Richard Paton-Philip
Introduction
Richard Paton-Philip is a criminal and regulatory barrister acting for both the defence and prosecution.
Background and expertise
Richard represents parties in cases covering the full spectrum of criminal matters but with a focus on financial crime, serious violence, drug supply and sexual offending.
Over the years Richard has successfully defended a number of professional people charged with serious financial crimes.
In 2015 - 2016 Richard joined a team of barristers assisting a leading global bank to fulfil its regulatory obligations. Richard has also worked on financial crime investigations within the financial services sector (money laundering, corruption, insider trading and fraud).
In August 2020, in response to growing demand from clients for advice upon the impact of the UK Bribery Act on International companies with subsidiaries or related organisations in the UK, Richard, together with Steven Kay KC, set up the UK Bribery Act International Advisory Service.
In a prosecution capacity Richard was recently seconded to the FCA's Criminal Prosecutions Team providing pre-charge advice in respect of specific criminal matters under FCA investigation. In the wake of the global financial crisis Richard was part of an SFO team that prosecuted a prominent hedge fund manager for fraud and related offences.
Richard is frequently instructed in cases involving serious violence, firearms, the supply or importation of drugs and sexual offending. He is also an experienced Court Martial practitioner regularly defending military personnel charged with criminal and military discipline offences.
In the regulatory sphere Richard represents parties appearing before a range of disciplinary tribunals including those concerning the alleged misconduct of police officers, nurses, and sports people (boxing in particular).
If you are a member of the public seeking to instruct a barrister directly under the Direct Access Scheme, in relation to a road traffic matter for example, Richard can be contacted through the clerking team at 9 BR.
Notable cases
Financial Crime
Fraud. Defending first defendant in £500k puppy farm fraud.
Co-author of substantial report on the business activities and companies of X - an individual who had been accused of bribery and corruption by the Wall Street Journal. Findings that the article by the WSJ was based upon unreliable and inaccurate hearsay provided by a UK intelligence company that had not conducted any corroborative research for its report.
Advice upon the impact of UK Bribery Act, FCPA and US State law for a global company with UK and US subsidiaries to ensure compliance as a result of sponsorship of political causes.
Successfully defended accountant alleged to have laundered the proceeds of a £100 million fraud against HMRC. Led by Simon Stirling. Southwark Crown Court.
Accountancy student acquitted of fraud and theft of high value cars. Inner London Crown Court.
Advising the FCA in relation to a range of specific investigations and criminal prosecutions.
Review and remediation of regulatory compliance standards. Internal investigations into suspicious activities and transactions.
Company Director acquitted of fraud that had resulted in investor losses exceeding £4 million. Led by Samantha Cohen in one of the FCA’s largest ever criminal prosecutions and the first of its kind in respect of land-banking cases. Southwark Crown Court.
Disclosure Counsel in SFO prosecution of hedge fund manager. Fraud resulted in investor losses exceeding $530 million.
Serious Violence
Prosecuting football fan for racially abusing a high-profile premier league footballer.
S.18 GBH. Defendant alleged to have caused life threatening injuries during a high-speed car chase on London's streets. Instructed for the Defence. Trial pending.
Attempted s.18 GBH. Defendant allegedly chased a neighbour and repeatedly tried to slash and stab him with a kitchen knife. Instructed for the Defence. Trial pending.
Instructed for defendant alleged to have injured three police officers while trying to escape in a stolen vehicle. Croydon Crown Court.
s.18 double stabbing of fairground workers. Prosecution abandoned case after successful representations and submissions. Oxford Crown Court.
https://www.banburyguardian.co.uk/news/banbury-woman-appears-court-over-double-stabbing-fair-852040
Acquitted of s.18 GBH. Broken bottle used to inflict serious neck injuries. Wolverhampton Crown Court.
Acquitted of s.18 GBH. Lump of concrete thrown from railway bridge causing brain damage to a child. Birmingham Crown Court.
