Giles Cockings

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 & 2010)

According to those he has worked with, Giles Cockings is a “rising star”, “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, Murder, Financial White Collar Fraud, Money Laundering, Sexual Offences and the large-scale importation of Drugs.

A leading junior who is often prosecuted by silks, he has established a reputation for hard work and meticulous preparation. He has been requested  to lead juniors from other chambers and solicitor advocates from numerous firms of solicitors in many serious and complex multi handed, cut-throat cases of  fraud, violence, drugs and money laundering.

When not acting as lead counsel, Giles is often requested by some of the country’s leading QC’s to act as their junior to assist in the preparation & presentation of high profile & difficult cases.

His experience in violent crime cases has included close to 30 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. Areas of specialisation within this area include FSA, Banking Fraud, Insider Dealing, MTIC, VAT, carousel, “boiler room”, advance fee, investment & corporate 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 and as lead counsel in subsequent mortgage frauds.

His expertise extends to specialised accountancy fraud and other complex City frauds, where his full understanding of banking operations, career 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.

Recent examples of Drugs crime include acting in connection with two of the largest alleged importations of class A drugs into the country both as leading junior and as led junior.

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 also recently successfully defended in a highly publicised multi count rape& kidnap allegation heard at the Old Bailey in 2010.

As the only lawyer within a medical family Giles has a keen interest in Coroners Inquests. He has been involved in a number of high profile inquests ranging from deaths within NHS and issues of medical care to the high profile inquest in 2010 surrounding the death of Dr Ashraf Marwan whom the press reported as being the most infamous alleged double agent for Israel & Egypt during Yom Kippur.

He has represented professionals facing disciplinary 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”