Christopher Coltart KC

Business Crime & Financial Services

Christopher is considered to be one of the leaders at the Bar in this field and is routinely instructed by the premier firms of solicitors.

The cases in which he is involved are invariably complex and cover a wide range of offences, including the following: bank fraud, financial instrument fraud, accountancy fraud, offences under the Companies Act, VAT fraud, mortgage fraud, corruption, bribery, money laundering, data protection, telecommunications fraud, intellectual property offences and advance fee frauds / Ponzi schemes. Many of these cases have an overseas element to them and he often advises on issues of jurisdiction and international co-operation.

Recent cases

FCA v Croft & Others

Representing the former FD of an AIM listed company, accused with others of orchestrating a major audit fraud.  Listed for 3 month trial in October 2021.

Folgender SA v Letraz International Ltd

Representing a company director facing contempt of court proceedings in the High Court.  The case related to a £10m investment by a Russian individual into a commercial property dispute in London.  The allegation was that the director had failed to account properly for the £10m and breached previous court orders requiring him to do so.

X v Y

X was the claimant in defamation proceedings brought against Y.  Advising X on the money laundering aspects of his claim.

ICO v Cambridge Analytica 

Representing Cambridge Analytica, the firm at the centre of the data harvesting row.

SFO v X 

Advising (X), a former employee of Rolls Royce, in relation to allegations of bribery and corruption brought by the SFO.

SFO v Y

Advising (Y), a director of a UK company, alleged by the SFO to have been involved in bribery and corruption in relation to overseas mining contracts.

Re Z 

Advising a US law firm in relation to requests for Mutual Legal Assistance re the trial of Z in New York on Libor rate rigging charges.

Re X

Advising a partner from one of the ‘Big 4’ accountancy firms on allegations of corruption and bribery

Takeover Panel v [X] 

Representing company director in relation to allegations that he misled the Takeover Panel re his share dealings in a listed company.

Information Commissioner’s Office v [Y] Ltd 

Defending allegations brought by the ICO that this well known firm of loss adjusters was involved in breaches of the Data Protection Act 1998.

Re [X] Bank Plc 

Advising a UK Bank on the conduct of an internal investigation into potential criminal wrongdoing.

 SFO v Barclays Bank

Advising the former General Counsel of Barclays Capital in relation to the SFO investigation into the Qatari rights issue during the banking crisis.

R v David Forsey 

Representing the former CEO of Sports Direct in relation to an alleged offence under s.194 of the Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992.

Re Berkeley Mineral Resources Ltd 

Advising on the settlement of a dispute concerning the alleged misappropriation of £4 million from the company.

R v Jumani & Others

Representing one of several defendants at Southwark Crown Court charged with a massive counterfeit DVD operation, in which registered trademarks were also infringed.  The prosecution case at trial lasted for 2 months.  Christopher’s client was acquitted at that juncture following a submission of no case to answer.

R v Ahmad & Others

Prosecuted this case on behalf of the Medicines & Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency.  The defendants were accused of the large scale importation of unlicensed and counterfeit medicinal products.  This gave rise to charges under both the Medicines Act 1968 and the Trademarks Act 1994.  The defendants pleaded guilty in the Crown Court.

R v Guestyn

Prosecuted this case.  The defendant was accused of seeking to defraud several banks through the use of counterfeit currency.  The total value of the attempted fraud was in excess of $70 million.  The counterfeit nature of the currency was established and the defendant pleaded guilty in the Crown Court.