• "A silk in junior's clothing who is a smooth and persuasive advocate."
    Chambers UK 2023
  • 'He is effortlessly persuasive, sensible in his advice and someone who takes a no-nonsense approach.'  Chambers UK 2022
  • ‘He has an unrivalled ability to see the bigger picture, which is hugely advantageous tactically to a case.’
    Chambers UK 2020
 

Paul Wakerley

  • An accomplished senior junior sought after by both the prosecution and defence in matters of serious and complex crime and professional regulation, Paul Wakerley is a persuasive jury and appellate advocate; he impresses at every level.

    Crime 

    Paul Wakerley has a fantastic reputation in the field of complex and serious crime. He has experience across the full range of offences and is particularly noted for his successful defence practice. He regularly appears as a leading junior in cases where others are represented by Silks and is frequently sought out at appeal stage where the original representation was elsewhere. Paul is often instructed to represent professionals facing criminal allegations arising from the workplace and combines his vast experience in both the regulatory and criminal fields to great effect.
     

    Regulatory

    Paul has developed a strong practice defending police officers before their internal tribunals appearing for officers across a range of allegations and alleged gross misconduct. He also appears in healthcare regulation regularly representing doctors, dentists and other healthcare professionals before their own regulators. This work has also led to an increased amount of instructions in inquests where there is often an overlap between practice areas.  Occasionally, Paul acts for the regulator themselves and so has the advantage of seeing any case from both sides.
     

    Corporate & Financial Crime 

    Paul has been instructed from most angles and at most stages within the practice area of corporate & financial crime. He has advised individuals and corporates pre-charge, advised global banks regarding compliance, represented parties in relation to health and safety charges, prosecuted large and complex frauds and money laundering and dealt with confiscation proceedings for both the prosecution and defence. He is a meticulous, calm and respected jury advocate, arguing the complex in a clear and compelling style.
     

     

    Reviews 

    Chambers UK 2023: Crime – Band 3

    Legal 500 2022: Professional Discipline - Tier 4

    "A master tactician with unparalleled judgement, he's truly a lawyer's lawyer." Chambers UK Crime (2024)

    "He's a really incisive advocate." Chambers UK Crime (2024)

    'A silk in junior's clothing who is a smooth and persuasive advocate.' Chambers UK Crime (2023)

    'He is effortlessly persuasive, sensible in his advice and someone who takes a no-nonsense approach.' Chambers UK Crime (2022)

    'An accomplished senior junior who is persuasive and impresses at every level.' 'Has all the facts at his fingertips.' Chambers UK Crime (2021)

    'Mr Wakerley is excellent with clients, putting them at ease and spending time to ensure they understand the process.' Legal 500 Professional Disciplinary and Regulatory Law (2021)

    ‘A silk-quality junior. He has an unrivalled ability to see the bigger picture, which is hugely advantageous tactically to a case. Juries always respond to him positively and they are attentive whenever he stands up to speak. His cross-examinations are also first-rate.’ Chambers UK Crime (2020)

    ‘He commands attention in court in a very understated way, which means judges and juries really warm to him.’ Legal 500 Crime (2020) 

    Appointments

    • CPS Panel - Grade 3
    • Approved Pupil Supervisor

    Professional memberships

    • Association of Regulatory & Disciplinary Lawyers
    • Criminal Bar Association
    • Health and Safety Lawyers’ Association
    • South Eastern Circuit
    • Gray’s Inn
    • Registered with the Bar Council – Public Access Directory Member of the Public Access Bar Association – PABA

    Education

    • LLB (Hons) (Birmingham)

       

    Recent Cases

    News

    • Paul Wakerley, Eloise Emanuel and Arabella MacDonald appear in high profile National Action membership case

      Patatas, Thomas and Bogunovic charged with membership of proscribed organisation.

      ...
    • Paul Wakerley and Rhys Meggy defend in the largest UK prison smuggling conspiracy

      Paul Wakerley and Rhys Meggy acted for defendants in the UK's largest ever prison smuggling conspiracy prosecution.Paul Wakerley represented Craig Hickinbottom, said to be the ringleader of a prolific commercial enterprise entailing the supply of drugs, t...

