• "Tom is very thorough and bright. He leaves no stone unturned." Chambers UK 2023
  • "His grasp of the detail and mastery of strategy is absolutely phenomenal. He's an amazing intellectual powerhouse,"
    Chambers UK High Net Worth 2022
  • "His work rate is prestigious, really phenomenal. He's highly intelligent, very dedicated to the case, his analysis is careful, and always reliable." Chambers UK High Net Worth 2022
  • “Extremely bright, committed and very hard-working."
    Chambers UK 2022
  • “Tom Doble handles high-quality work in the financial criminal arena and is admired for his expertise in HMRC and SFO investigations. 
    Chambers UK 2022
  • "He is an expert in cases involving interest rate manipulation and tax fraud, as well as those relating to high-profile bribery and corruption.”
    Chambers UK 2022
  • ‘ Very intelligent; incredible hard worker who always has a mastery of the papers; exceptional drafting skills, coupled with strong advocacy. ’  Legal 500 2022
 

Tom Doble

Called to the Bar:2011

  • Overview

    Tom Doble is a highly regarded junior practising in fraud, crime, public law and regulatory proceedings. He is recognised in the directories as a "a super smart junior" with "a huge capacity for hard work and an exceptional legal brain", who is "strategic, energetic and a team player".

    Tom specialises in corporate and financial crime, with experience beyond his call in cases of the utmost seriousness and complexity. He has a strong track record defending high profile SFO prosecutions, including a Barclays derivatives trader charged with LIBOR manipulation, the former managing director of Tesco charged with fraud and false accounting, and a former Serco executive charged with fraud against the Ministry of Justice. Recent instructions include defending a senior manager charged with corruption in the motorsport industry, the CEO of a commercial property company charged with bribery and money laundering, and the owner of a group of companies charged with a multi-million pound conspiracy to cheat the Revenue. He currently advises a multinational company in relation to ongoing criminal and civil HMRC investigations.

    Tom is well versed in restraint, asset freezing/forfeiture and confiscation proceedings, and advises upon all aspects of the criminal and regulatory anti-money laundering regime. He has successfully defended a sensitive and high-value asset freezing order application made against a city solicitor, and secured a substantial interest in property for a third-party intervening in complex confiscation proceedings (both at first instance and on appeal). 

    Tom acts for both the defence and prosecution in a range of serious and complex criminal proceedings, including conspiracy to murder, firearms offences, drugs offences and offences of serious violence. He also appears in judicial review, inquest and extradition proceedings, and before a range of professional regulatory tribunals. 

    Education

    • Queen Mother Scholarship and Certificate of Honour, Middle Temple
    • Bar Professional Training Course (outstanding), City University
    • Graduate Diploma in Law (distinction), City University
    • BA (Hons) History (first class), Durham University

    Appointments

    • SFO Counsel Panel B
    • CPS External Advocates Panel Grade 3
    • CPS Fraud Panel Grade 3
    • CPS Extradition Panel Grade 2 

    Professional Membership

    • Criminal Bar Association
    • Health and Safety Lawyers Association
    • Young Fraud Lawyers Association
    • Private Prosecutors’ Association

    Reviews

    Chambers UK 2024: Financial Crime – Band 1

    Legal 500 2024: Business and Regulatory Crime (Including Global Investigations) – Tier 2

    Chambers UK 2023: Financial Crime – Band 2

    Who's Who Legal 2022: Ranked Junior in UK Bar 2022 for Criminal Fraud and Investigations.

    Chambers UK 2022: Financial Crime – Band 2

    Legal 500 2022: Business and Regulatory Crime (Including Global Investigations) – Tier 3

    Who's Who Legal: Ranked Junior in UK Bar 2020 Investigations. 'An up-and-coming junior' who is 'eminently suitable to be instructed in any high-profile case'.

    "Tom is a real star of the junior Bar who commands the confidence of everyone he meets."  Chambers UK Financial Crime (2024)

    "Tom is exceptionally intelligent, extremely hard-working and produces the highest-quality work. He is a very strong advocate." Chambers UK Financial Crime (2024)

    ‘Tom is simply fantastic at getting on top of and handling voluminous and immensely complex material.’  Legal 500 Business and Regulatory Crime (2024) 

    'Tom is very thorough and bright. He leaves no stone unturned.' Chambers UK Financial Crime (2023)

    'Extremely bright, committed and very hard-working.' Chambers UK Financial Crime (2022)

    'Very intelligent; incredible hard worker who always has a mastery of the papers; exceptional drafting skills, coupled with strong advocacy.' Legal 500 Business and Regulatory Crime (2022) 

