4 in Crime Libertas Chambers ‘is a growing set with a number of leading barristers’, with particular strength in depth when it comes to senior juniors. Adam Kane KC specialises in homicide defence – he recently represented Mohammed Patel, accused alongside TikTok personality Mahek Bukhari and her mother of the murder of the mother’s lover and his friend by way of ramming their car off the road during a high-speed chase on a dual carriageway near Leicester; Patel was ultimately found not guilty of both murder and manslaughter, while Bukhari and her mother were sentenced to life imprisonment with minimum terms of 31 years and 26 years respectively. Felicity Gerry KC is a ‘very sound academic lawyer who takes interesting and novel legal points’ – she recently defended a man charged with the joint enterprise murder by stabbing near Waterloo Station, submitting to the judge that it is not possible to convict accessories when the principal is acquitted on the basis of self-defence. Testimonials Collated independently by Legal 500 research team. ‘Marc King is a brilliant clerk who runs the clerks’ room in a very efficient manner. He has his finger on the pulse and always seems to put the right barrister on the right job.’ ‘Gary Douglas is extremely hard-working. He is constantly making sure clients are updated at all times.’ Individual Rankings – Silks – Fraud: Crime Gary Bell KC – Libertas Chambers – Fraud: Crime Tier 3 Adam Kane KC – Libertas Chambers – Fraud: Crime Tier 3 Simon Csoka KC – Libertas Chambers– Fraud: Crime Tier 4 Individual Rankings – Juniors – Fraud: Crime Keith Mitchell – Libertas Chambers – Fraud: Crime Tier 2 Individual Rankings – Silks – Crime Felicity Gerry KC – Libertas Chambers – Crime Tier 3 Adam Kane KC – Libertas Chambers – Crime Tier 3 Simon Csoka KC – Libertas Chambers – Crime Tier 3 Individual Rankings – Juniors – Crime Oliver Cook – Libertas Chambers – Tier 3 Matthew Lawson – Libertas Chambers – Tier 3 Gulam Ahmed – Libertas Chambers – Tier 4 Jon Anders – Libertas Chambers – Tier 4 Sarah Day – Libertas Chambers – Tier 4 Jane Greenhalgh – Libertas Chambers – Tier 4 Gerard Hillman – Libertas Chambers – Tier 4 Marie Spenwyn – Libertas Chambers – Tier 4
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