Charles Sherrard

Year of Call: 1986

Specialist practice areas: Serious Crime, Criminal/Civil Fraud, Regulation/Compliance, Asset Forfeiture, Health & Safety, Police Disciplinary, Inquests & Public Inquiries

Criminal Fraud

Charles Sherrard is particularly interested in white collar fraud, drug related and violent crime. In all of these areas, he has built up an impressive track record over twenty years of being a junior and leading junior. During the last 5 years, Charles has devoted himself to detailed and successful case preparation in a large number of MTIC frauds tried in Liverpool, Birmingham, Northampton and London. Currently, as lead counsel, he is engaged in representing a key defendant in Operation Ghast to be tried in Southwark Crown Court. This not only involves the first ipod carousel, but extensive evidence concerning the FCIB. The latter has become a common theme in such frauds, and Charles was a speaker on the panel of the FCIB Seminar, held in Birmingham last year in conjunction with Alias Dass and others. He addressed an impressive audience on abuse of process within MTIC cases. As junior, Charles currently preparing for trial in Operation Heyrick [Birmingham Crown Court] concerning the alleged carouselling of mobile phones on a huge scale. In the past few years, he represented Dean Simons in Operation Capri; the lead defendant in Operation Devout 2 [Jona Adali-Mortty]; and the only defendant in Operation Devout 1 [Bruce Thomas] to be acquitted. He prides himself in assiduous case preparation, tactical savvy and client care.  

Drugs Conspiracies

Charles’ experience of drugs cases is equally extensive and included the longstanding representation of Sylvia Allpress as part of the ‘Michael Michael’ operation, also culminating in the successful defence of Jerry Coffey, ‘the lawyer’ within the conspiracy. The Allpress litigation finally and successfully concluded, after 9 years of representation in the Court of Appeal [see Notable Cases]. Charles also acted for John Barton in connection with a 200kg class A conspiracy, and was leading counsel for Warwick McNay and Anthony Mahoney. All of these cases involved detailed confiscation hearings. Most recently, three defendants, all within Operation Iberus, have requested his services, one after the other, in separate trials. Major London drug players, such as Riaz Mohammed and Asnat Akram have all instructed Charles and still do.

Violent Crime

Charles appeared for William Cockram in the high-profile Millennium Dome Robbery case. He has enjoyed success in a number of major trials, including defending Vernon Wood against murder charges at the CCC. Here he appeared as junior counsel alone. Charles' other criminal work has included corruption cases, terrorism (acting as lead counsel in the 2003 PKK trial) and benefit fraud. He recently acted as lead counsel for Paul Farmer in connection with a tobacco importation case involving corrupt customs officers that arose out of Operation Athletic.

Regulatory Work

Charles experience of regulatory work includes his recent successful defence of one of the "Metric Martyrs", Janet Devers, at Snaresbrook Crown Court. See Notable Cases for further details.

Chambers Business

As the chair of Furnival Chambers' pupillage committee, Charles is committed to ensuring a smooth-running and successful pupillage process while providing professional, hands-on training. Charles was appointed a Chambers Director in July 2008.