Ben Gordon

Year of Call: 2005

Specialist practice areas: Serious Crime, Health & Safety, Police Disciplinary, Courts Martial, Immigration, Inquests & Public Inquiries

Since joining in chambers in 2006 Ben has developed a busy and successful defence practice at every level of the criminal justice system. Whilst specialising in serious crime Ben also has experience practising in prison law, extradition and regulatory reform.

Ben has successfully defended his clients in matters ranging from serious violence to drug importation, money laundering, firearms, complex fraud and sexual offences and has successfully appealed against wrongful convictions and excessive sentences. Listed below are a few examples of cases in which he has acted.

Murder - Ben represented a 12 year old who was charged with murder following a series of highly-publicised happy-slapping attacks in south London. The murder charge was eventually dismissed when pleas to lesser offences were accepted.

Robbery - Ben has successfully defended a number of clients charged with robbery at every level of the scale ranging from street muggings to armed cash-in-transits. As a pupil, Ben assisted in the preparation of and appeared as stand-in for junior counsel to the first defendant in the record-breaking Tonbridge heist as well as the Menzies Heathrow robbery which culminated in the unprecedented juryless trial early in 2010.

Money Laundering and Drug Importation - Ben appeared as junior counsel in the case of R. v. Thakrar [2009] Crim.L.R. 357, CA. In this case, the appellant's conviction was successfully appealed on the grounds of unauthorised jury research into extraneous material and a re-trial was ordered. In the summer of 2010 Ben appeared as junior counsel at Blackfriars Crown court in a trial which marked the result of a two-year undercover SOCA operation into the distribution of class A drugs and the laundering of the profits. The case involved a long and sophisticated operation which revolved around covert surveillance and cell-site analysis and resulted in the arrest and charge of multiple conspirators.

Causing Death by Driving - Ben recently appeared as junior to Queen's counsel at Southwark Crown court and secured the acquittal of his client following the forensic analysis of substantial expert imagery and accident reconstruction reports.

Fraud - Ben has successfully defended in a number of fraud and dishonesty cases involving duty evasion, benefit overpayment and car-ringing.

Ben invariably enjoys a good relationship with his professional and lay clients and is committed to the fearless and tenacious defence of those he represents.

Ben is co-secretary of the pupillage committee at chambers and an enthusiastic advocacy trainer both in-house and for the Honourable Society of the Inner Temple.

Away from the bar Ben's passion lies in his friends and family, global travel, films and all competitive sports.