      ...
    • Paul Wakerley is ranked as Leader in his Field in Crime in Chambers UK Bar Directory 2018

      Details of the rankings and commentaries will be published in November 2017 in the Chambers UK Bar Directory 2018.

      ...
    • David Jeremy QC and Paul Wakerley represented North Korean woman, Hyojung Lim, who stabbed her husband to death

      The Court heard on behalf of Mrs Lim that she had acted in self-defence following many years of abuse at the hands of her husband. After 20 hours of deliberation the jury acquitted Mrs Lim of the charges of murder and manslaughter.Read the Metro report HE...

      ...
    • Paul Wakerley represents care home manager charged in connection with the death of a patient

      QEB HW member Paul Wakerley represents the manager of a residential care home who is prosecuted for failing to take reasonable care for the health and safety of others after a patient fell down a stairway at the home and died from his injuries.Read media ...

      ...
    • Paul Wakerley represents care home manager charged in connection with the death of a patient

      QEB HW member Paul Wakerley represents the manager of a residential care home who is prosecuted for failing to take reasonable care for the health and safety of others after a patient fell down a stairway at the home and died from his injuries.Read media ...

      ...
    • MPTS decision in Dr Pemsel conduct case sparks controversy

      QEB member Paul Wakerley represented the GMC in a hearing into the conduct of Rupert Pemsel. The Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service panel’s decision not to strike the doctor off has been criticised by patient’s representatives. The d...

      ...
    • Paul Wakerley and Polly Dyer act for appellant as Court of Appeal quash dishonesty convictions

      Paul Wakerley and Polly Dyer successfully appeal convictions, based upon allegations of theft of investors' funds, to the full court. Paul was instructed post-conviction and sentence to review the case and seek to find any arguable grounds. The central...

      ...
    • Paul Wakerley and Polly Dyer act for appellant as Court of Appeal quash dishonesty convictions

      Paul Wakerley and Polly Dyer successfully appeal convictions, based upon allegations of theft of investors' funds, to the full court. Paul was instructed post-conviction and sentence to review the case and seek to find any arguable grounds. The central...

      ...
    • QEB Hollis Whiteman represents Rebecca Minnock pro bono

      Paul Wakerley represented Rebecca Minnock pro bono at Bristol Crown Court on 15 June. Ms Minnock had made a high-profile disappearance with her three-year old son after a custody ruling went against her; her mother and her mother's partner had already bee...

      ...
    • Paul Wakerley represents the interest of two police officers at inquest into death of teenager

      Paul Wakerley has been instructed to represent the interests of two police officers at the inquest into the death of 18 year old Shanice-Paris Goff who died after a fall from the 17th floor of Hastings House in Woolwich. The inquest opened this week. ...

      ...
    • R v Mitchell

      Daniel Mitchell acquitted of death by careless driving charge, Paul Wakerley defended. For further details, please click HERE.

      ...
    • R v Quesada & Brigitte

      Roger Smart led Paul Wakerley in the prosecution of Matthew Quesada (25) who was convicted of the brutal murder of Alan Smith (62) following on from the victim having enquired as to the welfare of the defendant's young daughter whom he had seen crying. Ma...

      ...
  • Corporate and Financial Crime

    An experienced practitioner adept at dealing with complex and multi-jurisdictional offences, Paul Wakerley has developed a strong foothold in the field of corporate & financial crime.

    Overview

    Paul has been instructed from most angles and at most stages within the practice area of corporate & financial crime. He has advised individuals and corporates pre-charge, advised global banks regarding compliance, represented parties in relation to health and safety charges, prosecuted large and complex frauds and money laundering and dealt with confiscation proceedings for both the prosecution and defence. He is a meticulous, calm and respected jury advocate, arguing the complex in a clear and compelling style.

    Experience 

    Paul Wakerley’s experience in corporate & financial crime is both vast and varied. In recent years he has prosecuted and defended money laundering and fraud charges involving numerous parties, vast sums and inherently complex issues.

