Head of Chambers: Nigel Lambert QC
Senior Clerk: Marc King
Deputy Senior Clerk: Matthew Butchard
Chambers Administrator: Orla O’Sullivan
Clerks: Christopher Mitchell, Dean Allen, Thomas Barnes, Ryan Fahey, Sophie Walsh
Fees Clerks: Norman Brooks & Sian Marshall
Reception: Lois Hayes
THE CHAMBERS Carmelite Chambers is one of the largest and longest established criminal sets in the UK. The set’s advocates are at the forefront of UK and international practice and are regularly instructed in high profile cases. The set’s premises have been fully refurbished in order to offer an innovative working environment that includes the latest technology and conference facilities. Chambers provides specialist lectures for solicitors, presented in chambers or at client’s offices. Members also contribute to current affairs programmes on television and radio. The work of chambers is underpinned by approachable and professional clerks, led by the senior clerk,Marc King.His team is proud to offer modern clerking supported by the latest developments in IT.
WORK UNDERTAKEN As leaders within our field members of chambers undertake work in all criminal and related investigations and proceedings, with specific expertise in serious fraud, terrorism, murder, money laundering, miscarriages of justice, courts martial and health and safety. Chambers offers a highly skilled and experienced team of advocates in all of our specialist areas with a particular emphasis to fraud and regulatory matters.
Inquiry Work: Carmelite Chambers regularly act in public inquiries and are currently instructed in “The Baha Mousa Inquiry - set up to investigate and report on the circumstances surrounding the death of Baha Mousa and the treatment of those detained with him whilst in the custody of British Soldiers in Iraq. Chambers were also instructed in the Northern Ireland Inquiry into the death of Robert Hamill set up to determine whether any wrongful act or omission by or within the Royal Ulster Constabulary facilitated his death or obstructed the investigation of it.
Fraud: Chambers offers specialist advocacy in the field of both Criminal and Civil fraud and members of chambers act regularly in commercial, corruption, revenue and VAT frauds, Cartel, FSA, SFO cases and Civil Recovery Proceedings. Recent prominent cases involving members of chambers include R –v- P & others (Vantis) a case involving accountants charged with creating an illegal scheme to enable high net worth individuals to invest in shares where the price is inflated before being gifted to charity and avoiding substantially more in tax than was invested. Serious Fraud Office prosecutions such as “Operation MPF” a case concerning a number of high value mortgage frauds by six solicitors with a total value of £50 million. “Operation Steamroller” a boiler room fraud concerning the selling of restricted American shares to UK investors, “Operation Affair” a series of trials at Ipswich Crown Court involving a “boiler room” selling of junk stock in a genuine but fledgling company and “Project Noble” an alleged “Ponzi” investment scheme targeting British nationals and expatriates living in Mallorca. Members of chambers are also instructed in large scale MTIC operations throughout the country such as; “Euripus”, “Immersed”, “Duma”, “Vaulter”, “Vex”, “Erasure”, “Forbear”, “Tulipbox” and “Ghast” a sixteen handed multi-million pound MTIC fraud and money laundering. This case involves a number of conspiracies to cheat the Public Revenue in relation to VAT. Alleged losses to the revenue of £19 million with sales of £126 million.
Crime: Chambers undertakes instructions in all areas of Criminal Law and provides advocates to defend from the Magistrates Court to the Supreme Court. Members of chambers advise and act in the most prominent criminal trials throughout the country including terrorism,murder, drug trafficking, money laundering, violence and sexual offences.
Courts Martial: Several members are leading specialists in Courts Martial work and have appeared in all of the Iraqi abuse and war crime trials that have taken place in recent years including the trial of seven members of the parachute regiment charged with the murder of an Iraqi, “Operation breadbasket” abuse case heard in Osnabruck, Germany, and the “Baha Mousa” war crimes trial in Bulford Military Court Centre. Members are regularly instructed in cases in Cyprus, Belize and Germany.
International: Members appear in courts in Bermuda, Singapore, Hong Kong, Cayman Islands, Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland and Scotland. Languages spoken include French, German, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Greek, Turkish, Urdu, Punjabi, Bengali, Syhletti,Mandarin and Japanese.