• 'A smooth operator who's completely on top of the papers and his cross-examination is brilliant.'  Chambers UK Professional Discipline 2024 
  • 'Exceptionally smart, extremely well-organised.'
    Legal 500 Crime 2024
  • 'Very able, personable and highly competent'
    Chambers UK Crime 2024
  • 'A classy advocate. Philip is experienced and easy to work with.'
    Chambers UK Professional Discipline 2024
 

Philip McGhee

  • An accomplished advocate with an established and thriving practice in general crime, financial crime and regulatory work, he is a highly-skilled practitioner who is as personable as he is brilliant.  Philip McGhee was appointed as Treasury Counsel Monitoree in 2021.

    Corporate & Financial Crime 

    Philip spent the formative part of his career prosecuting for the specialised units of the CPS and defending individuals often in multi-handed cases concerning fraud and money laundering.  His keen intellect and easy, self-assured approach have made him a favourite among those involved with large and serious fraud cases as well as those who deal with health and safety breaches.  He is certainly one to watch.

    Crime

    Philip is an accomplished advocate with an established and thriving practice in criminal work, ranked by Chambers UK and The Legal 500. He is regularly instructed both to prosecute and to defend, with a caseload which often includes advising and representing professionals facing both fitness to practise allegations and criminal charges.   He has experience across the spectrum of work, from serious, complex or technical matters to cases which require sensitive handling and a safe pair of hands.

    Regulatory

    Philip has a successful practice advising and acting for both professionals and regulators, often in complex and difficult fitness to practise proceedings. He specialises in the field of healthcare regulation and in cases which engage serious issues such as probity, sexual misconduct, competence and performance. He also has experience in the financial and gaming sectors, and in industry regulation.

    Reviews 

    Chambers UK 2024: Crime – Band 2; Professional Discipline – Band 3

    Legal 500 2024: Crime – Tier 2; Professional Discipline and Regulatory Law – Tier 4

    Chambers UK 2023: Crime – Band 3; Professional Discipline – Band 4

    Legal 500 2023: Crime – Tier 2; Professional Discipline and Regulatory Law – Tier 4

    "He's a smooth operator who's completely on top of the papers and his cross-examination is brilliant." Chambers UK Professional Discipline (2024)

    "A classy advocate. Philip is experienced and easy to work with." & "Philip is articulate and a personable advocate who is quick on his feet and highly regarded within the regulatory arena." Chambers UK Professional Discipline (2024)

    "Philip is very able, personable and highly competent advocate." & "He is very conscientious and does a very good job." Chambers UK Crime (2024)

     ‘Phil is exceptionally smart, extremely well-organised, insightful and vigilant. He has a strength in court that matches his talents. He is confident without being overconfident, careful and thoughtful with his submissions, unafraid to press when needed but never on a bad point. A silk in waiting.’ Legal 500 Crime (2024)

    ‘Philip is a go-to junior for complex and high-profile cases, particularly those involving vulnerable witnesses.‘ Legal 500 Professional Disciplinary and Regulatory (2024)

    'Philip is an experienced regulatory advocate. He is bright, fair and effective and is a pleasure to work with'. Legal 500 Professional Disciplinary and Regulatory (2023)

    ‘Philip is a first-class barrister. He is a persuasive advocate. He prepares thoroughly and commands the respect of the court'. Legal 500 Crime (2023)

    "He is impressive on his feet and an absolute joy to work with. He has excellent witness and client-handling skills and is highly regarded by panels, experts and peers." Chambers UK Professional Discipline (2023)

    "Represents his clients' interests vigorously - they really appreciate how much he fights for them." Chambers UK Crime (2023)

    'Very bright, incredibly amiable and easy to work with. An impressive advocate." "He is bright, fair and effective, and a pleasure to work with.' Chambers UK Professional Discipline (2022)

    'Philip's keen strength is his tactical approach to cases. He gets immersed in the issues, whilst factoring in the client's aims, and finds a way through.' Legal 500 Professional Disciplinary and Regulatory (2022)

    'A delightful advocate who is very hard-working, highly committed and quite charming in front of the jury.' 'One of the most polished juniors around.' Chambers UK Crime (2021)

    'A very safe pair of hands.' Chambers UK Professional Discipline (2021)

    'Philip is incredibly gifted as an advocate, with a calming and effective client manner and a first-rate legal brain. From a solicitor's perspective Philip is a delight to deal with - personable, analytical, responsive and efficient.' Legal 500 Crime (2021)

    'Phil is a very able junior with good technical skills. He is also extremely personable and a pleasure to work with.' Legal 500 Professional Discipline (2021)

    ‘A fantastic all-rounder – he’s very good with clients, very impressive in court and his attention to detail is brilliant.’ ‘An excellent advocate with a relaxed manner which is engaging and accessible for both clients and the court.’ Chambers UK Crime (2020)

