• 'He is probably the finest jury advocate of his generation' Legal 500 2025
  •  'He is an exceptional criminal barrister who makes it look effortless.'  Chambers UK 2023
  • 'Really first class, he communicates to a jury in a way that makes sense to them.' Chambers UK  2019 

  • 'The man to see - he's efficiency personified and has a delectable sense of humour and a keen eye for what really counts when either prosecuting or defending.' Chambers UK 2024

 

Crispin Aylett KC

Called to the Bar:1985

Silk:2008

  • Overview

    A rare talent held in the highest regard by solicitors, opponents and the judiciary; he is a class act who makes the complex seem effortless.

    Corporate & Financial Crime

    Crispin crafted the first deferred prosecution agreement (DPA) in the UK on behalf of the SFO.  He has since been involved in the negotiations of various other DPAs for both the prosecution and the defence.  Crispin is regularly instructed for both for the defence and the prosecution, individuals and corporates in various high profile financial crime cases arising from allegations of fraud, money laundering, bribery and corruption.  He is instructed from investigation through to appeal for both criminal and regulatory proceedings.  He is currently instructed to provide criminal strategic advice to a financial regulator.

    Crime

    An extremely talented criminal barrister who has experience of the full range of heavyweight crime.

    Crispin was Senior Treasury Counsel at the Old Bailey for seven years, following five years as Junior Treasury Counsel. Crispin has been instructed, and continues to be instructed in some of the most complex and high-profile murder cases of the day.

    Since completing his appointment, Crispin has been instructed equally for both the prosecution and the defence. Defence briefs include representing the broadcaster Stuart Hall (and securing his acquittal on 16 counts of rape); the acquittal of a man charged with two murders; the acquittal of the alleged leader of National Action on a charge of encouraging the murder of an MP; the acquittal of a hospital consultant accused of assaulting his wife; and the acquittal of the financier, Crispin Odey on an historic allegation of sexual assault; the acquittal of a banker charged with coercively controlling and assaulting his ex-wife; he defended the Head of Security at an Exhibition Centre who was found not guilty of false imprisoning two people who had brought a private prosecution arising out of an  argument about exhibits at an exhibition of Spice Girls memorabilia; he recently represented one of the defendants in the Blenheim Palace Golden Toilet Burglary and was able to secure a suspended sentence for his client. Present instructions include acting for the FCA in a peer-to-peer lending case and Cripsin is instructed to represent one of the defendants in the rial arising out of the collapse of Axion-Ince. 

    Reviews

    Chambers UK 2025: Crime – Star Individual; Financial Crime - Band 2; Financial Crime (Corporate) - Band 2 

    Legal 500 2025: Crime - Tier 1; Business and Regulatory Crime (Including Global Investigations) - Tier 3

    Chambers UK 2024: Crime – Star Individual; Financial Crime (Corporate) - Band 2 

    Legal 500 2024: Crime - Tier 2; Business and Regulatory Crime (Including Global Investigations) - Tier 3

    "Crispin turns his hand to anything with exceptional skill. He is probably the finest jury advocate of his generation."  Legal 500 Crime (2025)

    "Exceptionally able. Has great business acumen and is a formidable performer in court."  Legal 500 Crime (2025)

    "He's the best murder brief bar none." Chambers UK Crime (2024)

    "The man to see - he's efficiency personified and has a delectable sense of humour and a keen eye for what really counts when either prosecuting or defending." Chambers UK Crime (2024)

    "He is phenomenal. He has a light touch that is very robust and is perfectly charming."  Chambers UK Financial Crime: Corporates (2024)

    'He is an exceptional criminal barrister who makes it look effortless.' Chambers UK Crime (2023)

    'Crispin is a very good advocate. He is languid and relaxed with the jury.' Chambers UK Financial Crime: Corporates (2023)

    'An excellent criminal lawyer.' Legal 500 Business and Regulatory Crime (2023)

    'Insanely clever and a master of his craft.' Chambers UK Crime (2022)

