Charles Evans

Year of Call: 1988

Specialist practice areas: Serious Crime, Criminal/Civil Fraud, Serious Sexual Offences, Asset Forfeiture, Anti-terrorism, Prison Law, Health & Safety, Courts Martial, Inquests & Public Inquiries

Charles Evans' broad criminal practice spans the range of crime from large-scale public disorder, through serious violence to sexual offences, rape and homicide. Firearms, armed robbery and money laundering cases have recently formed a significant part of his workload. He also has considerable experience in cases involving the importation, production and supply of class A drugs and the movement of the proceeds thereby generated. His case load has included a £7 million + cocaine importation and money laundering trial, and a case arising from the seizure of 1,800kg of cannabis resin.

White collar crime is also of particular interest to Charles who has acted as leading junior in two major Ministry of Defence corruption cases. General fraud has always been a steady diet of his practice with recent cases including multi-handed  fraud/duty evasion/money laundering trials.

With the effects of the comparatively recent introduction of Imprisonment for the Public Protection starting to be seen in cases where the minimum term to be served has been reached,  Charles has developed a Prison Law practice so as to be able to present argument on length of sentence both at the time of sentencing and at the subsequent Parole Board. The principles governing release or transfer to open conditions, especially in circumstances where the prisoner has through no fault of his own been unable to curb his "dangerousness", are still being laid down and he enjoys the opportunity of being involved in what can be regarded as a dynamic area of law.

Charles is experienced in all aspects of appellate work, including applications to the Court of Appeal (both on paper and renewed, orally, if necessary) and judicial review in the Administrative Court. He has also appeared before the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council in pro bono Jamaican murder appeals.

A member of the South Eastern Circuit, and the Criminal Bar Association, Charles is also an advisor to Working Title Film Productions.