    Paul has recently been instructed by both high-net-worth individuals and companies seeking pre-charge advice in relation to various corporate & financial crime offences. He has been instructed privately by a company director in relation to pre-charge advice concerning an investigation into a potential carbon credit fraud.

    Paul spent a year assisting a leading global bank with its financial regulatory and legal obligations and reputational risks arising in the course of transactions across the bank. He co-led a team of barristers from QEB Hollis Whiteman in the project.

    Paul has experience of health and safety offences, having dealt with pleas in mitigation and represented parties through to trial; he spent almost a year in the Crown Court representing the manager of a care home in relation to health and safety criminal offences which involved the death of an individual. 

    Paul also has a great deal of experience in offences of alleged misconduct in a public office, where he has been involved in a number of prosecutions involving allegations of corruption.

    Paul prosecutes and defends in trading standards work where he has led for the prosecution in large-scale counterfeiting cases, and has privately defended company directors in the Crown Court.

    He is an advocate that has vast expertise, likeability and the command of a court; he is exceptionally well regarded.

    Notable Cases

    R v Kapur and others (2023)
    Paul led another junior in an indictment concerning large scale cash smuggling in excess of £100 Million. 
     

    The matter of X (2022)
    Paul advised a company director in respect of cash seized and sought to be forfeited by the authorities. Paul drafted a representations which were ultimately successful in preventing any loss to the client. 

     

    Reviews

    'He is effortlessly persuasive, sensible in his advice and someone who takes a no-nonsense approach.' Chambers UK (2022)

    'An accomplished senior junior who is persuasive and impresses at every level.' 'Has all the facts at his fingertips.' Chambers UK (2021)

    ‘A silk-quality junior. He has an unrivalled ability to see the bigger picture, which is hugely advantageous tactically to a case. Juries always respond to him positively and they are attentive whenever he stands up to speak. His cross-examinations are also first-rate.’ Chambers UK (2020)

    ‘He commands attention in court in a very understated way, which means judges and juries really warm to him.’ Legal 500 (2020) 

    Recent Cases

    News

    • Paul Wakerley represents care home manager charged in connection with the death of a patient

      QEB HW member Paul Wakerley represents the manager of a residential care home who is prosecuted for failing to take reasonable care for the health and safety of others after a patient fell down a stairway at the home and died from his injuries.Read media ...

  • Paul combines his vast experience with his exceptional advocacy skills to be widely acknowledged as one of the leading criminal advocates. He is regarded as 'a silk in junior's clothing who is a smooth and persuasive advocate.' Chambers UK.

    Overview 

    Paul has a fantastic reputation in the field of complex and serious crime. He has experience across the full range of offences and is particularly noted for his successful defence practice. He regularly appears as a leading junior in cases where others are represented by Silks and is frequently sought out at appeal stage where the original representation was elsewhere. Paul is often instructed to represent professionals facing criminal allegations arising from the workplace and combines his vast experience in both the regulatory and criminal fields to great effect.

    Experience

    Paul handles complex and serious cases across the full spectrum of criminal Work. His caseload has involved allegations of murder, slavery, drug offences (including conspiracy to import), rape (plus other sexual offences), firearm offences and driving offences including death by dangerous driving.

    Recent instructions have included leading for the defence in sex trafficking allegations, leading for the defence in money laundering allegations and he is currently engaged in two murder trials involving drugs and firearms. 

    Instructions have included defending the oldest defendant in legal history against historical sexual offences, and privately representing the interests of a care home manager where both she and the company were indicted with health and safety offences arising out of the death of an elderly resident. He was co-defending with Silks. He represented the first defendant in a multi-handed drug importation case involving difficult and sensitive issues regarding Public Interest Immunity and failed disclosure by the prosecution leading to three retrials.

    Paul has successfully represented two separate appellants who were seeking help following their convictions and sentences where they had been represented by alternative counsel at the earlier stages. One had their conviction for fraud quashed entirely and the other, who appeared at the Appeal before the Lord Chief Justice, had his mandatory minimum sentence reduced to allow for his immediate release.

