Christopher Houssemayne du Boulay

Practice Areas

Christopher Houssemayne du Boulay specialises in representing HNW businesspeople caught up the most serious, and complex, financial crime and regulatory matters.

Chris has a strong track record of success in defending senior directors under investigation by the SFO, FCA and FRC. These individuals often require legal representation when the companies they work for are under investigation.

He also represents individuals and corporates in connection with complex money laundering investigations. Recent cases include an account freezing order in respect of €37m of funds, and the alleged misappropriation of $500m worth of assets belonging to a foreign state.

A talented litigator with a forensic mind, Chris has established a formidable reputation for identifying and exploiting weaknesses in the opposition’s case. As a barrister, he is also able to conduct advocacy on behalf of his clients in all courts in England & Wales.

Chris has developed particularly strong expertise defending HNW individuals accused of complex allegations of accounting fraud, both in criminal and regulatory matters. He is particularly interested in the way in which ordinary business practices are often later rewoven by a prosecutor as dishonest criminal behaviour. Chris has developed considerable expertise in unpicking a prosecution case, and helping his clients put supposedly incriminating evidence in its proper context.

Chris was heavily involved in the successful defence of the former Managing Director of G4S Care & Justice Services in criminal proceedings brought by the SFO, concerning an alleged fraud against the government over a ten-year period.

He took the lead in analysing the financial modelling documents and accounting records (which were described by counsel for the SFO as “immensely complicated”) in the case.

Following an almost ten-year investigation and two failed trial listings (and facing an abuse of process application launched by Hickman & Rose) the SFO eventually decided to offer no evidence and bring proceedings to an end.

Chris also had a significant role in achieving the acquittal of the former Managing Director of Tesco UK on charges of fraud and false accounting brought by the SFO. The prosecution collapsed following a successful submission that there was no case for the defendants to answer.

Chris is presently leading the defence of an individual being prosecuted by the SFO for conspiracy to make corrupt payments, in a complex multi-jurisdictional matter.

Chris has also played an important part in the team advising individuals in connection with the SFO’s investigations into ENRC, G4S, Rolls Royce, Airbus, Greenenergy, BAT, the Price Stone Group, and Libor and Euribor manipulation.

He also has experience of cases that involve parallel investigations in the UK and overseas, including the US, Europe, the Middle East and Southeast Asia and often works closely alongside lawyers based in other jurisdictions.

Chris is experienced in matters before professional regulators such as the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and the Financial Reporting Council (FRC), and regularly provides legal advice to clients facing parallel criminal and regulatory investigations.

High-profile regulatory cases include the defence of the former VP Finance of Autonomy Corporation PLC before the FRC in connection with allegations made by Hewlett-Packard of a $5 billion accounting fraud, and proceedings brought by the FCA in connection with alleged LIBOR manipulation.

Chris regularly advises HNW individuals (as well as corporates) on the law governing the proceeds of crime, money laundering and the seizure and confiscation of assets, especially as it relates to complex financial investigations.

He has represented a number of individuals and corporates in connection with freezing and forfeiture proceedings under the Proceeds of Crime Act. He recently secured the return of almost £800,000 for a client (95% of the amount frozen), and represented a corporate in connection with in excess of €30m of frozen assets.

Chris has pioneered the use of technology to help fight cases, and regularly provides advice as to how it can be effectively deployed across all of the firm’s practice areas.

Prior to pupillage Chris worked on the successful defence of singer and X-factor judge Tulisa Contostavlos against drug supply allegations following an undercover sting by Sun journalist Mazher Mahmood (the ‘Fake Sheikh’). The trial was stayed as an abuse of process and Mazher Mahmood was subsequently prosecuted and convicted for attempting to pervert the course of justice

Career

Called to the Bar in 2012, Chris completed his pupillage at leading criminal chambers, QEB Hollis Whiteman. During his pupillage Chris was seconded to HMRC where he assisted with trial preparation in relation to two Missing Trader Intra-Community (MTIC) VAT fraud cases in the tax tribunal. Prior to pupillage Chris worked on the successful defence of singer and X-factor judge Tulisa Contostavlos against drug supply allegations following an undercover sting by Sun journalist Mazher Mahmood (the ‘Fake Sheikh’). The trial was stayed as an abuse of process and Mazher Mahmood was subsequently prosecuted and convicted for attempting to pervert the course of justice.

Chris joined Hickman & Rose in 2016 and was promoted to partner in 2020.

Professional Memberships

Chris is a committee member and the former Chair of the Young Fraud Lawyers Association.

Chris sits on the City of London Law Society AI Committee.