Orlando Pownall KC is ‘regarded by his peers as being one of the best of the best‘ at the Criminal Bar. Ranked as a ‘star‘ silk by Chambers UK, he is frequently instructed as leading counsel in high profile cases, carrying ‘great authority with Judges‘.
Having defended on a number of high profile cases, including the recent and successful defence of New Zealand cricket captain Chris Cairns who was tried for perjury and perverting the course of justice, Orlando is described as ‘a good cross-examiner…who defends well and has a huge presence in court‘.
Orlando is repeatedly instructed by high profile clients to provide pre-charge advice for a range of criminal and business crime charges. He is said to be “Very engaging and passionate – he gets stuck in.”
He undertakes a number of financial crime cases, having been instructed most recently in Operation Tabernula, one of the largest insider dealing cases bought by the Financial Conduct Authority.
Orlando was recently awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award from Chambers & Partners UK 2023.
Orlando is a highly regarded and esteemed defence advocate who previously held the position of Treasury Counsel, both Junior and First Senior. During his tenure as First Senior Treasury Counsel he prosecuted a large number of high profile cases but since his appointment to Silk in 2002 he almost exclusively defends. In recent years he has defended a number of celebrities charged with a variety of offences, along with two of the journalists charged with aiding and abetting misconduct in a public office and offences contrary to computer misuse legislation.
R v Medouni
Represented the husband of the couple accused of murdering French nanny Sophie Lionnet and attempting to dispose of her remains by barbecuing them in their South West London garden. Medouni’s wife was convinced Lionnet was conspiring with her ex-boyfriend, ex-Boyzone singer Mark Walton and interrogated and tortured the nanny during the weeks leading up to her death.
R v Adam Johnson
Represented former Sunderland and England footballer, Adam Johnson at his trial on two charges of sexual activity with a child, relating to an incident between him and a 15 year old fan. Following a 3 week trial at Bradford Crown Court he was unanimously acquitted of the most serious charge, but convicted of a lesser charge of digital penetration. The case attracted widespread publicity in the national and international press.
R v Chris Cairns
Represented the former New Zealand cricketer, charged with perjury and perverting the course of justice following a libel case Cairns brought against Lalit Modi the former chairman of the IPL over a defamatory tweet.
R v Terry Hughes
Employees of G4S who were charged with the unlawfully killing of the deportee Jimmy Mubenga
R v Leoni Granger
Charged with the murder of a gambler in a so called “ honey trap” plot.
R v Kofi Mercer
Charged with murder arising out of advances in DNA profiling techniques.
Orlando has recently appeared in the Supreme Court where he represented Gerry McGeough who sought to appeal his conviction for attempted murder and membership of the IRA on the grounds that confidential information provided for the purpose of an application for refugee status was wrongly admitted in evidence.
Orlando regularly appears in the Court of Appeal in appeals against both conviction and sentence.
Orlando undertakes a number of cases involving financial crime and is instructed in a number of high profile matters such as Operation Tabernula, a prosecution brought by the FCA where it is alleged that the defendants were involved in insider dealing.
He has recently undertaken a lengthy MTIC fraud involving luxury cars exported to the Far East, an alleged fraud on the Royal Mail by a large on line clothing manufacturer and a case involving a cheat on the revenue arising from film tax credits.
Orlando has had considerable dealings with Proceeds of Crime Act cases in particular, restraint and detention proceedings. He was instructed in one of the leading authorities relating to confiscation and “after acquired” assets which was heard by the Supreme Court. (R v Peacock).
We were delighted to attend the Chambers UK Bar Awards 2023 this year where our…
2 Hare Court is delighted to have received record rankings in this years’ Chambers &…
2 Hare Court is delighted to have received record rankings in this years’ Chambers &…