    'Very fair, meticulous and incredibly well prepared. He is well liked by judges and is an excellent trial lawyer. A master of his craft.' Chambers UK Financial Crime (2022) 

    'An excellent criminal lawyer.' Legal 500 Business and Regulatory Crime (2022)

    'One of the top five prosecutors in the country. His reputation at the Old Bailey is peerless. He is a prosecuting star at the top of his game. He is at the very top of the pile. He is tremendously bright and has a complete command of his brief, whilst giving the impression that he never breaks a sweat.' Legal 500 Crime (2021)

    'A star individual who is enormously respected for his abilities as a prosecutor. He has a very fine brain and is charming in court. A real star performer who is highly intelligent, he is very effective and doesn't get flustered under pressure.' Chambers UK Crime (2021)

    ‘Very bright, has a lovely manner, and is very effective.’ ‘An absolute pleasure to be led by. He's a charming, personable chap, who's very invested in the case.’ Chambers UK Crime (2020)

    ‘A devastatingly effective advocate.’ Legal 500 Crime (2020)

    ‘A fantastic silk and a top-class prosecutor.’ ‘Really first class, he communicates to a jury in a way that makes sense to them.’ Chambers UK Crime (2019)

    ‘Time and time again, he proves himself to be at the very top of the pile.’ Legal 500 Crime (2018)

    ‘An absolutely fantastic silk who is a very effective, top-class prosecutor.’ Chambers UK Crime (2018)

    ‘An utterly charming advocate, who makes meticulous and complex cross-examination look easy.’ Legal 500 Crime (2017)

    ‘An "excellent lawyer and a fine advocate" who is "devastatingly effective".’ Chambers UK Financial Crime (2017)

    ‘He's a brilliant, gifted advocate... an especially penetrating cross-examiner.’ Chambers UK Crime (2017)

    ‘An utterly charming advocate, who makes meticulous and complex cross-examination look easy.’ Legal 500 Crime (2017)

    ‘He is an outstanding advocate who is exceptionally talented and very clever.’ Chambers UK Crime (2016)

    Appointments

    • 2006: Senior Treasury Counsel
    • 2001: Junior Treasury Counsel

    Professional Memberships

    • Criminal Bar Association

    Education

    • City University, ICSL: Scarman Scholar
    • Bristol University, BA (Hons)
       

    Privacy Notice

    Recent Cases

    News

    Articles

  • Corporate and Financial Crime

    One of the country's leading criminal advocates, Crispin Aylett KC is in high demand in the corporate and financial field for his considerable intellect, mastery of complex cases and phenomenal advocacy skills.

    Overview

    Recognised by the best in the industry as a go-to silk who makes the complex seem effortless, Crispin has in recent years undertaken a number of prominent corporate crime cases.  He crafted the first deferred prosecution agreement (DPA) in the UK on behalf of the SFO.  He has since been involved in the negotiations of various other DPAs for both the prosecution and the defence.  Crispin is regularly instructed for both for the defence and the prosecution, individuals and corporates in various high profile financial crime cases arising from allegations of fraud, money laundering, bribery and corruption.  He is instructed from investigation through to appeal for both criminal and regulatory proceedings.  He is currently instructed to provide criminal strategic advice to a financial regulator.

    Experience 

    Crispin Aylett was the first barrister to negotiate a DPA on behalf of the SFO in Standard Bank PLC. The case concerned Standard Bank's alleged failure contrary to S7 of the Bribery Act 2010 to prevent bribery by its former sister company, Stanbic Bank Tanzania Ltd, through the actions of two senior executives.  Crispin was integral to the negotiation of the agreement that involved Standard Bank (now ICMC Standard Bank Plc) paying US$25.2m (£15.12m) as a penalty and US$7m (£4.2m) in compensation, to the Government of Tanzania.

    Since Crispin's initial involvement with the DPA process he has been involved in the negotiation of numerous such agreements, for both sides of the discussion.  He was instructed as part of the SFO's DPA with Airline Services Limited.  Beyond the DPA process his instruction for the prosecution, defence, individuals and corporates in matters concerning financial and corporate crime has been vast and varied.  He is currently instructed in the SFO's investigation into suspected corruption in relation to the conduct of business in the Republic of Guinea by the Rio Tinto group, its employees and others associated with it.  