    Paul regularly defends professionals charged with criminal offences in the course of their work, recently representing an undercover police officer for traffic offences.

    In prosecution work, Paul is instructed by the Special Casework Units of the CPS (including Homicide).  He is frequently sought out to prosecute murders, manslaughters and serious drug offences.

    Paul has experience of prosecuting and defending in relation to trading standards offences, including matters relating to intellectual property.
     

    Notable Cases

    R v C and others (2020-2023)
    A multi-handed murder trial involving an alleged assassination in east London. Currently moving towards its third re-trial. 
     

    R v O and others (2022 - 2023)
    Leading junior counsel in an international sex trafficking conspiracy allegation. 

    R v Bizimana (2023)
    Representing a 17 year old charged with attempted murder and associated firearms offences relating to an attempt to shoot a gang member by a rival. 

    R v Reilly and others (2023)
    Paul acted for the alleged ring leader of a group of men who targeted cannabis factories. The group were accused of murdering a gardener who was present during one of the raids. Mr Reilly was acquitted by the jury of murder.
     

    R v Gulbenkian (2020)
    Paul was instructed as leading defence counsel to represent this foreign national accused of a multi-million pound art fraud. 

     

    Reviews 

    Chambers UK 2023: Crime – Band 3

    'A silk in junior's clothing who is a smooth and persuasive advocate.' Chambers UK Crime (2023)

    'He is effortlessly persuasive, sensible in his advice and someone who takes a no-nonsense approach.' Chambers UK Crime (2022)

    'An accomplished senior junior who is persuasive and impresses at every level.' Has all the facts at his fingertips.' Chambers UK Crime (2021)

    ‘A silk-quality junior. He has an unrivalled ability to see the bigger picture, which is hugely advantageous tactically to a case. Juries always respond to him positively and they are attentive whenever he stands up to speak. His cross-examinations are also first-rate.’ Chambers UK Crime (2020)

    ‘He commands attention in court in a very understated way, which means judges and juries really warm to him.’ Legal 500 Crime (2020) 

    'His practice ranges from appeals through to sensitive historic abuse cases.' Legal 500 (2019)

    'His practice spans violent crime, appeals and drug importation cases.' Legal 500 (2017)

    'Particularly persuasive in appeals.' Legal 500 (2016)

    Recent Cases

    News

  • A Senior Junior sought out to defend police officers and other professionals involved with their respective regulators. Paul brings the skill set he has finessed in his criminal practice and employs it in the field of professional regulation with great effect.

    Overview 

    Paul has developed a strong practice defending police officers before their internal tribunals appearing for officers across a range of allegations and alleged gross misconduct. He also appears in healthcare regulation regularly representing doctors, dentists and other healthcare professionals before their own regulators. This work has also led to an increased amount of instructions in inquests where there is often an overlap between practice areas.  Occasionally, Paul acts for the regulator themselves and so has the advantage of seeing any case from both sides.

    Experience 

    Police Discipline
    Paul regularly defends police officers before the criminal courts and before Internal Disciplinary Proceedings. Recent successes include: representing an officer accused of dishonesty, another accused of sending inappropriate text messages and another concerning sexual allegations. Paul secured the acquittal of an undercover police officer in relation to a road traffic matter brought upon the evidence of other serving police officers. Paul represented the interests of two officers at the inquest of a teenager who fell from a tower block window whilst in police custody. He has also been involved in cases involving deaths in custody. 

    Healthcare
    Paul is regularly instructed by healthcare professionals such as doctors and dentists. Recently acting for a junior doctor in the criminal courts accused of sexual assault during the examination of a patient. Paul successfully resisted an interim suspension order in concurrent proceedings before the regulator. Paul also has acted for the regulators and so has the ability to see a case from both sides, including a lengthy case where he presented for GMC against a consultant for various misconduct matters. 

    Paul has been asked to deliver training to subject matter expert police officers by the Police Federation, and is regularly asked to repeat the training given its success. 