    ‘A very able junior with good technical skills. He is also extremely personable and a pleasure to work with.’ ‘Very bright and user-friendly.’ Chambers UK Professional Discipline (2020)

    ‘A charismatic, robust and intellectual advocate.’ Legal 500 Professional Discipline (2020)

    ‘An exceptional advocate who always commands the confidence of the court.’ Legal 500 Crime (2020)

    ‘A very able junior with good technical skills. He is also extremely personable and a pleasure to work with.’ Chambers UK Professional Discipline (2019)

    ‘A persuasive advocate who presents his arguments in an unflustered and measured way.’ Legal 500 Crime (2019)

    ‘A very able junior with good technical skills – he is extremely personable too.’ Legal 500 Professional Discipline and Regulatory Law (2019)

    ‘He impressed me with his decisive attitude in terms of strategy and knowledge and experience of professional disciplinary proceedings. He was also keenly aware of practical considerations.’ Chambers UK Professional Discipline (2018)

    ‘An able junior with good technical skills. Extremely personable and a pleasure to work with.’ Chambers UK Professional Discipline (2018)

    ‘A great strategist, who is calm and reassuring with clients.’ Legal 500 Crime (2017)

    ‘Extremely personable and a pleasure to work with.’ Legal 500 Professional Discipline and Regulatory Law (2017)

    Appointments

    • Treasury Counsel Monitoree
    • CPS External Advocates Panel General Crime Level 4
    • CPS Specialist Panels Serious Crime and Counter Terrorism Level 4
    • Pupil supervisor
    • Advocacy Trainer, Gray's Inn

    Professional Memberships

    •  Criminal Bar Association
    • Association of Regulatory and Disciplinary Lawyers
    • Fraud Lawyers Association
    • Health and Safety Lawyers Association

    Education

    • Bar Vocational Course, Inns of Court School of Law
    • BA Jurisprudence (English Law with French Law), St Edmund Hall, University of Oxford
    • Certificat Supérieur de Droit Français, Université de Paris II (Panthéon-Assas)
    • Holy Cross College, Bury, Lancashire 
    • Prince of Wales and Reid Scholarships, and Senior Award, Gray’s Inn
    • Woolf Scholarship, 1 Crown Office Row

       

    Recent Cases

    • Philip successfully defended a financial services professional accused of racially aggravated public order offences.

      ...
    • Philip represented a doctor in contested proceedings before the Investigation Committee.

      ...
    • Philip prosecuted a man for offences contrary to the Terrorism Acts 2000 and 2006.

      ...
    • Philip was led by Edward Brown KC in the prosecution of five men for murder arising out of a robbery.

      ...
    • Philip was led by David Spens KC in the prosecution of a man who attacked his elderly landlady and then destroyed her body on a bonfire in her back garden.

      ...
    • Philip was led by Sally O’Neill KC in the prosecution of two youths for the fatal stabbing of another youth in a park in south London.

      ...
    • Philip led Polly Dyer in Operation Hollow, the prosecution of a group who stole goods from lorries in the Essex and Hertfordshire areas and distributed the proceeds. 

      ...
    • Philip was instructed to prosecute the stalker of a famous popstar for breach of a restraining order.

      ...
    • Philip was instructed to defend a GP who faced fitness to practise proceedings after it was alleged that they had missed the signs of a heart attack.

      ...
    • Philip was instructed to prosecute for murder (led by Julian Evans KC) a defendant who was alleged to be a masked gunman who shot a man in an execution-style killing in a London park.

      ...
    • Philip was instructed to prosecute a police officer charged with causing death by careless driving after an elderly man was knocked down in a collision on a pedestrian crossing and killed.

      ...
    • Philip was instructed to defend a doctor who faced review proceedings in respect of their fitness to practise after embarking on an inappropriate relationship with a patient.

      ...
    • Philip was instructed to prosecute a gang of men who conspired to supply massive amounts of cocaine over a period of a year from an address in Denham.

      ...
    • Philip was instructed to defend a psychiatrist who faced fitness to practise proceedings after being convicted of drink driving.

      ...
    • Philip was instructed to prosecute a member of a Middle East royal family for causing death by careless driving after he drove his high-powered Rolls Royce car at excessive speed and killed a pedestrian.

      ...
    • Philip was instructed to prosecute a defendant charged with wounding who was said to have lured a young man to a quiet street in order to be confronted by a group and attacked, and then to have supplied the knife with which the young man was stabbed.

      ...
    • Philip acted for the GDC in fitness to practise proceedings against a dentist found guilty of misconduct after it was alleged she had provided inadequate care to five patients and had communicated inappropriately with another patient. Philip was instructe...

      ...
    • Philip was instructed to defend a doctor who faced a warning from the GMC Investigating Committee after having embarked on an inappropriate relationship with a patient.