Acquitted of affray on High Street involving sword, catapults and baseball bat. Basildon Crown Court.
Represented defendant charged with s.18 GBH. Use of tools to inflict really serious harm. Birmingham Crown Court.
Drugs
Instructed to represent defendant alleged to have played a leading role in supplying Cocaine into Kent. Maidstone Crown Court.
News report here
Instructed to represent defendant in relation to an alleged attempt to import Cocaine using a cruise ship and a number of smaller vessels. Winchester Crown Court.
Conspiracy to produce cannabis. Defendant arrested amidst crop worth £¼ million. Jury could not reach a verdict. Convicted at re-trial but suspended sentence and significantly reduced confiscation order. Snaresbrook Crown Court.
https://www.romfordrecorder.co.uk/news/men-sentenced-over-emerson-park-cannabis-factory-1-5900720
Direct Access. Drug driving allegation. Identified shortcomings in prosecution investigation and disclosure process. Following written representations the CPS abandoned its case before trial. Salisbury Magistrates Court.
Negotiated plea in cannabis production conspiracy leading to short sentence. £300,000 worth of cannabis. Teeside Crown Court.
Sexual offences
Rape. Defending. Historic rapes and sexual assaults of stepson and niece.
Rape. Defendant on trial for subjecting his half-sister (8 years old at the time) to a campaign of rape and other sexual abuse.
Attempted Rape. Instructed to represent a pensioner accused of trying to rape a young woman in a park.
Rape. Successful defence of client alleged to have beaten and raped a friend. Wolverhampton Crown Court.
Instructed to represent former police officer accused of making an indecent video of a child. St Albans Crown Court.
Defended former celebrity bodyguard in relation to historic sexual abuse allegations made by his step-daughter. Isleworth Crown Court.
Represented childcare professional acquitted of serious sexual assaults against two sisters under the age of 13. Luton Crown Court.
Court Martial
Defence of Special Forces NCO tried for attempting to pervert the course of justice. Acquitted.
Defended Officer Cadet accused of waterboarding fellow officer cadet. Trial collapsed during complainant’s evidence after successful defence submissions led to further disclosure and prosecution decision to abandon case. Client has commissioned to chosen regiment. Bulford Court Martial.
Soldier serving in Germany acquitted of sexual assault on German civilian in nightclub. Sennelager Court Martial.
Soldier accused of violent disorder. Prosecution dropped the case on day of trial after successful submissions. Bulford Court Martial.
Allegations of domestic violence. Submissions made led to further prosecution review resulting in discontinuance of the case. Bulford Court Martial.
Field sports
Instructed to represent huntsmen and terrier men in a Nottinghamshire Hunting Act prosecution.
Defended huntsman for alleged Hunting Act offence and a related fracas with hunt saboteurs. Ipswich Magistrates Court.
Disciplinary
Prosecuted bout supervisor for procuring an advantage for a boxer by falsely representing one or more of the judges scorecards so that the boxer was declared winner of the bout.
Represented police officer facing disciplinary proceedings concerning allegations of racially abusive behaviour.
Disciplinary proceedings against Care Home Manager in relation to widespread allegations of neglect. Represented the NMC.
Prosecuted disciplinary proceedings concerning a nurse sexually assaulting a colleague.
Prosecuted disciplinary proceedings brought against boxing coach for ringside dispute and assaulting a referee.
Represented police officer in relation to allegations of widespread Data Protection breaches.
Other activities and interests
- Horses and sport
PROFILE: Richard Paton-Philip
Year called
2004
Specialisms
Crime
Confiscation / POCA
Financial Crime
Fraud, Bribery & Corruption
Serious Crime
Sexual offences
Disciplinary
Licensing
Regulatory / Disciplinary
Military
Military
Road Traffic
Road traffic
Direct access
Yes
Contact
020 7489 2727
Education
London School of Economics 1999-2002
Inns of Court School of Law 2003-2004
Memberships
Criminal Bar Association
ARDL
Appointments
CPS Panel (Grade 3)