Christopher Rees

Year of Call: 1996

Specialist practice areas: Serious crime, criminal and civil fraud, serious sexual offences, asset forfeiture, police disciplinary.

Education

Cambridge University BA (hons) Law.

Appointments

Grade 4 Prosecutor. Member of the Criminal Bar Association. Member of the Employment Lawyers Association

Profile

He has been instructed in some of the most high profile criminal cases on the Wales Circuit and beyond.
Chris is listed in Legal 500 for 2011 and for many years previously as recommended Counsel in crime and in particular white collar fraud. Chris has extensive experience in acting in serious and complex crime and in particular Very High Cost Cases. He has acted in high value Proceeds of Crime Act applications both in the Crown Court and High Court.
Chris has represented defendants as Leading Junior and Junior Counsel in MTIC frauds, fuel laundering frauds, banking frauds, major drugs supply/importation, homicide offences, serious sexual offences and offences against the person.
He has been instructed by the Criminal Cases Review Commission and successfully overturned historic wrongful convictions at the Court of Appeal.
A further area of specialisation is police disciplinary work with a particular expertise in Police Appeals Tribunals. He has represented officers from many different forces(South Wales, Avon and Somerset, Dyfed Powys, Wiltshire) Chris has also represented Police Officers before the Crown Court, the Coroner's Court and the Court of Appeal in cases that have attracted national publicity.
Other Regulatory work includes acting and advising in trademark and copyright cases , VAT Tribunals and sports discipline.

Recent notable cases

R v Rees [2011] VAT evasion case involving the importation of over 6 million counterfeit cigarettes.
R v Pinnell [2010] EWCA 2848 [2011] Crim L.R 253 leading authority on the use of extended sentences.
R v Ashman and others [2010] (Operation Ukraine) Leading Junior in VHCC MTIC fraud involving the importation of motor vehicles from Europe.
R v Thomas[2010] serious and complex trial about an international child pornography ring involving computer experts from around the world.
R v Wahid and others [2010] (Operation Atlanta) Large scale conspiracy to supply Class A drugs.
R v Ali and others [2010] (Operation Rebus) Large scale conspiracy to supply Class A drugs.
R v Bannister [2010] 2 All ER 841 guideline authority on the use of ‘special driving skills' of Police Officers in dangerous driving cases.

Other notable cases

R v Ali Jalali and others[2009] Leading Junior in VHCC nationwide banking fraud.
R v Singh and others [2009] Serious sexual abuse case involving multiple family members
R v Craig Johnson and others(Operation Emersed) [2007] EWCA 2837 £138million VAT fraud. One of the largest VAT frauds in the history of the UK. The trial at Wolverhampton Crown Court lasted nine months with full jury protection.
R v Strain and Kelly [2006] Defence Counsel in hydro-carbons (fuel laundering) fraud involving extensive money laundering amongst the Northern Ireland criminal fraternity.
R v James Alexander [2005] 2 Cr.App.R(S) Counsel in guideline Court of Appeal authority on the sentencing of racially aggravated offences.
R v Nikolai and others [2004] Junior Counsel in high profile fraud case arising out of the collapse of First Vehicle Contracts a nationwide car leasing company.
R v Jeffrey Ghaffour [2003] Junior Counsel in the high profile murder case involving the death of Lynette White. The case was the culmination of an investigation which spanned many years and included the notorious wrongful conviction of the "Cardiff Three".
R v Thompson and others [2003] (Operation Corolla). Leading Junior in a high profile Class A drugs supply conspiracy involving members of ‘Yardie' Jamaican gangs.

Chris has been a speaker at a number of seminars on various topics relevant to areas of his practise. He has a particular interest in civil liberties. He was a keynote speaker at the Convention on Modern Liberty in 2009. Chris is a keen sportsman and a supporter of Cardiff City FC.