      ...
    • Philip was instructed to defend a doctor who was accused of carrying out inappropriate breast examinations on female patients as part of medical tests to assess fitness for driving.

      ...
    • Philip was instructed to prosecute a man who stabbed his mother multiple times as she slept, and then stabbed his wife as she attempted to stop him. He was ordered to be detained in hospital with a restriction order.

      ...
    • Philip was instructed to prosecute a man who had embarked on a shooting spree in north east London, seriously injuring three victims.

      ...
    • Philip was instructed to defend a doctor who was accused of theft and possession of controlled drugs, administration of poison with intent to endanger life, and engaging in sexual activity with an unconscious person.

      ...
    • Philip was instructed to defend a doctor who faced fitness to practise proceedings after being convicted of fraud offences relating to false prescriptions.

      ...
    • Philip was instructed to defend an employee of a large multinational corporation charged with diverted tax fraud. 

      ...
    • Philip was instructed by the MDU to represent a surgeon in fitness to practise proceedings after a patient alleged her clothing had been forcefully removed during an examination. 

      ...
    • Philip was instructed to prosecute a man for attempted murder after he stabbed another man in the chest and neck during a street altercation. 

      ...
    • Philip was instructed to prosecute the mother of a two year-old child and her partner for serious cruelty. The defendants were indicted with causing or allowing serious harm to a child after the child was burned on multiple occasions. 

      ...
    • Philip was instructed to defend a man accused of fraudulently obtaining hotel accommodation after the fire at Grenfell Tower. 

      ...
    • Philip was instructed privately to defend a superintendent radiographer who faced criminal allegations of fraud and a fitness to practise investigation following the discovery of anomalies in timesheets and in remuneration claims submitted to his employer...

      ...
    • Philip was instructed to prosecute a man who tried to purchase hand grenades in order to use them against police. 

      ...
    • Philip was instructed to prosecute a stalker who sent a series of sexually charged letters to a Hollywood actor. 

      ...
    • Philip acted for the GDC in fitness to practise proceedings in a deficient performance case against an orthodontist arising out of the treatment of 29 child patients.  

      ...
    • Philip was instructed to prosecute a man after an arsenal of loaded prohibited firearms and ammunition was discovered at his address along with multi-kilogram quantities of Class A controlled drugs. 

      ...
    • Philip was instructed to prosecute a man for a series of stalking and malicious communications offences after he sent emails to a variety of public figures and MPs. 

      ...
    • Philip McGhee prosecuted three men for assault and affray arising out of a violent and homophobically-motivated attack on the Guardian journalist and campaigner, Owen Jones. 

      ...
    • Philip was instructed (led by Clare Sibson QC in the original trial and by Andrew Thomas QC in the re-trial) to defend the former Barclay's Bank Euro liquidity manager who was accused of conspiracy to defraud in relation to fixing the EURIBOR benchmark in...

      ...

    News

    • Philip McGhee to be appointed Treasury Counsel

      We are delighted to announce that as of the 1st April 2024 Philip McGhee will be Junior Treasury Counsel.After over 2 years being monitored, the Solicitor General made his announcement on behalf of the Attorney General’s Office, yesterday.Treasury C...

      ...
    • Philip McGhee Appointed as Treasury Counsel Monitoree

      We are very pleased to announce that Philip McGhee has been appointed as Treasury Counsel Monitoree.As Monitoree he joins current QEB Hollis Whiteman Treasury Counsel,Julian Evans, Jocelyn Ledward and ...

    • Sean Larkin QC and Philip McGhee appear in Euribor Trial

      The prosecution is brought by the Serious Fraud Office.

      ...
    • Sean Larkin QC and Philip McGhee involved in EURIBOR trial

      The jury in the Euribor trial was discharged after being unable to reach verdicts.

      ...
    • London Legal Walk 2018

      QEB Hollis Whiteman are walking with the Lord Chief Justice and thousands of lawyers to raise funds for the London Legal Support Trust, the Free Representation Unit and the Bar Pro Bono Unit.

      ...
    • EURIBOR Trial Commences

      Sean Larkin QC and Philip McGhee are representing defendants in the EURIBOR trial.

      ...
    • Eleanor Laws QC and Philip McGhee defend Barry Bennell in historic sex charges case

      QEBHW members Eleanor Laws QC and Philip McGhee are defending former youth soccer coach, Barry Bennell, who is on trial at Liverpool Crown Court. Having admitted seven charges of sexual abuse Bennell has pleaded not guilty to 48 others relating to conduct...

      ...
    • Trial of alleged 'grooming gang' starts in Newcastle

      Linda Strudwick is leading Philip McGhee in the defence of one of five men accused of multiple gang rapes and abuse of vulnerable girls.  Linda and Philip, barristers at QEBHW, are instructed by Andy Malik on behalf of DJMS Defence Solicitors.  The trial,...