    Crispin has recently represented Barclays PLC, successfully bringing the dismissal of all charges concerning whether dealings between the corporate and a sovereign wealth fund involved bribery and corruption at the highest level.  Crispin is instructed by the SFO in relation to the investigation of G4S and the subsequent negotiation of the DPA.  He continues to represent the SFO in their case against the individuals.  He is also currently instructed to provide criminal strategic advice to a financial regulator. 

    In January 2022, Crispin defended in an eight-week alleged international money-laundering conspiracy.

    Notable Cases

    Serious Fraud Office & G4S (2020)
    Instructed by the SFO to lead the investigation and subsequent DPA negotiations with G4S. 

    SFO - v - Barclays PLC
    Acted for Barclays PLC in the SFO investigation into allegations that the bank had given Qatar secret fees that helped it to survive without a UK government bailout in 2008.  All charges were dismissed against the company.

    Serious Fraud Office & Airline Services Limited
    Acted for the SFO in the DPA with Airline Services Limited.  Under the terms of the DPA, ASL accepted responsibility for three counts of failing to prevent bribery arising from the company’s use of an agent to win three contracts, together worth over £7.3m, to refit commercial airliners for Lufthansa. 

    Serious Fraud Office & Rio Tinto
    Instructed by the SFO into suspected corruption in relation to the conduct of business in the Republic of Guinea by the Rio Tinto group, its employees and others associated with it.

    Serious Fraud Office & Standard Bank PLC (2015)
    Acted for the Serious Fraud Office in the first deferred prosecution agreement (DPA) case in the UK.

    Reviews

    Legal 500 2025: Business and Regulatory Crime (Including Global Investigations) - Tier 3

    Chambers UK 2024: Financial Crime (Corporate) - Band 2 

    Legal 500 2024: Business and Regulatory Crime (Including Global Investigations) - Tier 3

    'Crispin is a very good advocate. He is languid and relaxed with the jury.' Chambers UK Financial Crime: Corporates (2023)

    'An excellent criminal lawyer.' Legal 500 Business and Regulatory Crime (2023)

    'Very fair, meticulous and incredibly well prepared. He is well liked by judges and is an excellent trial lawyer. A master of his craft.' Chambers UK Financial Crime (2022)

    'An excellent criminal lawyer.' Legal 500 Business and Regulatory Crime (2022)

    'One of the top five prosecutors in the country. His reputation at the Old Bailey is peerless. He is a prosecuting star at the top of his game. He is at the very top of the pile. He is tremendously bright and has a complete command of his brief, whilst giving the impression that he never breaks a sweat.' Legal 500 Crime (2021)

    'A star individual who is enormously respected for his abilities as a prosecutor. He has a very fine brain and is charming in court. A real star performer who is highly intelligent, he is very effective and doesn't get flustered under pressure.' Chambers UK Crime (2021)

    ‘Very bright, has a lovely manner, and is very effective.’ ‘An absolute pleasure to be led by. He's a charming, personable chap, who's very invested in the case.’ Chambers UK (2020)

    ‘A devastatingly effective advocate.’ Legal 500 (2020)

    ‘An absolutely fantastic silk.’ Chambers UK (2018)

    ‘Time and time again, he proves himself to be at the very top of the pile.’ Legal 500 (2018)

    ‘An "excellent lawyer and a fine advocate" who is "devastatingly effective".’ Chambers UK (2017)

    ‘An utterly charming advocate, who makes meticulous and complex cross-examination look easy.’ Legal 500 (2017)

    ‘He is an outstanding advocate who is exceptionally talented and very clever.’ Chambers UK (2016)

    ‘He is a real class act.’ Chambers UK (2015)

    Recent Cases

    News

    • QEB Hollis Whiteman chambers and four of its members have been shortlisted across eight categories in the Legal 500 UK Bar Awards 2024

       QEB Hollis Whiteman chambers and four of its members have been shortlisted across eight categories in the Legal 500 UK Bar Awards 2024.We are delighted to have been nominated in the following categories: Corporate Crime: Silk of the year – Adri...