    Paul’s successes and renowned advocacy, place him at the very top of this field.

    Notable Cases 
     

    P (2023)
    Paul acts for an officer accused of sexual assault whilst off duty. 

    K (2022)
    Paul acted for an officer accused of racism arising out of that officer's complaint against a superior officer. Both officers were joined in what was a heated lengthy hearing. Ultimately successful as the officer kept his job. 

    Dr E (2022)
    Paul successfully opposed interim suspension application by the GMC in respect of a doctor accused of a sexual assault. 

    PC C (2021)
    Paul acted in a complex case for a custody Sergent accused of using excessive force within the custody block upon a mentally vulnerable detainee.

    B (2020)
    Paul was instructed to represent two police officers and a detention officer in police misconduct proceedings. The case concerns an individual detained in police custody and subsequently died.

    Re: N
    Defended a police officer at a Disciplinary Tribunal who successfully retained his job following an Allegation of Gross Misconduct whilst allegedly sending politically incorrect and sexually explicit text messages. The case involved Article 8, Abuse of Process arguments and Disclosure issues.

    Reviews

    Legal 500 2022: Professional Discipline - Tier 4

    'Mr Wakerley is excellent with clients, putting them at ease and spending time to ensure they understand the process.' Legal 500 Professional Disciplinary and Regulatory Law (2021)

    Recent Cases

    • An officer was accused of sexual assault on a colleague and multiple allegations concerning sexualised behaviour using work telephone/computer whilst on and off duty.This was a complex case with strong evidence against - careful handling was required to t...

    • This was a complex case representing an officer accused of discriminatory language/behaviour.PC was himself of BAME background. Principal evidence from colleagues and the case against him arose following his own complaints about his acting Custody Sergean...

    • An accelerated hearing for an officer found to have taken part in the taking of intimate images of a female, whilst he was on duty.This was a historical allegation - suggestion that he took part as a principal, but also alleged that he should have challen...

    • An Officer conducting a hospital watch allowed a prisoner to escape from hospital.There were multiple allegations including incorrect application of handcuffs, allowing the use of a blanket (originally permitted by the Custody Sargeant) and inattention wh...

    • Susannah Stevens and Paul Wakerley  were instructed to represent three police officers in police misconduct proceedings. The case concerns an individual detained in police custody and subsequently died.Susannah will also represent the police officers at t...

    • Paul Wakerley presented a case on behalf of the GDC against MM, which involved sixteen patients across a number of years.The charges encompassed deficient professional practices, dishonest claims to the NHS and splitting treatments over multiple appointme...

    • PC Pearmain and PC Miles, of Thames Valley Police, faced allegations of breaching honesty and integrity standards.The officers were accused of deliberate dishonesty and collusion with respect to the content of their witness statements prepared for the pro...

    • Paul Wakerley, instructed by John Downes of Slater and Gordon, successfully represented a Met Police Constable who kept his job following a finding of a breach of police standards relating to punches thrown by the officer to the face of a detained male en...

    • Paul Wakerley represented a general practitioner whose practice had prescribed sedative medicines to patient X whilst she was the occupant of a care home.The Coroner concluded that Ms Tighe died as a result of vascular dementia and old-age. A narrative co...

    • Paul Wakerley successfully represented a police officer who argued that the police force’s handling of a criminal complaint led to a psychological injury on duty, and so the claimant should be entitled to an Injury Pension.Counsel was instructed by ...

    • Paul Wakerley prosecuted a dentist with a lack of basic dental skills for undertaking botched treatments. The proceedings took place over 18 months and involved dozens of patients. The dentist was erased from the dental register.Counsel was instructed by ...

    • Paul Wakerley represented the GMC in the hearing of allegations of misconduct against Dr Brito-Babapulle before the Medical Practitioner Tribunal Service.

    • QEB Hollis Whiteman member Paul Wakerley appears for the General Medical Council, before the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service, in a hearing to determine the fitness to practice of Dr Rupert Pemsel who admits charges of misconduct following his liais...