Qualifications and Professional Associations

• LL.B(Hons)(Edin), Dip LP (Edin)
• LL.M in Commercial and Corporate Law (International Trade, Finance and Antitrust)(UCL, Lond)
• Called to the Bar by the Inner Temple 2003
• Attorney & Counselor at Law, Member of the New York Bar since 1996
• Intrant to the Faculty of Advocates (Scottish Bar) 1996
• Formerly admitted as a Solicitor in England & Wales 1993-2003 and Scotland 1991-2003
• Member of the Criminal Bar Association, ABA, NYSBA, Society of English and American Lawyers, European Lawyers Association, Extradition Lawyers Association, Financial Services Lawyers Association, Proceeds of Crime Lawyers Association
• Now qualified to accept Direct Access instructions, after Completion of the 'Public Access for Barristers' course (College of Law)

Areas of Specialisation

Advocacy and Contentious matters from 1990.

He appears on the South Eastern and Midlands Circuits.

Since his Call to the Bar he has been instructed in the following trials: murder, grave crimes, conspiracy, theft and fraud, POCA matters (criminal property offences, money laundering, confiscation, restraint and civil forfeiture) sex offences and historic sex offences and multi-defendant matters.

He defends but also prosecutes on behalf of the CPS, HMCE, RCPO and in private prosecutions.

He has frequently appeared in the Court of Appeal in matters of sentence, conviction and confiscation and is at home arguing points of law as well as the facts of the case. His experience to date covers complex factual matters, multihanded matters, complex fraud, money laundering, expert evidence, murders, sex offences and other grave crimes, civil claims, civil fraud, financial services, bankruptcy, shipping, cartels, state aids etc.

Recent cases include R v Goring (murder)(appeal against sentence successful, leave to appeal conviction granted), R v Imtiaz and Others (Cannabis factories), R v Mejia (importation of cocaine from Panama dissolved into wooden decorative doors) [2009] EWCA Crim 1940, R v Spears and McAllister (confiscation) [2009] EWCA Crim 1875, R v Herbert (allegations of multiple rape on multiple victims taking place 50 years ago – issues of abuse of process with guilty pleas to incest accepted), R v Pathmanathan and Others (complex fraud: 9 defendants, multiple properties, mortgage and benefits), . , R v Nwagagbo (acquittal of the absent lead defendant: trafficking, rape, sexual acts with children).

He is an effective jury advocate securing acquittals in the face of forensic and eye-witness evidence (eg DNA and eye-witness evidence of possession of a semi-automatic pistol, robbers masquerading as police officers) and as a sympathetic advocate (eg head of a national charity accused of domestic violence to a taxi driver accused of various sex acts with children). In matters of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 he has been effective in dismissing on points of law confiscation proceedings or obtaining leave to appeal where orders have been made.

 Although he regularly appears in the Crown Court on matters lasting days to weeks or months, he has also appeared in the Family Court and Patents County Court. Before being called to the Bar he also appeared in the Crown Court, County Court, QBD, Chancery and Bankruptcy.

Whilst in practice in London from the early 1990s he specialised in large-scale criminal fraud and commercial matters in a Legal 500 firm. He worked full-time on business crime, regulatory (SFA/FSA Rules eg R v Zoller [2002] 1 WLR 1517) and commercial fraud. He lead defences in large scale litigation (eg rights issue fraud, bonds or other investment fraud, VAT evasions etc) additionally involving extradition and judicial review.

From shortly after commencing practice in London his criminal experience was that of running the defence in prosecutions brought by the SFO (eg the Whisky investment fraud, the Millenium Champagne fraud) (eg R v Blee (2004) 1 CAR (S) 33), HM Customs and Excise (eg London City Bond), DTI (Company legislation or fraud in relation to insolvency) and CPS Special casework. From those cases he gained the experience of large scale disclosure, lengthy and complex investigations both domestic and overseas, lengthy and complex confiscation proceedings involving UK and overseas assets (Europe, Switzerland, Caribbean, off-shore centres), drafting and obtaining letters of request, PII and familiarity with various prosecuting agency procedures. He represented at interview and Section 2 interviews (SFO). He ran teams of multiple fee earners as well as being responsible for drafting DCSs, complex and lengthy admissions, obtaining foreign evidence (Letters of Request etc), disclosure, instruction of experts and obtaining funding from the LSC. He has experience from 1996 of the various confiscation regimes defeating all SFO and HMCE confiscation in his cases from then on. Appearing in Chancery to dismiss a civil claim brought by a leading Commercial City firm in an international fraud after two failed SFO trials and a related CPS Special Casework trial his application was described as put together by a Silk by his opponents (1997). His first experience of SFO defence work was joining the defence team in SFO v Feld (Resort Hotels – investment fraud) just before its 5 month trial commenced (1995-96).

As part of his practice he became one of the first LSC Very High Cost Cases (VHCCs) Supervisors in 2000 solely based upon his experience of VHCC cases (SFO, HMCE etc), giving any such firm access to the Fraud Panel and ensuring his continued leadership of such cases. He was offered partnership but preferred call to the Bar.

On the civil side he lead claims/defences against opponents represented by the largest City firms in matters of fraud and financial disputes and often drafted the original case papers (Claim/Defence third party claims, counterclaims, statements, further and better particulars, affidavits, applications (eg strike outs, summary judgment, disclosure, amendments) etc. He also dealt with asset recovery (Mareva’s, freezing orders), international disclosure and emergency applications.

Prior to commencing practice in London from the early 1990s, he had worked in Brussels immediately after qualification and in Paris in English and French law firms (Shipping, International Chamber of Commerce) before qualification. In Brussels he was an intern with the European Commission prosecuting price fixing cartels (eg Cartonboard, 24 companies in 12 different countries) with DGIV (now DG Competition). He first qualified and practiced in Edinburgh before moving to Brussels in 1992.

As part of his practice he would travel widely in respect of foreign claims or clients.

Overall Meyrick’s professional practice goes back over twenty years.

He has also worked in banking and insurance.

Aswell as appearing in Court he also advises on areas of law and the need for proceedings. He is well aware of the constraints on funding and will provide advices in order it be obtained. He is also well aware of the pressures facing clients and will do all he can to resolve matters with the best possible outcome including the avoidance of any trial or the placing of his client in the best possible position available.

Whilst in practice before transfer to the Bar Meyrick began his long experience of dealings with directors, senior executives, entrepreneurs, High Net Worth Individuals (HNWI's) and their families.

Prior to commencing professional practice, in 1988 he also undertook mini-pupillages in all the Inns of Court including an extended minipupillage of one month in the former European Law Chambers where he assisted in drafting and drafted in part a prospectus on EC developments for the City aswell as being involved in matters before the Commercial Court.