      ...
    • Philip McGhee is ranked as a Leader in his Field in Crime and Professional Discipline 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.

      ...
    • Zoe Johnson QC and Philip McGhee prosecute baby shaking manslaughter

      Zoe Johnson QC and Philip McGhee successfully prosecuted Viktoria Tautz, a nanny, for the manslaughter by shaking of a 10-month-old baby in her care. The trial took place at the Central Criminal Court before Mrs Justice McGowan.Read media report here.

      ...
  • Corporate and Financial Crime

    A bright, versatile and tactically astute advocate who is a pleasure to work with, Philip McGhee has an impressive track-record in corporate and financial crime.

    Overview

    Philip spent the formative part of his career prosecuting for the specialised units of the CPS and defending individuals often in multi-handed cases concerning fraud and money laundering.  His keen intellect and easy, self-assured approach have made him a favourite among those involved with large and serious fraud cases as well as those who deal with health and safety breaches.  He is certainly one to watch.

    Experience 

    Philip has developed an impressive practice in corporate and financial crime. Throughout his career he has prosecuted and defended fraud and money laundering cases. Philip was instructed as junior counsel to defend in the first Euribor benchmark interest rate-fixing case, prosecuted by the SFO. He was recently instructed to defend a senior employee of a multinational corporation charged with diverted tax profit fraud. 

    Philip is regularly instructed privately to defend professionals facing charges for alleged offences both within and beyond the perimeter of the workplace. He has developed a practice in health and safety law, prosecuting and defending individuals and corporates in relation to alleged breaches in the workplace.  Philip has been instructed by local authorities to prosecute an array of matters. He is often recommended for work by established practitioners in the field.

    Philip advises pre-charge and acts at all stages through to appeal, and is adept at dealing with complex issues of disclosure. 

    Notable Cases

    R v CB (2019)
    Philip was instructed (led by Clare Sibson QC in the original trial and by Andrew Thomas QC in the re-trial) to defend the former Barclay's Bank Euro liquidity manager who was accused of conspiracy to defraud in relation to fixing the EURIBOR benchmark interest rate. 
     

    R v MK (2016)
    Philip was instructed privately to defend in relation to breaches of health and safety legislation (LOLER 1998) following an accident on a construction site resulting in serious crush injuries to a worker.

    R v JL (2016)
    Philip was instructed to prosecute a man and woman for money laundering in relation to large sums of cash found at their home.

    Reviews 

    'A joy to work with and a barrister who will cover every base. He has excellent judgement.' Chambers UK (2022)

    'A delightful advocate who is very hard-working, highly committed and quite charming in front of the jury.' 'One of the most polished juniors around.' Chambers UK (2021)

    'Philip is incredibly gifted as an advocate, with a calming and effective client manner and a first-rate legal brain. From a solicitor's perspective Philip is a delight to deal with - personable, analytical, responsive and efficient.' Legal 500 (2021)

    ‘A very able junior with good technical skills. He is also extremely personable and a pleasure to work with.’ ‘Very bright and user-friendly.’ Chambers UK (2020)

    ‘An exceptional advocate who always commands the confidence of the court.’ Legal 500 (2020)

    ‘A very able junior with good technical skills. He is also extremely personable and a pleasure to work with.’ Chambers UK (2019)

    ‘A persuasive advocate who presents his arguments in an unflustered and measured way.’ Legal 500 (2019)

    ‘A very able junior with good technical skills – he is extremely personable too.’ Legal 500 (2019)

    ‘An able junior with good technical skills. Extremely personable and a pleasure to work with.’ Chambers UK (2018)

    ‘Extremely personable and a pleasure to work with.’ Legal 500 (2017)

    ‘A great strategist, who is calm and reassuring with clients.’ Legal 500 (2017)

    ‘A safe pair of hands with an unflappable can-do attitude.’ Legal 500 (2016)

    Recent Cases

    • Philip was instructed to defend an employee of a large multinational corporation charged with diverted tax fraud. 

    • Philip was instructed (led by Clare Sibson QC in the original trial and by Andrew Thomas QC in the re-trial) to defend the former Barclay's Bank Euro liquidity manager who was accused of conspiracy to defraud in relation to fixing the EURIBOR benchmark in...

    News

    • Sean Larkin QC and Philip McGhee appear in Euribor Trial

      The prosecution is brought by the Serious Fraud Office.

    • Sean Larkin QC and Philip McGhee involved in EURIBOR trial

      The jury in the Euribor trial was discharged after being unable to reach verdicts.

    • EURIBOR Trial Commences

      Sean Larkin QC and Philip McGhee are representing defendants in the EURIBOR trial.

  • A favourite of the leading law firms and specialised prosecution units operating in the field of general and serious crime, Philip McGhee is sought after for his charming client care, his tactical judgement and his impressive advocacy.