    'A super smart junior, punching well beyond his years of call. He has a huge capacity for hard work and an exceptional legal brain.' 'He is very intelligent, strategic, energetic and a team player.' Chambers UK Financial Crime (2021)

    'A junior who exudes gravitas and judgement well beyond his year of call. A strategic thinker who works incredibly hard.' Legal 500 Business and Regulatory Crime (2021)

    ‘A rapidly rising star of the white-collar Bar. He's phenomenally hard-working, very bright, someone with exceptional drafting skills, and an asset to any team.’ ‘He has gravitas, maturity and judgement well beyond his years - he's absolutely fantastic.’ Chambers UK Financial Crime (2020)

    ‘Self-possessed, cerebral and very user-friendly.’ Legal 500 Business and Regulatory Crime (Including Global Investigations) (2020)

    ‘Fiercely intellectual and capable of dealing with very difficult issues at speed.’ ‘He's fantastic and really hard-working.’ Chambers UK Financial Crime (2019)

    ‘A highly intelligent and confident junior with substantial experience of commercial crime at the highest level.’ Legal 500 Business and Regulatory Crime (2018)

    ‘He has a wonderful legal mind and he comes in with some ingenious legal arguments.’ ‘Very bright and very hard-working, he is punching above his weight in terms of years of call.’ Chambers UK Financial Crime (2018)

    ‘A very bright and hardworking junior, who makes invaluable contributions.’ Legal 500 Business and Regulatory Crime (2017)

    ‘A younger counsel with a rising profile due to his high-quality work in the financial criminal arena. He is an expert on cases involving interest rate manipulation and tax fraud.’ Chambers UK Financial Crime (2017)

    ‘A fantastic lawyer, who is able to deal with cases of considerable complexity. He has judgement and the ability to read a situation that belies his quite recent call.’ Chambers UK Financial Crime (2017)

      

    Privacy Notice

    Recent Cases

    News

  • Corporate and Financial Crime

    Tom specialises in serious and complex financial and corporate crime. He is "admired for his expertise in HMRC and SFO investigations" (Chambers 2020) and is recognised as a "junior who exudes gravitas and judgement well beyond his year of call" and "a strategic thinker who works incredibly hard" (Legal 500 2020)

    Experience

    Serious and Complex Fraud 

    Tom recently secured the acquittal of a former Serco senior manager accused of a multi-million pound fraud against the Ministry of Justice in proceedings brought by the SFO. He has successfully defended in a number of high-profile SFO prosecutions, including acting for the former Managing Director of Tesco charged with fraud and false accounting, and a former Barclays derivatives trader charged with LIBOR manipulation. Tom has particular expertise in cases involving Deferred Prosecution Agreements, large scale or contentious investigation/disclosure issues, and cases which concern complex or specialist businesses/sectors.

    Tom currently acts for a senior G4S executive charged with fraud, and the CEO of a commercial property company charged with bribery and money laundering, both in proceedings brought by the SFO.  He currently advises a large multinational in relation to multi-million pound criminal and civil HMRC investigations.

    Tom often acts and advises in cases with a multi-jurisdictional aspect, having represented a pharmaceutical company in two sets of judicial review proceedings arising from an international investigation into the cross-border supply of counterfeit and unlicensed drugs. He has advised and represented both companies and individuals in cases involving international corruption and criminal sanctions enforcement.   

    Proceeds of Crime

    Tom is well-versed in asset recovery proceedings including asset freezing/forfeiture, cash seizure, restraint, confiscation and related proceedings. He has acted in account freezing and forfeiture applications brought by the NCA and police forces, including successfully defending a sensitive and high-value asset freezing order application made against a City solicitor concerning alleged international corruption. He has recently secured an interest in a substantial residential property for an intervening third-party in confiscation proceedings (at first instance and on appeal), and is well versed in the legal and equitable principles engaged by such litigation. Tom advises companies and individuals on all aspects of the criminal and regulatory anti-money laundering regime.  

    Health and Safety 

    In the field of health and safety, Tom appeared for the prosecution in corporate manslaughter proceedings against a construction company and its director, and has acted for companies charged with offences under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and other regulatory offences.  Tom currently acts for a company in relation to an investigation concerning alleged breaches of the Ionising Radiation Regulations 2017.

    Notable Cases

    R v RSD (2022)
    Representing the former CEO of a commercial property company, charged with offences of corruption and money laundering in proceedings brought by the SFO.
     
    R v SM (2020)
    Representing a former Serco senior manager charged with fraud and false accounting in proceedings brought by the SFO concerning the operation of contracts with the Ministry of Justice for electronic tagging. 

