2 Harcourt Buildings

Heads of Chambers: Jane Osborne KC

Senior Clerk: Keith Poynter

Clerks: Gary Wright, Amanda Copas, Clare Wright and Reginald Harris.

Tenants: 34

The Chambers: 2 Harcourt Buildings is an outstanding set of criminal barristers, with counsel of the highest quality at every level. Members of Chambers prosecute and defend in the full range of criminal cases and are noted for their dedication, commanding courtroom performances, and sound advice.

Members of 2 Harcourt Buildings regularly appear in cases involving homicide, terrorism, bribery and corruption, fatal and non-fatal non-accidental infant head injury, rape, serious, prolific, and historic sexual offences (including institutional abuse), and drug dealing on a massive scale. In addition, Chambers has a particular specialism in cases investigated under Serious and Organised Crime Command, and the National Crime Agency. Regular instruction in the most heavyweight of criminal cases, combined with a tradition of retaining 2 counsel cases within Chambers whenever possible, provides the juniors at 2 Harcourt Buildings with experience far beyond their call, enabling them to command the respect of opponents and judges alike.

WORK UNDERTAKEN

Crime: Members of 2 Harcourt Buildings regularly appear in cases involving homicide, terrorism, bribery and corruption, fatal and non-fatal non-accidental infant head injury, rape, serious, prolific, and historic sexual offences (including institutional abuse), and drug dealing on a massive scale. Recent high profile cases include prosecuting the tragic death of young Alfie Phillips in Kent, Operation Strey - prosecution of 7 of the most wanted organised criminals and was the most significant NCA investigations of modern time.We have also prosecuted retired senior MET police officers of huge quantities of serious sexual offence, the Bishopsgate robberies/stabbings, Lord Patten’s son in law for a gangland shooting and are about to prosecute the Exeter private school attempted murders by a current student and the missing head murder in Boscombe.

Financial Crime: Barristers at 2 Harcourt Buildings specialise in high value and complex financial crime.Members of chambers are well known for their advisory skills, their performance in court, and their ability to process, assimilate and present the large quantities of information often involved in such complex cases.

Members of 2 Harcourt Buildings regularly appear in fraud and financial crime cases involving allegations in all areas but particularly including multi million pound banking fraud, diversion fraud, investment and boiler room frauds, tax fraud, duty evasion, money laundering allegations, bribery and corruption charges, cyber-crime offences, and immigration fraud.Instructions come from all areas, but particularly cases prosecuted by the Specialist Fraud Division of the CPS, the SFO and the FCA, and investigations conducted by HMRC.Members of Chambers are experienced in conducting private prosecutions and are alert to the particular challenges such proceedings can present.Barristers at 2 Harcourt Buildings are frequently instructed from the outset of an investigation, providing advice pre-charge, through to the conclusion of proceedings, including dealing with restraint and confiscation.

The presentation of evidence electronically at trial is something chambers as a whole is familiar with.Junior members of chambers often appear as junior counsel and learn by example how to present and manage complex investigations and trials.

Recent cases include Operation Elaborate - the biggest anti-fraud operation as described by the Metropolitan Police, Operation Maclura, a highly sensitive prosecution of an ex solicitor and the defrauding of the LAA with links to the Iraqi War, Operation Barbados – currently the biggest MTIC carousel fraud and Operation Volcanic – largest benefit fraud in this country.

Professional Discipline: 2 Harcourt Buildings is establishing a reputable inquests and public inquiries practice. Members of Chambers act for bereaved families, medical professionals and state Interested Persons in Article 2 inquests heard before juries. Members are able to bring their expertise in criminal law to inquests involving evidence from the police, the prison service and the probation service, as well as a high standard of advocacy developed in the Crown Courts.

Chambers offers advice in inquests matters that crossover into public law, with members advising the Metropolitan Police Service in relation to a potential judicial review arising from whistle-blower evidence concerning a historic inquest into a sensitive police shooting, and advising on, and drafting grounds of, the judicial review of the decisions made by Coroners during the course of inquests.

Members are regularly sought after to represent both the council and registrants before the RCN, GDC, GOC, NMC, BACP and TRA. Members have been instructed in the full array of proceedings including lengthy substantive hearings before the Conduct and Competency Committee, hearings before the Health Committee, restoration applications, registration appeals, and fraudulent/incorrect entry cases. We also act for the SIA and SPA.

Recruitment: Chambers prides itself on offering structured, challenging and fulfilling twelve-month pupillages to high quality applicants. Chambers aims to prepare all pupils for a successful career within our chambers and actively seeks to recruit junior tenants from amongst their number. Nine of our last eleven pupils were taken on at the end of their pupillage.