    Overview 

    Philip is an accomplished advocate with an established and thriving practice in criminal work, ranked by Chambers UK and The Legal 500. He is regularly instructed both to prosecute and to defend, with a caseload which often includes advising and representing professionals facing both fitness to practise allegations and criminal charges. He has experience across the spectrum of work, from serious, complex or technical matters to cases which require sensitive handling and a safe pair of hands.

    Philip McGhee was appointed as Treasury Counsel Monitoree in 2021.

    Experience 

    Philip has a thriving prosecution and defence practice across the spectrum of criminal work. He prosecutes and defends, alone and as a leading and led junior, in cases of serious fraud and dishonesty, homicide and violence, drugs trafficking, and sexual offending. He advises pre-charge and at all stages through to appeal and is adept at dealing with complex issues of disclosure. Philip has particular experience across cases of all types dealing with witnesses or clients who require very careful or sensitive handling. Philip is regularly instructed privately to defend professionals facing charges for alleged offences both within and beyond the perimeter of the workplace, with a particular emphasis on sexual offences.

    Philip’s recent work for the Crown has included the prosecution of a man for an execution-style shooting in a London park, the prosecution of a far-right extremist for terrorist offences, the prosecution of a police officer for causing death by careless driving, and the prosecution of two parents for serious child cruelty (branding and scalding). Philip has also recently prosecuted cases against the stalkers of a Member of Parliament, a Hollywood actor and a famous popstar, and against a man for a violent homophobic attack on a journalist.

    Philip's recent defence cases have included representing a racehorse trainer accused of assault, a well-known composer charged with arson, and a City executive accused of coercive and controlling behaviour towards his wife. Philip also defended (led by Eleanor Laws KC) former football coach Barry Bennell who was charged across two cases with multiple child sex offences and who was described by the judge as “the Devil incarnate”.

    Philip has extensive experience dealing with the procedural, evidential and tactical issues encountered across the spectrum of cases along the criminal-regulatory divide. He has acted for doctors, teachers and accountants facing serious allegations of misconduct and sexual impropriety. 

    Philip practised for two years as an attorney (combining the roles of solicitor and barrister) in the Cayman Islands where he represented clients across the full range of criminal cases at first instance and appellate level.

    Notable Cases

    R v YZ (2023)
    Philip successfully defended a financial services professional accused of racially aggravated public order offences.

    R v EF & 4 Or's (2023)
    Philip was led by Edward Brown KC in the prosecution of five men for murder arising out of a robbery.

    R v AS (2023)
    Philip was led by David Spens KC in the prosecution of a man who attacked his elderly landlady and then destroyed her body on a bonfire in her back garden.

    R v AB &CD (2023)
    Philip was led by Sally O’Neill KC in the prosecution of two youths for the fatal stabbing of another youth in a park in south London.

    GK (2019)
    Philip was instructed to defend a man in High Court contempt proceedings after he had free-climbed The Shard in breach of a civil injunction. 

    R v BM & others (2019)
    Philip was instructed to prosecute (led by Sally O'Neill KC) seven men charged with murder, manslaughter and violent disorder after a man was stabbed to death in a North London park.

     

    R v Bennel (2018)
    Philip was instructed to defend (led by Eleanor Laws KC) former youth football coach, Barry Bennell, described by the sentencing judge as 'the Devil incarnate', who systematically sexually abused boys in his care in the 1970s and 1980s in what the prosecution referred to as a 'mega-campaign' of abuse
     
    R v DH (2017)
    William Boyce QC led Philip McGhee in the prosecution of a former TV producer who hired several hitmen to murder his female partner.
     

    R v VT (2017)
    Zoe Johnson KC led Philip McGhee in the prosecution of a nanny for the manslaughter by shaking of a 10-month old baby in her care. 

    R v BT (2016)
    Philip was instructed privately to defend a vulnerable elderly woman accused of racially motivated assaults and public order offences at a Knightsbridge hotel.

    R v EB (2015)
    Philip was instructed privately to defend the 'spanking GP' who faced charges of assault after she was accused of attacking her partner in bed with a bamboo cane.
     
    R v CH (2015)
    Philip was instructed privately to defend a young man accused of exposure while sitting in a car and hiding his face behind a giant cookie.
     

