Ian Leist KC

Areas of Practice

• Criminal Defence
• Administrative Anti-Corruption
• Anti-terrorism and Corporate
• International Governance; agenda-setting, policymaking, implementation and enforcement
• Human Rights
• Infrastructure Planning

Appointments

• BA Law (Hons)
• Inner Temple
• King’s Counsel | 2011

Professional Memberships

• Criminal Bar Association
• Administrative Law Bar Association
• Chatham House

Expertise

Ian Leist KC is a leading trial barrister with experience in cases featuring political, confidentiality, and corruption issues together with serious crime including terrorism, drugs, and fraud.

Ian successfully defended members of the Parachute Regiment at the Bloody Sunday Inquiry in Ireland and London between 1998 and 2010.

Ian acted as independent counsel in the Metropolitan Police Inquiry into London City Bond in 2004, and he has defended terrorists at trial in London and Manchester and on appeal.

Ian has advised governments, corporates and private clients in Kenya, South Sudan, Ghana, Tunisia, Nigeria on security and the rule of law matters.

Ian has been a legal correspondent to Islam Channel TV and attended the 15th anniversary of the Srebrenica massacre. He has advised individuals and religious groups on freedom of speech and freedom of belief issues under the Equalities Act 2010.

Ian is public access accredited and accepts direct instructions from lay clients.