Giles Cockings

Year of Call: 1996

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

Ranked as a leading junior in crime in Chambers & Partners Guide (2008 & 2009)

According to those he has worked with, Giles Cockings is a “rising star”, who is “highly effective in cross-examination” and has both a “strong tactical sense and an impressive grasp of cultural sensitivities”. His “inherently good judgment, which cannot be taught” was singled out for particular praise. Regularly instructed in some of the most serious cases at the Old Bailey and other UK courts, his practice encompasses major murders, financial white collar fraud, money laundering, sexual offences and the large-scale importation of drugs.

He is a leading junior who in recent years has been requested to lead a number of junior counsel from various chambers in several serious and complex multi handed cut-throat cases of  violence, drugs and money laundering.

His experience in violent crime cases has included over 20 major murder trials, reaching successful conclusions in 90%. Here his experience includes contract killings, cultural and abuse-led revenge killings, gang warfare, financially-driven murders and 'single punch' deaths. He has also appeared in manslaughter, armed robbery, conspiracy to rob, firearms and terrorism cases, and has experience of shaken baby syndrome and issues of medical causation.

Giles has an extensive track record in financial crime including money laundering trials as well as advance fee, mortgage, VAT and banking fraud, many of them involving cross-jurisdictional elements.

He recently successfully  defended in the largest attempted currency fraud against the Bank of England prosecuted by the Fraud Prosecuton Service and was subsequently instructed by the Fraud Prosecution Service to successfully prosecute for them in a multi million pound “Madoff type” investment fraud.

His expertise extends to specialised accountancy fraud and other complex City frauds, where his full understanding of banking operations, experience in the financial markets and interest in regulatory work and FSA legislation come into their own. His experience of confiscation and asset seizure cases extends across the areas of fraud and drugs crime, where he also has extensive experience. Recent examples include acting in connection with one of the largest alleged importations of class A drugs into the country.

In the area of sexual offences, his extensive experience includes Operation Goldsmith, involving the highly-publicised Welsh National Children's' Home historic abuse allegations: Giles acted in the only trial of 12 in which any defendant was acquitted.

He has represented professionals facing disiplinary action in the field of medicine/dentistry and has a burgeoning interest in the field of corporate manlaughter and the effects upon  the NHS and the Transport Industry.

He has also appeared in a number of Courts-Martial across the country

Other

Memberships:  CBA, South Eastern Circuit, Hon Soc Middle Temple

Chambers Pupil Supervisor

Middle Temple Award Winner

Author of;  “CPIA: Issues of Disclosure”