    Reviews

    Chambers UK 2023: Crime – Band 3

    Legal 500 2023: Crime – Tier 2

    "Philip is very able, personable and highly competent advocate." Chambers UK Crime (2024)

    "He is very conscientious and does a very good job." Chambers UK Crime (2024)

    ‘Philip is a first-class barrister. He is a persuasive advocate. He prepares thoroughly and commands the respect of the court'. Legal 500 Crime (2023)

    "Represents his clients' interests vigorously - they really appreciate how much he fights for them." Chambers UK Crime (2023)

    'A joy to work with and a barrister who will cover every base. He has excellent judgement.' Chambers UK Crime (2022)

    'A delightful advocate who is very hard-working, highly committed and quite charming in front of the jury.' 'One of the most polished juniors around.' Chambers UK Crime (2021)

    'Philip is incredibly gifted as an advocate, with a calming and effective client manner and a first-rate legal brain. From a solicitor's perspective Philip is a delight to deal with - personable, analytical, responsive and efficient.' Legal 500 Crime (2021)

    ‘A fantastic all-rounder – he’s very good with clients, very impressive in court and his attention to detail is brilliant.’ ‘An excellent advocate with a relaxed manner which is engaging and accessible for both clients and the court.’ Chambers UK Crime (2020)

    ‘An exceptional advocate who always commands the confidence of the court.’ Legal 500 Crime (2020)

    ‘A persuasive advocate who presents his arguments in an unflustered and measured way.’ Legal 500 Crime (2019)

    ‘A great strategist, who is calm and reassuring with clients.’ Legal 500 Crime (2017)

    ‘A safe pair of hands with an unflappable can-do attitude.’ Legal 500 (2016)

    Recent Cases

    • Philip successfully defended a financial services professional accused of racially aggravated public order offences.

    • Philip prosecuted a man for offences contrary to the Terrorism Acts 2000 and 2006.

    • Philip was led by Edward Brown KC in the prosecution of five men for murder arising out of a robbery.

    • Philip was led by David Spens KC in the prosecution of a man who attacked his elderly landlady and then destroyed her body on a bonfire in her back garden.

    • Philip was led by Sally O’Neill KC in the prosecution of two youths for the fatal stabbing of another youth in a park in south London.

    • Philip led Polly Dyer in Operation Hollow, the prosecution of a group who stole goods from lorries in the Essex and Hertfordshire areas and distributed the proceeds. 

    • Philip was instructed to prosecute the stalker of a famous popstar for breach of a restraining order.

    • Philip was instructed to prosecute for murder (led by Julian Evans KC) a defendant who was alleged to be a masked gunman who shot a man in an execution-style killing in a London park.

    • Philip was instructed to prosecute a police officer charged with causing death by careless driving after an elderly man was knocked down in a collision on a pedestrian crossing and killed.

    • Philip was instructed to prosecute a gang of men who conspired to supply massive amounts of cocaine over a period of a year from an address in Denham.

    • Philip was instructed to prosecute a member of a Middle East royal family for causing death by careless driving after he drove his high-powered Rolls Royce car at excessive speed and killed a pedestrian.

    • Philip was instructed to prosecute a defendant charged with wounding who was said to have lured a young man to a quiet street in order to be confronted by a group and attacked, and then to have supplied the knife with which the young man was stabbed.

    • Philip was instructed to prosecute a man who stabbed his mother multiple times as she slept, and then stabbed his wife as she attempted to stop him. He was ordered to be detained in hospital with a restriction order.

    • Philip was instructed to prosecute a man who had embarked on a shooting spree in north east London, seriously injuring three victims.

    • Philip was instructed to prosecute a man for attempted murder after he stabbed another man in the chest and neck during a street altercation. 

    • Philip was instructed to prosecute the mother of a two year-old child and her partner for serious cruelty. The defendants were indicted with causing or allowing serious harm to a child after the child was burned on multiple occasions. 

    • Philip was instructed to defend a man accused of fraudulently obtaining hotel accommodation after the fire at Grenfell Tower. 

    • Philip was instructed to prosecute a man who tried to purchase hand grenades in order to use them against police. 

    • Philip was instructed to prosecute a stalker who sent a series of sexually charged letters to a Hollywood actor. 

    • Philip was instructed to prosecute a man after an arsenal of loaded prohibited firearms and ammunition was discovered at his address along with multi-kilogram quantities of Class A controlled drugs. 

    • Philip was instructed to prosecute a man for a series of stalking and malicious communications offences after he sent emails to a variety of public figures and MPs. 

    • Philip McGhee prosecuted three men for assault and affray arising out of a violent and homophobically-motivated attack on the Guardian journalist and campaigner, Owen Jones. 

    News

    • Philip McGhee to be appointed Treasury Counsel

      We are delighted to announce that as of the 1st April 2024 Philip McGhee will be Junior Treasury Counsel.After over 2 years being monitored, the Solicitor General made his announcement on behalf of the Attorney General’s Office, yesterday.Treasury C...

    • Philip McGhee Appointed as Treasury Counsel Monitoree

      We are very pleased to announce that Philip McGhee has been appointed as Treasury Counsel Monitoree.As Monitoree he joins current QEB Hollis Whiteman Treasury Counsel,Julian Evans, Jocelyn Ledward and Read more

    • Eleanor Laws QC and Philip McGhee defend Barry Bennell in historic sex charges case

      QEBHW members Eleanor Laws QC and Philip McGhee are defending former youth soccer coach, Barry Bennell, who is on trial at Liverpool Crown Court. Having admitted seven charges of sexual abuse Bennell has pleaded not guilty to 48 others relating to conduct...

