Andrew Fisher KC
Areas Of Specialism
Common Law, Drugs & Gang-Related Offences, Employment, Financial crime, Firearms, Murder & Manslaughter, Regulatory, Sexual Offences
Other Information
2004-2021 Head of Chambers
Career overview
Practice Summary
Practice is largely in criminal matters, instructed in cases of the utmost gravity, principally by the Defence and on occasions by the Crown.
Has particular expertise in cases involving complex factual disputes and technical issues (including medical matters) and also has a long-standing practice in substantial regulatory matters, licencing, civil actions against the police, employment, disciplinary tribunals and commercial litigation.
Recommended by the Legal 500 as having ‘… an impressive reputation for serious fraud defence …’, and in Chambers and Partners over many years, e.g.:
- 2012 entry noted ‘… attractive presentation skills and impressive grasp of cases involving murder, smuggling and fraud’
- 2013 edition commented that his previous career in banking ‘… brings extensive financial sector knowledge … a significant boon to his fraud practice’
- 2014 entry ‘… a wealth of experience in the most serious of criminal matters’
- 2015 edition described him as ‘… a fearless advocate, yet very approachable and with a real sensitivity to the requirements of the client. Further, he is an excellent tactician, he is well prepared, realistic in his approach and very sound on technical detail.’
- 2018 entry ‘He’s approachable, well prepared, and has a real presence in the courtroom’.
Details of practice
Crime
Extensive experience in cases involving homicide of all kinds, organized crime and gang warfare, high value drug offences, serious sex offences. Specialist in ‘white collar’ and business crime, whose caseload encompasses serious fraud of all kinds (e.g. MTIC/VAT carousel, Revenue, banking and finance, boiler room, insurance, and long firm), money laundering and Proceeds of Crime proceedings.
Notable cases
Murder & Manslaughter
- Prosecuted 10 defendants in series of shootings in gang warfare.
- Represented contract killer on historic murder charge.
- Historic murder, represented successful businessman charged with disposal of body and firearms offences.
- Torture and murder of handicapped young woman by group of young people.
- Several baby shaking murder / manslaughter cases.
- Novel murder case where death occurred 7 years after injuries inflicted.
- Quadruple murder in hotel arson and other fires.
- Unlawful act and gross negligence manslaughter from heroin overdose.
- Unusual unlawful act manslaughter relating to deceased jumping from window to escape perceived attack.
- Medically complex death by dangerous driving by hypoglycaemic diabetic driver.
- Murder allegation involving defence of epileptic automatism.
- Terrorist attempted murder on the streets of Manchester.
- Prosecuted 9 defendants on charges arising from a major riot, including attempted murder.
- Attempted murder, rape and robbery of elderly handicapped lady by youth.
Fire Arms
- Operation Cookie: Large scale commercial trafficking of firearms and ammunition prosecuting 26 defendants.
- Operation Gold Dust: Prosecuting biggest case brought by National Ballistics Intelligence Agency for Importation and sale of illegal firearms and large scale manufacture and sale of illegal ammunition
Financial crime
- £180m MTIC/VAT carousel fraud and money laundering, represented relative of a senior member of the legal profession.
- £140m MTIC/VAT carousel fraud and money laundering, represented a bank manager.
- £65m Hawala banking fraud.
- £35m boiler room fraud, represented stockbroker and Registrar.
- £1.5m corporate fraud/corruption case, represented the sales and marketing manager of a public company.
- £1m fraud on a government funding scheme.
- Represented a solicitor on a series of mortgage frauds.
Drugs & Gang-Related Offences
- Represented a very senior employee of a major prosecuting authority on Class A drug supply and sexual assault charges.
- People smuggling into the USA on a large scale.
- Lead defence counsel in gang war riot between ’Hell’s Angels’ and ’Outlaws’.
- Represented major wholesale heroin dealer.
- Numerous drugs and gang warfare related murders
Regulatory
- Represented a company director in complex director’s disqualification charges.
Common law
- Technology and Construction Court – representing several firms of Solicitors challenging lawfulness of Government procurement policy.
- Court of Appeal (Civil Div) – significant case on misfeasance in public office.
- Court of Appeal (Civil Div) – ’reasonableness’ and ’necessity’ on arrest in Civil actions against the police.
- Financial Services and Markets Tribunal, represented large firm of Independent Financial Advisers.
- Private prosecution of insurance frauds.
- Commercial litigation including contractual disputes, employment issues and contentious probate matters.
Podcasts
Photos
videos
Further Information