      Read more

    • SFO enters into DPA with Airline Services Limited. Crispin Aylett QC and Rachna Gokani represent the SFO.

      The Serious Fraud Office has reached a Deferred Prosecution Agreement (DPA) with Airline Services Limited (ASL).The DPA was given final approval by Mrs Justice May at a public hearing at Southwark Crown Court, sitting at the Royal Courts of Justice, today...

      Read more

    • SFO receives approval in principle for DPA with G4S Care and Justice Services (UK) Ltd. Crispin Aylett QC leads the SFO team.

      The SFO has today received approval in principle to enter into a Deferred Prosecution Agreement (DPA) with G4S Care and Justice Services (UK) Ltd (G4S C&J), a wholly-owned subsidiary of G4S Plc. On Friday 17 July, the SFO will apply for final approval of ...

      Read more

    • Barclays successfully defends SFO application for voluntary bill of indictment

      Crispin Aylett QC and Ben FitzGerald acted for Barclays plc and Barclays Bank plc.

      Read more

    • Charges dismissed in Barclays fraud case

      Crispin Aylett QC and Ben FitzGerald acted for Barclays PLC and Barclays Bank PLC, together with Richard Lissack QC of Fountain Court Chambers, on a successful application before Mr Justice Jay to dismiss all charges against the corporate defendants, in a...

      Read more

    • Crispin Aylett QC - Chambers UK Crime Silk of the Year 2017

      Congratulations to QEB Hollis Whiteman's Crispin Aylett who was awarded Crime Silk of the Year last night at the Chambers UK Annual Bar Awards dinner at the Park Lane Hilton.

      Read more

    • Crispin Aylett QC features as The Times Lawyer of the Week

      QEB Hollis Whiteman member Crispin Aylett QC is featured today as The Times Lawyer of the Week. Crispin was in the news recently as he acted for the Serious Fraud Office in the UK’s first Deferred Prosecution Agreement under which ICBC Standard Bank...

      Read more

    • Crispin Aylett QC of QEB Hollis Whiteman acts for SFO in first deferred prosecution agreement (DPA) case in UK

      Crispin Aylett QC of QEB Hollis Whiteman acted for the Serious Fraud Office today, 30 November, at the Royal Courts of Justice, in the first deferred prosecution agreement (DPA) case in the UK.   Lord Justice Leveson’s judgment in the case, which ...

      Read more

    Articles

  • Crime

    A star individual of the criminal bar with extensive experience of the full range of heavyweight crime.

    Overview 

    Crispin was Senior Treasury Counsel at the Old Bailey for seven years, following five years as Junior Treasury Counsel. Crispin has been instructed, and continues to be instructed in some of the most complex and high-profile murder cases of the day.

    Since completing his appointment, Crispin has been instructed equally for both the prosecution and the defence. Defence briefs include representing the broadcaster Stuart Hall (and securing his acquittal on 16 counts of rape); the acquittal of a man charged with two murders; the acquittal of the alleged leader of National Action on a charge of encouraging the murder of an MP; the acquittal of a hospital consultant accused of assaulting his wife; and the acquittal of the financier Crispin Odey on an historic allegation of sexual assault. Crispin Aylett KC recently secured the acquittal of a banker charged with coercively controlling and assaulting his ex-wife; more recently still, he defended the Head of Security at an Exhibition Centre who was found not guilty of false imprisoning two people who had brought a private prosecution arising out of an  argument about exhibits at an exhibition of Spice Girls memorabilia.