    • Trial of alleged 'grooming gang' starts in Newcastle

      Linda Strudwick is leading Philip McGhee in the defence of one of five men accused of multiple gang rapes and abuse of vulnerable girls.  Linda and Philip, barristers at QEBHW, are instructed by Andy Malik on behalf of DJMS Defence Solicitors.  The trial,...

    • Zoe Johnson QC and Philip McGhee prosecute baby shaking manslaughter

      Zoe Johnson QC and Philip McGhee successfully prosecuted Viktoria Tautz, a nanny, for the manslaughter by shaking of a 10-month-old baby in her care. The trial took place at the Central Criminal Court before Mrs Justice McGowan.Read media report here.

  • An established junior in the field of professional discipline, Philip McGhee punches above his weight, defending professionals and presenting on behalf of regulators in niche, serious and complex areas of the law. He is a go-to practitioner in the field.

    Overview

    Philip has a successful practice advising and acting for both professionals and regulators, often in complex and difficult fitness to practise proceedings. He specialises in the field of healthcare regulation and in cases which engage serious issues such as probity, sexual misconduct, competence and performance. He also has experience in the financial and gaming sectors, and in industry regulation.

    Experience

    Philip represents professionals and acts for regulators, defending and presenting cases in complex fitness to practise proceedings. He has considerable experience before the healthcare and financial regulatory tribunals. 

    Healthcare
    Philip represents doctors before the MPTS at both interim and substantive hearings, and from the early stages of a fitness to practise investigation, often where there are parallel criminal proceedings. Philip has recently defended a GP accused of missing the signs of a heart attack, a consultant surgeon accused of conducting an inappropriate intimate examination, a consultant facing allegations of inappropriate prescribing of drugs outside licensed indications, and a trainee doctor accused of theft and possession of controlled drugs, and administration of poison with intent to endanger life. Other healthcare defence work has included representing a radiographer accused of dishonesty, a chiropractor charged with exposing a patient to the risk of permanent paralysis, and a senior social worker charged with having an inappropriate relationship with a vulnerable service user.

    Philip also advises and represents the GDC across the range of fitness to practise cases. Recent work has included a dentist accused of inappropriate communication with a patient and multiple clinical failings and poor implant work across a number of patients, an orthodontist who faced allegations of deficient performance, a dentist guilty of serious hygiene failings exposing patients to communicable disease, and a dentist who dishonestly altered the records of an elderly patient in order to deflect concerns over capacity. Philip also prosecutes cases of unlawful tooth whitening for the GDC in the criminal courts.

    Gaming & Licensing
    Beyond the healthcare sphere, Philip has advised and prosecuted on behalf of the Gambling Commission for unlicensed and illegal gaming. He has advised and represented the Solicitors Regulatory Authority and the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants in relation to misconduct proceedings. Philip has also acted for the Security Industry Authority in regulatory, licensing and criminal cases.

    Professional Discipline
    Philip has extensive experience dealing with the procedural, evidential and tactical issues encountered across the spectrum of cases along the criminal-regulatory divide. In this cross-over, Philip has recently successfully acted for doctors, teachers and accountants facing serious allegations of misconduct and sexual impropriety.

    Notable Cases

    GMC v Dr AH (2023)
    Philip represented a doctor in contested proceedings before the Investigation Committee.

    HCPC v AP (2020)
    Philip was instructed privately to defend a superintendent radiographer who faced criminal allegations of fraud and a fitness to practise investigation following the discovery of anomalies in time sheets and in remuneration claims submitted to his employer. 

    GDC v AI (2020)
    Philip acted for the GDC in fitness to practise proceedings in a deficient performance case against an orthodontist arising out of the treatment of 29 child patients.
     

    GMC v PF (2018)
    Philip was instructed to defend a doctor who faced an allegation of carrying out an inappropriate prostatic massage on a patient.
     
    Inquest into the death of H (2018)
    Philip was instructed by the MDU to represent two GPs, Drs N and G, at the inquest into the death of a patient. The two doctors, both interested parties at the inquest at the South London Coroner's Court, had treated the patient in the period before his admission to hospital where he later died.  
     
    HCPC v NF (2017)
    Philip was instructed to defend a social worker who faced fitness to practise proceedings in light of an allegation of an inappropriate relationship with a service user. 
     

    GCC v BC (2016)
    Philip was instructed to defend a chiropractor who practised from an exclusive Chelsea health club in fitness to practise proceedings concerning allegations of dishonesty and inappropriate conduct with a patient. The charge was dismissed.

    GDC v SD (2016)
    Philip acted for the GDC in fitness to practise proceedings in a complex case against an expert witness for providing reports which went beyond the range of reasonable expert opinion. Queen's Counsel represented the dentist.

