Gavin Irwin

Gavin Irwin is a specialist advocate in financial crime, business regulation and professional conduct.  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 financial and trade sanctions, export controls, fraud, money laundering, bribery and corruption
• 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:

• representing a Nigerian Senator charged with offences under the Modern Slavery Act relating to exploitation for the purpose of organ harvesting
• advising businesses and individuals on financial and trade sanctions and export controls
• advising businesses operating within the ’17 sectors’ on national security issues
• representing individuals charged with fraud, bribery and money laundering before the criminal courts
• representing individuals whose assets are restrained and/or bank accounts frozen before the civil and criminal courts
• representing medical professionals and regulators in conduct and discipline proceedings brought by the GMC, GDC, GPhC and NHSE
• representing medical professionals and entities at Coroner’s Inquests

Sanctions, Export Licensing and Business Regulation

In 2022, Gavin has advised:

• numerous individuals, manufacturing businesses and providers of professional services, both UK and non-UK based, in relation to the enhanced sanctions regime imposed on Russia after the invasion of Ukraine
• UK and non-UK based entities on the application of the National Security and Investment Act in the context of mergers and acquisitions
• professional services providers on anti-money laundering procedures and issues

In the recent past, Gavin has advised:

• 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 UN 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 on 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:

“Gavin is a very skilful barrister who is great at his job.” and “He has fantastic attention to detail.” (Chambers UK 2023)

“He’s very cerebral and intelligent, fantastically good on detail, and he gets his head around 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, 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)