Sir Desmond is one of this country's leading Queen's Counsel with particular expertise in Business Crime, Clubs & Vice, Espionage Trials, Extradition, Human Rights, Kidnap & Blackmail, Large Scale importation of Drugs, Money Laundering, Murder, Sports Law, Tax & VAT Fraud, Terrorism, Treason, War Crimes and White Collar Fraud. The high standing in which he is held has been underlined by the honour of a Knighthood that has been conferred upon him in the New Year Honours of 2007.
In recent years he has either acted for, or advised many leading sporting personalities from the worlds of football, rugby and horse racing; they include, John Terry, Ron Atkinson, Hans Segers, Lawrence Dallaglio, Graham Rix, Lee Bowyer, Jamie Osborne and Jaqui Oliver.
Outside England and Wales, he has appeared in many jurisdictions where he has been instructed to prosecute or defend. His work has also involved advising Heads of State and Governments. When he was appointed the Chief Prosecutor of the UN backed international criminal court he became one of just four incumbent international Chief Prosecutors in the world. As a defence counsel he has been credited by "The Times" with having saved more people from capital punishment in the Commonwealth than any other London-based practising member of the English Bar.
His success at the bar has been built on an ability to get to the heart of the matter, be it the evidence of a witness or a case and as a forceful and persuasive jury advocate.
In July 2005, when The Secretary General appointed him Chief Prosecutor of the UN backed court in Sierra Leone, he was appointed at a level of an Under-Secretary General of the UN. He has, therefore, first hand insight into the operation of public international law, international criminal law and crimes against humanity.
Professional Associations
- Called to the Bar by the Middle Temple 1964
- Member of the Criminal Bar Association
- Member of International Association of Prosecutors
- Appointed as Deputy Prosecutor for the new UN backed international criminal tribunal for Sierra Leone in 2002
- Appointed Chief Prosecutor for the Special Court for Sierra Leone in 2005 by the Secretary General - Kofi Annan
- Knighted 2007
- Bencher of the Middle Temple 2008
- Counsel to HM Revenue & Customs before VAT and Duties Tribunals 2008
Some of the many cases of Interest include:
- R v Sir Rupert Mackeson Extradition
- R v Roger Levitt City of London Fraud
- R v Lord Brockett Insurance Fraud
- R v Hans Segers Football Corruption
- R v John Terry Chelsea & England Premier League Footballer accused of GBH
- R v Jack Bennett Ostrich Farming Fraud
- R v Newell A son's murder of his parents in Jersey. A trial that spawned four books.
- R v Bailey Blackmail of a member of a Royal House
- R v Bowyer Premier League Footballer charged with GBH
- R v Bowles An owner of a cargo airline prosecuted for multi million VAT fraud (May 2009)
Sir Desmond's other interests include Politics, Forensic Medicine and numerous charities.