    GDC v TN (2016)
    Philip acted for the GDC in fitness to practise proceedings involving multiple complainants and allegations of a wide variety of clinical failings over a period of four years. The case involved complex expert evidence.

    GDC v CF (2015)
    Philip acted for the GDC in fitness to practise proceedings where the dentist faced allegations of substandard clinical care of a child patient. Queen's Counsel represented the dentist.

    GMC v TI (2014)
    Philip was instructed privately to defend a doctor who faced allegations of clinical misconduct and dishonesty in her private aesthetic practice and in her consultations with a patient who was a Gothic model. 

    Reviews

    Chambers UK 2023: Professional Discipline – Band 4

    Legal 500 2023: Professional Discipline and Regulatory Law – Tier 4

    "He's a smooth operator who's completely on top of the papers and his cross-examination is brilliant." Chambers UK Professional Discipline (2024)

    "A classy advocate. Philip is experienced and easy to work with." Chambers UK Professional Discipline (2024)

    "Philip is articulate and a personable advocate who is quick on his feet and highly regarded within the regulatory arena." Chambers UK Professional Discipline (2024)

    'Philip is an experienced regulatory advocate. He is bright, fair and effective and is a pleasure to work with'. Legal 500 Professional Disciplinary and Regulatory (2023)

    "He is impressive on his feet and an absolute joy to work with. He has excellent witness and client-handling skills and is highly regarded by panels, experts and peers." Chambers UK Professional Discipline (2023)

    'Very bright, incredibly amiable and easy to work with. An impressive advocate." "He is bright, fair and effective, and a pleasure to work with.' Chambers UK Professional Discipline (2022)

    'Philip's keen strength is his tactical approach to cases. He gets immersed in the issues, whilst factoring in the client's aims, and finds a way through.' Legal 500 Professional Disciplinary and Regulatory (2022)

    'A very safe pair of hands.' Chambers UK Professional Discipline (2021)

    'Phil is a very able junior with good technical skills. He is also extremely personable and a pleasure to work with.' Legal 500 Professional Discipline (2021)

    ‘A very able junior with good technical skills. He is also extremely personable and a pleasure to work with.’ ‘Very bright and user-friendly.’ Chambers UK Professional Discipline (2020)

    ‘A charismatic, robust and intellectual advocate.’ Legal 500 Professional Discipline and Regulatory Law (2020)

    ‘A very able junior with good technical skills. He is also extremely personable and a pleasure to work with.’ Chambers UK Professional Discipline (2019)

    ‘A very able junior with good technical skills – he is extremely personable too.’ Legal 500 Professional Discipline and Regulatory Law (2019)

    ‘He impressed me with his decisive attitude in terms of strategy and knowledge and experience of professional disciplinary proceedings. He was also keenly aware of practical considerations.’ Chambers UK Professional Discipline (2018)

    ‘An able junior with good technical skills. Extremely personable and a pleasure to work with.’ Chambers UK Professional Discipline (2018)

    ‘Extremely personable and a pleasure to work with.’ Legal 500 Professional Discipline and Regulatory Law (2017)

    Recent Cases

    • Philip represented a doctor in contested proceedings before the Investigation Committee.

    • Philip was instructed to defend a GP who faced fitness to practise proceedings after it was alleged that they had missed the signs of a heart attack.

    • Philip was instructed to defend a doctor who faced review proceedings in respect of their fitness to practise after embarking on an inappropriate relationship with a patient.

    • Philip was instructed to defend a psychiatrist who faced fitness to practise proceedings after being convicted of drink driving.

    • Philip acted for the GDC in fitness to practise proceedings against a dentist found guilty of misconduct after it was alleged she had provided inadequate care to five patients and had communicated inappropriately with another patient. Philip was instructe...

    • Philip was instructed to defend a doctor who faced a warning from the GMC Investigating Committee after having embarked on an inappropriate relationship with a patient.

    • Philip was instructed to defend a doctor who was accused of carrying out inappropriate breast examinations on female patients as part of medical tests to assess fitness for driving.

    • Philip was instructed to defend a doctor who was accused of theft and possession of controlled drugs, administration of poison with intent to endanger life, and engaging in sexual activity with an unconscious person.

    • Philip was instructed to defend a doctor who faced fitness to practise proceedings after being convicted of fraud offences relating to false prescriptions.

    • Philip was instructed by the MDU to represent a surgeon in fitness to practise proceedings after a patient alleged her clothing had been forcefully removed during an examination. 

    • Philip was instructed privately to defend a superintendent radiographer who faced criminal allegations of fraud and a fitness to practise investigation following the discovery of anomalies in timesheets and in remuneration claims submitted to his employer...

    • Philip acted for the GDC in fitness to practise proceedings in a deficient performance case against an orthodontist arising out of the treatment of 29 child patients.