Gavin Irwin

Gavin Irwin is a specialist advocate in serious and financial crime. He regularly advises and appears in matters concerning fraud, money laundering and corruption. Gavin is instructed to advise individuals and businesses on regulatory and risk-management issues, including: sanctions and export licensing; data protection; consumer protection; and, professional conduct and discipline.

At present, Gavin is:

• advising in sensitive disputes involving financial and trade sanctions for entities with business interests in Turkey and UAE
• advising an individual in relation to an SFO investigation into alleged corruption between UK companies and Indonesian state actors
• representing a company in the first proceedings brought by the Pensions Regulator for failure to implement the Workplace Pension
• representing a company officer in a private prosecution brought after failed civil proceedings in the High Court

Recently, Gavin has:

• advised a company director in relation to proceedings brought by the Information Commissioners Office for offences under section 55 of the Data Protection Act 1998 (obtaining and disseminating personal information)
• represented the principal defendant in complex fraud proceedings arising from breaches of the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008.  (And, separately, advised a number of web-based businesses on compliance matters arising under the 2008 Regulations re: ‘copycat websites’)
• represented a company at a Public Inquiry before the Traffic Commissioner
• represented the principal defendant in confiscation proceedings for the largest boiler-room fraud ever prosecuted by the SFO
• offered practical advice to law firms on business risk and compliance with ABC, AML and sanctions regimes
• represented regulators and professionals in conduct, conviction, performance, health and restoration cases, before the GMC, GDC, NMC, CLC and SRA
• defended in the first extradition proceedings brought by the Government of Peru

Sanctions Experience

Gavin is currently:

• advising a UK manufacturing company on export licensing issues arising from recent inclusions on the US Bureau of Industry and Security’s ‘Entity List’
• representing a UK company in criminal proceedings brought by HMRC for alleged breaches of the export licensing regime

In the recent past, Gavin has advised:

• a UK based oil and gas services company on the ramifications of engaging in projects, and with entities, in West Kurdistan / Northern Syria
• a UK based manufacturing company on export licensing issues arising from end-user concerns for dual-use goods in UAE
• a UK based tech company in an Export Control Joint Unit investigation into the export of cryptographic software to Russia
• a UK based company with a global presence in the oil and gas services industry in an HMRC investigation arising from the export of high performance machine parts to Iran

In addition, Gavin has represented a defendant in proceedings at the Central Criminal Court (brought under the Customs and Excise Management Act 1979) for exporting cobalt aluminate to Iran via the Czech Republic.  The security and intelligence services are concerned that CoAl may be the critical ingredient in a ‘suitcase dirty bomb’ – a small, portable, nuclear device.

Gavin accepts direct access instructions.

“Very good indeed, he gets stuck in and does the work … very clued-up and switched on.” (Chambers UK, 2016)

“An advocate who is clear and polite in court, and a skilled manager of challenging personalities … an intelligent, sensible advocate who is direct with the judge … [h]is tactical awareness is very good, and he has excellent knowledge of the law.” (Chambers UK, 2017)

“… has a tremendously good manner with prosecutors, judges and clients.” (Chambers UK, 2016)

“Very good indeed, he gets stuck in and does the work … very clued-up and switched on.” (Chambers UK, 2015)

“knows the law, and is very user friendly … obvious commitment to clients … very responsive” (Chambers UK, 2014)

“an expert on corporate investigations” (Chambers UK, 2013)