    R v B (2019)
    Advising and acting on appeal for a company director convicted of a £17 million conspiracy to cheat the revenue.

    R v H (2019)
    Representing former senior employee of Williams Hybrid Power charged with offences contrary to the Bribery Act 2010.

    SFO v R, S & B (2018)
    Represented the former Managing Director of Tesco charged by the SFO with fraud and false accounting. 

    Re X (2017)
    Advising a company director concerning an investigation into the alleged supply of controlled military list goods between third countries.

    R v RR and others (USD LIBOR) (2015 - 2017)
    Representing derivatives trader in SFO prosecution for the manipulation of USD LIBOR.

    R v MP (Innospec) (2014)
    Executive charged with corruption of foreign government officials.

    Reviews

    Chambers UK 2024: Financial Crime – Band 1

    Legal 500 2024: Business and Regulatory Crime (Including Global Investigations) – Tier 2

    Chambers UK 2023: Financial Crime – Band 2

    Chambers UK 2022: Financial Crime – Band 2

    Legal 500 2022: Business and Regulatory Crime (Including Global Investigations) – Tier 3

    'Tom is very thorough and bright. He leaves no stone unturned.' Chambers UK Financial Crime (2023)

    'Extremely bright, committed and very hard-working.' Chambers UK Financial Crime (2022)

    'Very intelligent; incredible hard worker who always has a mastery of the papers; exceptional drafting skills, coupled with strong advocacy.' Legal 500 Business and Regulatory Crime (2022) 

    'A super smart junior, punching well beyond his years of call. He has a huge capacity for hard work and an exceptional legal brain.' 'He is very intelligent, strategic, energetic and a team player.' Chambers UK Financial Crime (2021)

    'A junior who exudes gravitas and judgement well beyond his year of call. A strategic thinker who works incredibly hard.' Legal 500 Business and Regulatory Crime (2021)

    ‘A rapidly rising star of the white-collar Bar. He's phenomenally hard-working, very bright, someone with exceptional drafting skills, and an asset to any team.’ ‘He has gravitas, maturity and judgement well beyond his years - he's absolutely fantastic.’ Chambers UK Financial Crime (2020)

    ‘Self-possessed, cerebral and very user-friendly.’ Legal 500 Business and Regulatory Crime (Including Global Investigations) (2020)

    ‘Fiercely intellectual and capable of dealing with very difficult issues at speed.’ ‘He's fantastic and really hard-working.’ Chambers UK Financial Crime (2019)

    ‘A highly intelligent and confident junior with substantial experience of commercial crime at the highest level.’ Legal 500 Business and Regulatory Crime (2018)

    ‘He has a wonderful legal mind and he comes in with some ingenious legal arguments.’ ‘Very bright and very hard-working, he is punching above his weight in terms of years of call.’ Chambers UK Financial Crime (2018)

    ‘A very bright and hardworking junior, who makes invaluable contributions.’ Legal 500 Business and Regulatory Crime (2017)

    ‘A younger counsel with a rising profile due to his high-quality work in the financial criminal arena. He is an expert on cases involving interest rate manipulation and tax fraud.’ Chambers UK Financial Crime (2017)

    ‘A fantastic lawyer, who is able to deal with cases of considerable complexity. He has judgement and the ability to read a situation that belies his quite recent call.’ Chambers UK Financial Crime (2017)

    Recent Cases

    News

    • QEB Hollis Whiteman Recognised by Chambers & Partners Financial Crime: High Net Worth Individuals

       Chambers and Partners released their rankings for Financial Crime: High Net Worth Individuals and QEB Hollis Whiteman and its members are acknowledged as leaders in the field.Chambers is ranked as Band 1 and nine members of Chambers  are ranked as leader...

      Read more

    • Trader Tom Hayes' case referred back to Court of Appeal

       In 2015, Tom Hayes was convicted of eight charges of conspiracy to defraud and sentenced to 14 years’ imprisonment.  The crimes of which he was convicted arose from alleged manipulation of the London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR).  While his sente...

      Read more

    • Webinar "The Serco Trial: What Went Wrong?" available to download

      QEB Hollis Whiteman, Hickman & Rose and Peters & Peters hosted a webinar - The Serco Trial: What Went Wrong?In the webinar, the defence lawyers in the Serco prosecution considered the factors which led to the collapse of the case. Adrian Darbishire Q

      Read more

    • Paul Raudnitz and Tom Doble secure suspended sentence in Bribery Act 2010 proceedings.

