Gavin Irwin

Gavin Irwin is a specialist advocate in: financial crime; professional conduct; and, business regulation.  He has a wealth of experience across complementary disciplines.

In addition to providing representation before courts and tribunals, Gavin regularly advises individuals and businesses on:

• sensitive issues concerning fraud, money laundering, bribery and corruption, and breaches of financial and trade sanctions
• risk management, corporate investigations and civil penalty procedures
• extradition and Interpol Red Notices
• conduct and discipline issues involving professional and business regulatory authorities and at Coroner’s Inquests

At present, Gavin is:

• advising individuals in relation to SFO investigations into fraud and overseas bribery and corruption
• advising businesses on financial and trade sanctions, export controls, and national security issues relating to foreign direct investment and merger controls
• representing individuals charged with fraud, counterfeiting and money laundering before the criminal courts
• representing individuals whose assets are restrained and/or accounts frozen under new legislative powers
• representing medical professionals in discipline proceedings brought by the GMC and GDC
• representing medical professionals and entities in a number of high-profile Inquests

Sanctions, Export Licensing and Business Regulation

In the recent past, Gavin has advised:

• a non-UK based company on the application of the Competition and Markets Authority’s special powers (national security and investment issues) in the context of mergers and acquisitions
• a UK based company for potential breaches of the export control regime relating to software for use in imaging and semi-conductor manufacturing
• a non-UK national on Russia sanctions and the proceeds of sale of Russian corporate interests
• a UK national on Russia sanctions and the ownership and management of property in Crimea
• (and represented) a UK based company in criminal proceedings for breaches of the Chemical Weapons Convention
• a non-UK national on sanctions and export control issues in the context of Iran, the JCPOA and the EU blocking statute
• a UK based manufacturing company, with customers in Turkey, on overlapping export control issues arising from recent inclusions on the U.S. BIS ‘Entity List’
• a UK based oil and gas services company on the application of financial sanctions to projects in West Kurdistan / Northern Syria
• a UK based manufacturing company on export control issues arising from end-user concerns for dual-use goods in UAE and Pakistan
• a UK based tech company in an 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 investigation arising from the export of high-performance machine parts to Iran
• (and represented) an individual in criminal proceedings for exporting controlled metal powders to Iran via the Czech Republic

Gavin accepts direct access instructions.

What others say:

“He’s very cerebral and intelligent, fantastically good on detail, and he gets his head round voluminous amounts of material. He’s also a very good advocate.” “He is always well prepared, has a lot of experience, and his presentation of cases is excellent.” (Chambers UK 2021)

“Gavin is very thorough and well prepared, remains calm in any situation, and demonstrates a strong team work ethic.” – (Legal 500 UK 2022)

“A very effective and charming advocate, whom juries find very engaging: if, like him, you cross-examine with a smile on your face, you get a lot more information and the jury will listen.” “He’s very dignified and intelligent.” (Chambers UK 2020)

“He prepares well and knows his topic.” (Legal 500, 2020)

“Incredibly good tactical barrister, particularly in fraud cases … extremely knowledgeable both on financial crime and regulatory crime” (Chambers UK, 2019)

“A criminal barrister with the finesse and smoothness to switch very easily to the corporate or commercial context…a skilled negotiator…he understands a case from the technical, commercial and human angles” (Chambers UK 2018)

“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 … his 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)