    Experience 

    Crispin has prosecuted some of the most notorious crimes of the last two decades, including: the murder of Sarah Payne; the so-called ‘Camden Ripper’; the murder of the Chohan family; R v Barrett (the murder of a cyclist in Richmond Park); the retrials of Sion Jenkins; R v Morgan & Vincent (members of the So-Solid Crew); R v Pickford & Barrett (the murder of a gay man on Clapham Common); R v Mir & Others (the murder of two brothers in Tooting); the murder of Jimmy Mizen; the murder of the French students (R v Sonnex & Farmer); the so-called ‘Bride in the Burkha’; R v Dighton (a man who killed his parents); R v Ross & St Aubyn (the murder of a man outside Wandsworth prison by a public schoolboy gangster); R v Jeffrey & Others (the execution of a doorman by a gang); R v McCluskie (the murder of the East Enders actress Gemma McCluskie by her brother); R v McSweeney (the murder of a man by his father, a retired fireman); R v Carroll (the murder of a man wrongly thought to have been a paedophile); R v Nibbs (a man who decapitated his wife); R v Warnock (an historic murder of an 18-year-old girl in 1982); R v Brizzi (the murder of PC Gordon Semple); he murder of Jodie Chesney (R v Ong-a-Kwie); R v Osei & Cristea (murder using a poison known as ‘The Devil’s Breath’).

    In addition, Crispin has recently successfully prosecuted two police officers for misconduct, arising out of the death of Bijan Ebrahimi. Crispin was also involved in one of the prosecutions of Ali Dizaei.

    Crispin’s defence practice has included the successful defence of the Director of Safety of Railtrack (the Hatfield disaster); the television presenter Stuart Hall on 16 counts of rape; a recent case involving a double murder; a man charged with murder after the victim was thrown from a vehicle; the acquittal of a man charged with encouraging the murder of a Labour MP; the acquittal of a medical consultant charged with assaulting his wife. 

    Notable Cases

    R v Duffy & Others (2015)
    Successful prosecution of police officers for misconduct arising out of the death of Bijan Ebrahimi.

    R v Bagnall & Others (2015)
    Prosecution of Michael Bagnall and Andrew Bayne for the murder of Ben Purdy.

    R v Hall (2014)
    Represented former broadcaster Stuart Hall who was acquitted of 15 counts of historic rape.

    R v McCluskie (2013)
    Crispin Aylett QC successfully prosecuted Tony McCluskie for the murder of his sister and former Eastenders actor.

    Reviews

    Legal 500 2025: Crime - Tier 1

    Chambers UK 2024: Crime – Star Individual

    Legal 500 2024: Crime - Tier 2

    Chambers UK 2023: Crime - Star Individual 

    Legal 500 2023: Crime - Tier 2

    'He is an exceptional criminal barrister who makes it look effortless.' Chambers UK Crime (2023)

    'Insanely clever and a master of his craft.' Chambers UK Crime (2022)

    'One of the top five prosecutors in the country. His reputation at the Old Bailey is peerless. He is a prosecuting star at the top of his game. He is at the very top of the pile. He is tremendously bright and has a complete command of his brief, whilst giving the impression that he never breaks a sweat.' Legal 500 Crime (2021)

    'A star individual who is enormously respected for his abilities as a prosecutor. He has a very fine brain and is charming in court. A real star performer who is highly intelligent, he is very effective and doesn't get flustered under pressure.' Chambers UK Crime (2021)

    ‘Very bright, has a lovely manner, and is very effective.’ ‘An absolute pleasure to be led by. He's a charming, personable chap, who's very invested in the case.’ Chambers UK Crime (2020)

    ‘A devastatingly effective advocate.’ Legal 500 Crime (2020)

    ‘A fantastic silk and a top-class prosecutor.’ ‘Really first class, he communicates to a jury in a way that makes sense to them.’ Chambers UK Crime (2019)

    ‘Time and time again, he proves himself to be at the very top of the pile.’ Legal 500 Crime (2018)

    ‘An absolutely fantastic silk who is a very effective, top-class prosecutor.’ Chambers UK Crime (2018)

    ‘An utterly charming advocate, who makes meticulous and complex cross-examination look easy.’ Legal 500 Crime (2017)

    ‘He's a brilliant, gifted advocate... an especially penetrating cross-examiner.’ Chambers UK Crime (2017)

    ‘He is an outstanding advocate who is exceptionally talented and very clever.’ Chambers UK Crime (2016)

    Recent Cases

    News