      Paul Raudnitz and Tom Doble acted for Kevin Herbert, former Supply Chain Manager at Williams Hybrid Power (a subsidiary of the Williams Formula 1 Group), who faced charges of bribery contrary to the Bribery Act 2010.  The allegations concerned the solicit...

      Read more

    • Adrian Darbishire QC and Tom Doble represent defendant in Libor trial starting today

      Adrian Darbishire QC and Tom Doble represent defendant in Libor trial.

      Read more

  • Crime

    Tom acts for both the defence and prosecution in a range of serious and complex criminal proceedings, including conspiracy to murder, firearms offences, serious violence, drugs and sexual offences. He is often instructed on a privately-funded basis in a range of driving and other matters. To all his cases Tom brings rigorous preparation, sound and strategic advice, and compelling and effective advocacy.  

    Notable Cases

    R v B and B (2021, Wood Green CC)
    Possession of firearms with intent to endanger life (sub-machine gun) concerning shootings in the Tottenham area. 
     
    R v B, S and others (2021, CCC)
    Linked conspiracies to carry out contract killings using firearms. 
     
    R v M and O (2021, Wood Green CC)
    Section 18 stabbing. 
     
    R v B (2021)
    Police officer facing "totting" disqualification (disqualification avoided). 
     
    R v C (2020, Southwark CC) 
    Possession of a firearm (pistol) with intent to endanger life concerning a shooting in Pimlico.
     
    R v F (2020, Southwark CC) 
    Robbery of high-value watches. 
     
    R v F (2020, Inner London CC) 
    Possession of cocaine and heroin with intent to supply. 
     
    R v D and others (2019, Snaresbrook CC)
    Conspiracies to kidnap, falsely imprison and blackmail and possession of firearms. 
     

    R v Santhanam (2016)
    Defendant charged with possessing articles for use in fraud (Kingston Crown Court).

    R v MD (2016)
    Represented a company director charged with driving under the influence of excess alcohol.

    R v Paterson (2016)
    Acted for the prosecution in proceedings for the theft of thousands of pounds’ worth of tools (Inner London Crown Court).

    R v PC F (2015)
    Acted for Police Constable charged with speeding.  

    R v Jacques (2015)
    Defendant charged with robbery (Basildon Crown Court).

    R v Baxendale-Walker (2015)
    Defended a former tax solicitor facing multi-million pound fraud and forgery charges in proceedings brought by HMRC.

    Recent Cases

  • Extradition

    Tom is instructed on behalf of both requesting states and defendants in extradition proceedings in Westminster Magistrates’ Court and the High Court. He is well-versed in this complex and fast-moving area of law.

    Recent cases 

    Batty v Spain (WMC, Admin Court, 2020)
    Allegation of serious assault on a very young child. Validity of warrant and complex Article 8 issues (concerning a child with severe learning difficulties) raised. 
     

    Poland v Ostzycki (WMC, 2020)
    Extradition sought on conviction warrant following serious assault. Conviction in absence and Article 8 issues raised.

    Poland v Ochecki (Admin Court, 2020)
    Requested person wanted for robery and assault. Validity of warrant and artile 8 issues raised. 
     

    Riza v Romania (WMC, 2019)
    Requested person wanted for affray. Extradition resisted on the basis of passage of time.

    Liviu v Germany (WMC, 2019)
    Requested person wanted on theft charges. Validity of warrant and dual criminality challenged.

    Bulgaria v Zhukov (WMC, Admin Court, 2018)
    Abuse of process (clear error in the warrant), Article 3 (prison conditions) and Article 8 issues raised.

  • Regulatory

    Tom presents and defends in a range of professional regulatory tribunals, and is well-equipped to deal with cases of legal or factual complexity. He is able to present and defend across the professions including the healthcare, legal, law enforcement and financial industries.

    Experience

    Regulation of the legal profession
    Tom acts in proceedings before the Solicitors’ Disciplinary Tribunal.  He recently represented a former Senior Partner of a large firm of solicitors in proceedings alleging dishonesty in relation to a multi-million pound costs claim.  The Tribunal found the allegations of dishonesty unproven, and the sanction of striking-off was avoided.

    Police Discipline
    Tom acts for the Metropolitan Police Department for Professional Standards in proceedings before the Police Disciplinary Tribunal and Police Appeals Tribunal, and for officers charged with disciplinary and criminal offences. 

    Healthcare
    Tom also has substantial experience in healthcare regulation. He acts in proceedings before the Nursing and Midwifery Council and General Dental Council, was a junior member of the Inquiry team for the Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust Public Inquiry, and assisted in defending the first prosecution under the Medicines for Human Use (Clinical Trials) Regulations.

