Recent and ongoing defence cases as of Summer 2024 includeR v OK - Lewes (Historic sexual abuse in deaf community) - March 25R v DH - Guildford - Murder (Winter 24/25)R v C & C - Child Cruelty, S.18 (Retrial Nov 24) R v MD - Chelmsford - Murder (June 24)R v ED and others - Old Bailey - Murder (Spring 24)R v DJ - Lewes - Attempted rape (D police officer) https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c72p4xr53d5oR v EGT - Chelmsford - Murder (Autumn 23) R v D and 7 others - Boiler Room Fraud leading csl - Southwark (12 week Spring 2023)R v LM & 3 ors - Old Bailey - Murder (Dec 21)R v JL - Murder - Guildford CC - Murder (May 21)Re Brigadier Fernando - junior csl in High Court case representing former Sri Lankan Military Attache to . Case determined scope of residual diplomatic immunity. R v SP - Domestic terrorism (Oct 21)R v TC - Brothel keeping and Child Cruelty (Aug 21)R V J - Perverting the course of justice by serving soldier (Feb 21)Other defence cases I am currently instructed on include rape, historic sexual abuse by teacher on students, serious violence, and supply of Class A drugs. My prosecution work includes forthcoming cases concerning drug supply and sexual abuse.Other Recent cases includeR v S & R - Lewes - Murder (Nov 2020)R v D - Historic sexual abuse in the sea cadetsR v J and others - Multihanded boiler room fraud (Kingston CC 2019). R v B and B - Causing sexual activity akin to torture (2019)R v R - Government security expert charged with possessing indecent images (2019)R v I and J - 6 week child cruelty and sexual assault trialR v P - Rape http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/05/23/luxury-magazine-boss-raped-woman-private-members-club-champagne/R v K - Perverting the course of justice - D was caseworker for solicitors firmR v R and L - Kidnap and False ImprisonmentR v B - Indecent images found on hard drive of film director. Rv L,L and S - Major car-ringing and export fraud

My current roles on the council are:Chair Corporate Resources and Economic Scrutiny Committee May 2024. The committee is responsible for scrutinising all aspects of Islington Council's performance and finances. It is the overview scrutiny committee, and as chair I have overarching responsibility for scrutiny within the council. Member of Audit Committee May 2024 - Member of Licensing Committee - this involves determining both licensing policy and licence applications.Co-Chair of the Labour Group of Councillors Finance Policy Group. In this role I coordinate and co-chair the political budget setting meetings of the Labour Group of Councillors for Islington. Past roles includeChair Islington Council Audit Committee February 2018- May 2024Chair Islington Council Investigation and Disciplinary Ctte April 2019 - May 2024Chair Islington Council Personnel Committee February 2018- April 2020Vice Chair Islington Council Licensing Committee May 2016 - May 2022Vice Chair Islington Council Children's Services Scrutiny Committee May 2017-May 2019Chair Licensing Sub Committee D May 2016- May 2022Councillor member Policy and Performance Committee May 2018- May 2022Councillor member Children and Families Scrutiny Committee June 2014 - May 2016Councillor Member Corporate Parenting Board June 2014 - May 2016

My cases as trial counsel includedLakhvir Singh (the Curry Poisoning Case). In a case which attracted considerable media attention Mrs Singh was charged with murdering her former lover and attempting to murder his new partner, as well as administering poison to the deceased on an earlier occasion. This was the first murder case of poisoning by aconite in England and Wales since 1882.Serieux and others, a 3 month fraud trial at Croydon Crown Court concerning banking services supplied to suspected criminals and a series of international transactions concerning the financing of an aircraft contract in South AfricaR v Sheidu – international money laundering.Blackburn – leading confiscation case in which I succesfully argued that the principles of R v May, Jennings and Green extended beyond mere custodians. Now reported at [2012] 2 Cr.App.R (S) 44; Wood - where the central allegation of the prosecution was of baby shaking, rendering a 3 1/2 month old baby blind, deaf and severely brain-damagedShepherd - Child cruelty – multiple injuries to 3 month old baby. Abraham – D charged with rape of his 15 year old biological daughter. Conviction quashed in the COA and acquitted in subsequent retrial.Mitchell – D charged with rape of his partner on 4 separate occasions. Evidence called from his 6 yr old son by prosecution. D acquitted on all counts. In 2003, I represented the defendant at trial on similar allegations made by the same complainant where he had been again acquitted on all countsCivil instructions included litigation arising from the collapse of OSL solicitors; a multi million pound claim against solicitors for negligent conduct; unfair dismissal and race discrimination claims acting for both employers and employees.Argent Chambers merged with Goldsmith Chambers to form a new chambers in May 2014

I was trial counsel in the following casesMurder and Attempted murder cases R v Randall - where the defendant was accused as being part of a group engaging in street violence culminating in a stabbing.R v Bains and Khan - where the defendant was alleged to have set fire to his lover’s house.R v Khyber Khan - where the defendant was alleged to have shot a relative as an honour killing.R v Baciunas and others - where the victim was abducted, kidnapped and left for dead.R v Olomo and Others – nationwide cheque fraud value in excess of £500,000.R v Kaur - £500,000 theft from employee.R v Dundon and Others - conspiracy to produce and distribute counterfeit bank notes.R v Bham - car ringing/insurance fraud with links to funding of the 7/7 bombings. Prosecution offered no evidence following an 8 week abuse of process argument and extensive disclosure applicationsR v Olgundeniz, Catal and Others – I was leading counsel for Catal who was charged with Conspiracy to supply 20kg heroin. Following the defendant’s guilty plea his case became the subject of an unduly lenient sentence appeal by the prosecution and is the leading authority on basis of plea in heavy criminal cases - AG’s Ref 108,109, 110 of 2008 reported at [2008] EWCA Crim 852.R v Babu, Dhariwar and Others - leading counsel for Mr Dhariwar in a case involving the kidnap for ransom and false imprisonment for 2 days of a 10 year old boy.R v Jama – Led junior counsel for Yusuf Jama. The defendant was accused of being in a participant in a gang rape whilst being on the run from having shot Pc Sharon Beshinivsky in BradfordR v Singh – Defendant charged with rape of his wife, a solicitor who practices in crime. Defendant acquitted.R v Moore – Defendant, a teacher, charged with a classroom assault on a 13 year old female pupil. Defendant acquitted.