Gavin Irwin is widely recognised as a leading junior in financial and other serious crime, and in professional conduct and coronial proceedings. His advice and representation is sought in the most complex cases by individuals, businesses and governments.
Having been ranked in Band 1 for Financial Crime for many years, Gavin is one of the few UK barristers with a proven track record in financial and trade sanctions, export controls and national security and investment.
Gavin has worked with the United Nations in Africa and is actively involved in the Western Balkans Rule of Law Initiative. Known for his team leadership, tactical acumen and commercial approach, Gavin has a wealth of experience across complementary disciplines.
Gavin accepts direct access instructions.
Financial Crime
Gavin is currently leading the team in the defence of:
In the recent past, Gavin has:
National Security & Investment
Gavin regularly:
Serious & Organised Crime
Gavin has appeared for the defence in numerous homicide cases before the Central Criminal Court. In recent years he has represented individuals charged with rape (disclosure of multi-agency records and the statistical analysis of DNA), causing non-accidental harm to children (paediatric medical experts), arson and firearms offences (secondary transfer of DNA and cell-site evidence) and significant drug trafficking (covert probe, encrypted communications and evidence obtained under letters of request).
Recent instructions include:
Proceeds of Crime
Gavin undertakes restraint and asset freezing work. He acted for Raymond May in the seminal House of Lords case on the definition of “obtaining” benefit. He has a wealth of experience in applying for injunctions on behalf of prosecuting authorities and in resisting them on behalf of individuals and other legal entities. Gavin advises and represents individuals in enforcement proceedings.
Financial & Trade Sanctions
Gavin regularly advises businesses and individuals on the impact of financial and trade sanctions and is currently acting for:
Gavin has been instructed in three ‘firsts’:
Export Controls
Gavin has an established track-record in navigating export control challenges and in leading corporate investigations where end-user concerns and WMD proliferation risks have been identified. He has considerable experience in the overlap between export controls and trade sanctions, shaping self-disclosures, averting criminal proceedings and negotiating compound and monetary penalties.
Gavin has acted, in criminal proceedings, for:
Advisory work includes:
Extradition
Having acted for various requesting states, including the United States, the Russian Federation and many European judicial authorities, Gavin’s extradition practice is now focused on defending individuals charged with, or convicted of, serious offences including murder, terrorism and fraud.
Gavin has prevented the extradition to:
In addition, Gavin acted in the first ever extraditions to Peru (a series of accusation cases involving significant drug trafficking) and in extradition proceedings brought by Spain for the largest shipment of cocaine ever to be intercepted in European waters.
Gavin’s advice and advocacy is regularly sought in relation to Coroner’s Inquests. He has represented doctors and healthcare organisations in sensitive Inquests where juries are sworn and where individuals are at risk of findings of neglect or being required to ‘self-report’ to the GMC and NHS.
Gavin has represented General Practitioners, Emergency Medicine doctors and Consultants in relation to the deaths of:
Gavin has represented individuals in conduct proceedings brought by the General Medical, Dental, Optical and Pharmaceutical Councils, the Nursing and Midwifery Council, the Solicitors Regulation Authority, the Council of the Inns of Court and the Council for Licensed Conveyancers. He has particular experience where jurisdictions overlap and where the prospect of criminal proceedings is an important factor in tactical decision-making.
Recent cases include representing:
In 2012, Gavin spent two months working for the United Nations in Kenya and regularly appeared before the UN Dispute and Appeals Tribunals.
Gavin regularly advises and represents individuals and entities in private prosecutions arising from commercial disputes with parallel civil and/or regulatory proceedings.
Much of Gavin’s work involves protecting professionals including:
Gavin Irwin discusses the wide-ranging powers contained in the National Security Act 2023 and the…
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