Oliver Grimwood New Lawyer of the Year UK About Oliver Grimwood

Oliver Grimwood is now 10 years call and joined Chambers 5 years ago when it resided at its previous address. Oliver has built a reputation for not shying away from

cases that involve complicated legal argument or those that require a detailed consideration of

large volumes of

disclosure. He approaches all cases in the same fashion, that a successful defence is built and fought from the outset, with emphasis being placed on precise disclosure requests to undermine the Crown’s case. As a result a significant portion of Oliver’s practice relates to complex confiscation, large scale fraud, asset forfeiture, and offences under the Proceeds of Crime Act.

Oliver is one of the youngest Barristers to ever appear before the Supreme Court. He has been before the Court twice on the now leading confiscation authority of R v Waya [2012] UKSC 51, a case the full 9 man court deemed to be “a matter of great public importance”. This successful appeal provided a wholesale review of the assessment of criminal benefit in confiscation hearings, the effects of re-payment of such benefit prior to final hearing, and whether ‘abuse of process’ principles can apply. A Court now must only make a confiscation order if it is satisfied it is ‘proportionate to the aims of the legislation’ and so compatible with Article 1 of the 1st Protocol of the European Convention on Human Rights. This has given those wishing to challenge

confiscation orders significantly greater scope to do so. This landmark judgment has gone a long way to creating a more level playing field for those from whom the State is attempting to take private property.

Oliver is often instructed in confiscation or asset forfeiture matters that involve cross-jurisdictional asset tracing. Oliver has sent solicitors everywhere from Jamaica to Nigeria and all across Europe in attempts to establish the legitimate source of client’s assets.

Oliver also advises individuals and companies on their compliance obligations under the money laundering regulations, and the proceeds of crime act: a growing area of legal services in light of the increased use of enforced ‘self-regulation’ by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority.

Notable Cases

R v Enyidedie: Currently instructed in a confiscation matter at

the Central

Criminal Courts stemming from complex multi-jurisdictional fraud on Royal Sun Alliance.

generated from operation of the ‘sham’ or legitimate trading by the company;

R v Johnson: Leading Counsel in

confiscation hearing relating to importation of Class A drugs worth over £250 million. Final criminal benefit figure reduced to £300,000.

R v Hatharb: Money laundering by alleged financier of Al-Qaida;

Issue as to whether assets

R v Rizwan: Confiscation order sought relating to over £4 million of assets alleged to be hidden in Pakistan.

R v Butler: Conspiracy to defraud casinos via the use of roulette tables and insider participation by croupiers.

Chambers prides itself on the

diversity of the services it can

provide as well as the efficient and cost effective

nature in which it goes about providing this service.

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Lawyer Monthly Legal Awards 2013

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