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Brendan Kelly QC

Described by the leading industry directory as having "a phenomenal court presence", Brendan Kelly QC's practice focuses on the provision of advice and advocacy in cases of fraud, serious crime, and regulatory law. As well as representing individuals, he is also sought out by regulated professionals for cases arising in the workplace. He also regularly advises and represents corporate clients, as well as their individual directors and officers (both in the UK and abroad), in all aspects of business crime.

Although much of Brendan's work is privately funded, he remains committed to ensuring proper access to justice for all, and he will be pleased to speak with solicitors about undertaking their publicly funded cases.

Brendan is also authorised to accept instructions to advise individuals and corporate clients on a Direct Access basis.

PRACTICE

Fraud and Financial Crime

Throughout his career, both as a junior and in Silk, Brendan has always been cited by the industry directories as a leading barrister for fraud matters. Since his call to the Bar, complex financial crime has always formed a substantial part of his practice, and he is well experienced in matters involving MTIC and VAT issues, Ponzi schemes, land banking, carbon credit, FOREX / currency exchange, advance fee, boiler room and mortgage frauds.

He also regularly advises on cases involving money laundering, and ancillary proceedings including asset forfeiture, restraint and confiscation. In particular, he is regularly instructed by individuals and corporates on a private basis for confiscation proceedings in a bid to secure as favourable an order as possible.

Brendan is also an acknowledged specialist in the law of bribery and corruption. He advised a director, pre-charge, in the Innospec case, and regularly advises UK and international clients on how the provisions of the Bribery Act 2010 may impact upon their business operations. He also lectures and trains extensively in this area, and recently shared a platform with the US Attorney General for a lecture on the Bribery Act for US lawyers in Washington DC.

Forthcoming white-collar crime matters include representing the first defendant in the largest carbon credit fraud to come before the Crown Court, as well as appearing in the Crown Exchange currency fraud trial, and three further major fraud trials at Southwark Crown Court over 2014/2015. He will also appear in one of the series of cases involving fake bomb detection equipment sold to the Iraqi Ministry of Defence.

Serious and Complex Crime

Alongside his fraud practice, Brendan's jury-friendly style of advocacy has led to his instruction in some of the most serious criminal trials in recent years. In particular, he is requested for cases involving high-profile defendants; recent instructions include representing the defendant charged with the murder of Welsh schoolgirl, April Jones, as well as the son of a notable Conservative MP who was charged with a serious of offences of violence.

Brendan has also been a regular visitor to the Northern Ireland courts, where he represented with success in a series of terrorist trials. He is also one of the only English barristers to have appeared regularly in the Northern Ireland appeal court and divisional court.

Now he has returned for a series of cases in London and other English courts, over the coming months he is instructed to defend in four murder trials in London, having achieved 13 acquittals from his last 16 jury trials.

Regulatory Law

Brendan's reputation as an advocate has also led to his being instructed in a variety of other tribunals. He appears for pharmacists who face proceedings brought by their regulatory body, and also appears on behalf of police officers; a recent case involved persuading the Police Appeals Tribunal to re-instate a Detective Inspector with full pension rights. Brendan also represents sports professionals, and recent work has included a racehorse trainer and a Formula One racing driver.

Personal Life

Brendan has been married to Sallie Bennett-Jenkins QC for 21 years. In their marriage they have 6 children. Triplets at 18, identical twin boys at 16 and a single girl at 13.