Criminal Defence
Millennium Chambers provides strategic, high-level representation across the full spectrum of criminal law. Our barristers are regularly instructed in serious, complex, and high-profile cases at every level of the criminal justice system, from pre-charge advice to appeals before the Supreme Court.
We act in matters involving:
- Serious Violence — murder, manslaughter, organised violence, firearms offences and robbery
- Sexual Offences — rape, sexual assault, exploitation, indecent images and online offences
- Fraud & Financial Crime — fraud, money laundering, bribery, corruption, tax evasion and POCA proceedings
- Serious Organised Crime — drug trafficking, conspiracy, human trafficking and organised immigration crime
- Cyber & Technology Crime — hacking, online fraud, cyberstalking, coercive control and dark web offences
- Regulatory & Corporate Crime — sanctions, market abuse, anti-competition, environmental and financial offences
- Public Order & Terrorism — terrorism, riots, violent disorder and offences against the state
- Domestic Abuse — coercive and controlling behaviour, harassment and violence within intimate relationships
- Driving & Road Traffic Offences — all motoring and driving-related matters
- Restraint & Civil Recovery — asset freezing, confiscation, unexplained wealth orders and civil recovery proceedings
Our counsel combines exceptional advocacy with meticulous preparation, delivering decisive representation in the most demanding criminal cases nationwide.
White-Collar Crimes:
- Fraud and Corporate Crime: Misrepresentation or deceit in business
- Money Laundering: Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA); concealing the origins of illegally obtained money
- False accounting
- Tax evasion
- Market abuse: Insider Trading; Illegal securities trading based on non-public information
- Ponzi schemes
- Bribery and Corruption
- Sanctions
- Anti-competition
Conspiracy and Serious Organised Crime:
- Firearms offences, including supply and possession of illegal firearms
- Internet crime
- Conspiracy to Money launder
- Excise and tax fraud (including oils fraud)
- Intellectual property crime (including counterfeit goods)
- Armed robbery and cash-in-transit attacks
- Conspiracy to Supply and Import Class A drugs
- Counterfeit currency
- Human trafficking
- Organised immigration crime
- Environmental crime
Crimes Against the Person:
- Murder (homicide), manslaughter, infanticide
- Common assault and Battery: Physical harm or threat of harm, harassment, offensive weapon, wounding/ABH/GBH
- Sexual Offences: Rape, sexual assault, assault by penetration, sexual exploitation, child sex abuse and trafficking, extreme pornography, disclosing private sexual images without consent (‘revenge pornography’), indecent images of children
- Human trafficking: Modern slavery, servitude and forced or compulsory labour
- Kidnap: False imprisonment, child abduction
Crimes Against the State:
- Terrorism: Acts of violence to instil fear for political purposes
Crimes Against Morality and Decency:
- Prostitution: Engaging in sexual activities for money
- Obscenity: Distribution of sexually explicit material
- Public Indecency: Lewd behaviour in public spaces
Crimes Against Property:
- Embezzlement fraud: Deception for personal gain
- Aggravated Burglary
- Arson or arson with intent to endanger life
- Burglary: Unlawful entry with intent to commit a crime
- Theft: Shoplifting, stealing, robbery
Crimes Against Public Order:
- Disorderly Conduct: Disturbance of public peace
- Rioting: Participation in violent public disturbances
- Unlawful Assembly: Gathering with intent to disturb public peace
Crimes Against the Administration of Justice:
- Perjury: Lying under oath
- Obstruction of Justice: Interfering with legal processes
- Contempt of Court: Disrespect or disobedience towards the court
Cyber Crime:
- Computer Misuse Act
- Fraud
- False accounts
- Coercion and Control
Cyber-Enabled Crimes: These are not dependent on computers or networks but are transformed in scale or form using the internet and communications technology.
- Economic related cybercrime, including:
- Fraud
- Intellectual property crime – piracy, counterfeiting and forgery
- Online marketplaces for illegal items.
- Malicious and offensive communications, including:
- Communications sent via social media or other electronic means.
- Cyberbullying/trolling.
- Virtual mobbing.
- Offences that specifically target individuals, including cyber-enabled violence against women and girls (‘VAWG’):
- Disclosing private sexual images without consent
- Cyberstalking and harassment
- Coercion and control
- Child sexual offences and indecent images of children, including:
- Child sexual abuse
- Online grooming
- Prohibited and indecent images of children
- Extreme pornography, obscene publications and prohibited images
Dark Web Offences: The dark web comprises internet sites and content intentionally hidden and inaccessible through standard web browsers. The dark web facilitates criminal activity across a wide range of threats. It can be used to create so-called “safe spaces” for conspiring to commit offences, such as child sexual exploitation or the sale and purchase of illegal items (such as drugs or firearms).
Domestic Violence: Abuse or violence within familial or intimate relationships.
Drug Offences:
- Trafficking
- Supply and distribution of illegal substances
- Importation
- Possession
Economic Related Cybercrime: Criminal activities conducted through digital means.
- Electronic financial fraud
- Fraudulent sales through online auctions or retail sites
- Mass-marketing fraud and consumer scams
Environmental Crimes: Violations of laws protecting the environment.
Firearms Offences:
- Importation of Firearms
- Possession of Firearms and shotguns without a certificate
- Manufacture, sale, transfer of firearms, conversion
- Possession of articles for conversion of imitation firearms
- Possession of prohibited weapons
- Criminal use of firearms, acquisition and possession of firearms and air weapons by children and young people
Fraud:
- Art and Antique Fraud
- Benefit Fraud
- Credit Card Fraud
- Investment Fraud
- Mail and Wire Fraud
- Money Laundering
- Mortgage Fraud
Hate Crimes: Criminal acts motivated by bias or prejudice against a particular group.
- Racist and Religious hate crime
- Homophobic crime
- Antisemitic crime
- Islamophobic crime
Restraint & Civil Recovery:
- Corporate and Commercial Fraud
- Financial Services Regulation
- Bribery & Corruption
- Money Laundering & Proceeds of Crime, including high-yield investment fraud
- Tax & Insolvency offences, including EU duty fraud
- Public and Charity Sector Fraud
- International Sanctions
- Unexplained Wealth Orders
Traffic Offences: All driving offences. Violations of traffic laws and regulations.