    Notable Cases

    GDC v M (2019)
    Acted for the GDC in proceedings against a registrant alleged to have administered a noxious substance (GHB) to his wife. 
     
    MPS v PC J (2019)
    Acted for MPS in proceedings concerning allegatons of dishonesty. 
     
    MPS v PC G (2016)
    Acted for MPS in proceedings concerning allegations of dishonesty. 
     
    NMC v NA (2016)
    Acted for a nurse in complex misconduct proceedings concerning Stanbridge Earls School. 
     

    NMC v LK (2015)
    Represented an addiction therapist in misconduct proceedings concerning multiple allegations of sub-standard care and inappropriate behaviour.

    NMC v GMCS (2014)
    Defended a nurse in misconduct proceedings concerning allegations of dishonesty.

    Metropolitan Police v Sgt B and others (2013)
    Acted for the DPS in proceedings before the Police Disciplinary Tribunal regarding improper text messages.

    Recent Cases

  • Private Prosecutions

    Tom accepts instructions to defend and conduct private prosecution proceedings.  He brings his experience in prosecuting and defending serious and complex fraud to bear on this specialist jurisdiction, effectively navigating the particular procedural, disclosure and costs issues which commonly arise.  

    Tom currently acts for a family of property developers, and a large property development company, defending allegations of fraud arising from a multi-million pound joint venture dispute, against the background of complex civil litigation.  The charges were dismissed following a successful application to set aside summonses issued ex parte, on the basis of improper motive and breaches of the ‘duty of candour’.  Following contested applications, disclosure was obtained of highly damaging communications between the prosecutor and his criminal/civil lawyers.

    Notable Cases

    PM v CM, SM, AM and T Ltd (Westminster MC, 2022-3) 
    Successful application to set aside summonses in a complex, high-value private prosecution for fraud, on the basis of improper motive and breaches of the ‘duty of candour’. 

    R(IF) v Crown Court at Gloucester (2019) (Admin) 
    Successful judicial review of a crown court’s refusal to award costs out of central funds to a private prosecutor.

    R(IF) v Crown Court at Gloucester (2019) (Admin)
    Successful judicial review of a crown court’s refusal to award costs out of central funds to a private prosecutor.

    Reviews

    'Extremely bright, committed and very hard-working.' Chambers UK (2022)

    'A super smart junior, punching well beyond his years of call. He has a huge capacity for hard work and an exceptional legal brain.' 'He is very intelligent, strategic, energetic and a team player.' Chambers UK (2021)

    'A junior who exudes gravitas and judgement well beyond his year of call. A strategic thinker who works incredibly hard.' Legal 500 Business and Regulatory Crime (2021)

    ‘A rapidly rising star of the white-collar Bar. He's phenomenally hard-working, very bright, someone with exceptional drafting skills, and an asset to any team.’ ‘He has gravitas, maturity and judgement well beyond his years - he's absolutely fantastic.’ Chambers UK (2020)

    ‘Self-possessed, cerebral and very user-friendly.’ Legal 500 (2020)

    ‘Fiercely intellectual and capable of dealing with very difficult issues at speed.’ ‘He's fantastic and really hard-working.’ Chambers UK (2019)

    ‘A highly intelligent and confident junior with substantial experience of commercial crime at the highest level.’ Legal 500 (2018)

    ‘He has a wonderful legal mind and he comes in with some ingenious legal arguments.’ ‘Very bright and very hard-working, he is punching above his weight in terms of years of call.’ Chambers UK (2018)

    Recent Cases

  • Inquests, Inquiries and Public Law

    Tom has a growing public law practice, with particular expertise in proceedings linked to criminal investigations or prosecutions. 

    Experience

    Tom has acted for a pharmaceutical company in judicial review proceedings challenging the issue of a search warrant and production order arising from an international investigation into the cross-border supply of counterfeit and unlicensed drugs, and for a private prosecutor seeking to recover costs following an exceptional jurisdictional error.

    He has also acted for the family of a deceased soldier in inquest proceedings which focused on the adequacy of mental health care provided by the armed forces and local NHS trusts. As a result of issues raised by the family, the coroner issued a report to prevent future deaths.  

    Notable Cases

    R(IF) v Crown Court at Gloucester (2019) (Admin)
    Successful judicial review of a crown court’s refusal to award costs out of central funds to a private prosecutor 

    Re Lance Bombardier Richard Jones (2014)
    Represented the family of a deceased soldier who had taken an overdose of tramadol following a period of acute psychosis.  At the conclusion of the inquest the coroner issued a report to prevent future deaths addressed to the organisations which provided care to LB Jones immediately prior to his death.

    Recent Cases