Leila Gaafar, instructed by Nicholls and Nicholls, represented a young woman of good character who was accused of being an ‘insider’ at a large global bank. She was charged with conspiracy to defraud and money laundering. Following a careful review of the weaknesses in the prosecution evidence, Leila successfully applied to dismiss the case against her client at Southwark Crown Court. The hard work, diligence and outstanding client management of Nicholls and Nicholls, in particular Bhavna and Oliver, were essential to securing this excellent outcome for the client. To instruct Leila on a financial crime matter, please contact the clerks. bit.ly/4BmebW8

6KBW College Hill is proud to maintain its ranking as a Top Tier Set and Leading Set across a broad range of practice areas in the Chambers and Partners 2027 Guide. 34 members, including 19 Silks and 15 Juniors, have been ranked as leading practitioners in 10 of Chambers’ practice areas: POCA Work & Asset Forfeiture, Sanctions, Administrative & Public Law, Consumer Law, Crime, Extradition, Financial Crime, Financial Crime: Corporates, Financial Crime: Private Prosecutions, and Inquests & Public Inquiries. We congratulate all those who have been ranked and thank our Members, Clerks, and Support Staff for their continued dedication. This recognition highlights the strength and breadth of expertise at 6KBW College Hill and our ongoing commitment to excellence in advocacy and client service.

6KBW College Hill is pleased to announce that Henry Screaton and Benjamin Savill have begun their pupillage with Chambers. We extend a warm welcome to them both.

6KBW College Hill is delighted to announce Sebastian Walker has joined Chambers.

Paul Jarvis KC represented Dr Alexander Zarneh, who was charged with fraudulent trading and public nuisance arising out of his involvement in a company called RT Diagnostics Ltd that provided COVID testing services to the public during the pandemic. Dr Zarneh was a private consultant who had previously worked in the NHS for 40 years. The trial commenced on 20 October 2025. On 16 April 2026, the jury was discharged following an allegation of jury tampering. The trial judge – HHJ Smith – decided to continue with a judge-alone trial, a decision that was later endorsed by the Court of Appeal. HHJ Smith returned his verdicts on the five defendants on 8 October 2026, nearly 12 months after the trial had started. Dr Zarneh was acquitted of both offences. Paul was sole counsel for Dr Zarneh, instructed by Amrik Bilkhu of Rahman Ravelli Solicitors. bit.ly/47kw75E

6KBW College Hill is delighted to announce Max Mills has joined Chambers.

6KBW College Hill are delighted to announce Isabella Priestman-Bennett and Lucy Bleichroeder-Baker have both successfully completed their twelve month pupillage with us. Many Congratulations to you both and Welcome to 6KBW College Hill.

We are delighted that 6KBW College Hill has retained its Top Tier ranking for Crime and has been ranked Tier 1 for Business Crime: Large Corporates in the Legal 500 UK 2027 Guide. A total of 38 members including 20 silks and 18 juniors have been acknowledged as leading practitioners across 7 core practice areas: Crime, Business & Regulatory Crime, International Crime & Extradition, POCA, Administrative Law & Human Rights, Fraud, and Inquests & Inquiries. We extend our sincere congratulations to all those recognised, and our thanks to the entire team - members of Chambers, Clerks, and support staff - for their continued dedication and outstanding contribution.

Adeel Khan, 32, has been sentenced to four-and-a-half years’ imprisonment for providing assistance to Daniel Khalife after he had escaped from HMP Wandsworth under a food lorry. They had both worked in the prison kitchens together during their time at Wandsworth: Khalife, who had been a soldier in the British Army, was remanded in custody awaiting trial for charges under the Official Secrets Act 1911 and the Terrorism Act 2000; Khan was contesting his extradition to France for trafficking firearms. When Khalife escaped early in the morning on 6 September 2023, supported under the lorry only by a makeshift sling made from bedsheets, he had with him a diary which contained Khan’s details. Whilst he was on the run, Khalife asked members of the public in Richmond Park if he could borrow their phones, which he would then use to call Khan repeatedly on an iPhone he had with him in prison. Khan arranged for one of his friends to meet Khalife near an ATM in Richmond after dark and withdraw £400 for him. Khalife spent some of the money on a mobile phone, which he used to send a message to his IRGC handlers, and to continue speaking to Khan. Khalife was arrested on the fourth day of his escape next to a canal in Northolt, as he was cycling out of London on a stolen mountain bike. Tom Williams appeared for the Crown in Khan’s trial at Snaresbrook Crown Court; he was junior counsel for the Crown (led by Mark Heywood KC) in the prosecution of Khalife at Woolwich Crown Court, who was sentenced on 3 February 2025 by Cheema-Grubb J to 14 years and 3 months - bit.ly/4qWU3Fh

The Pupillage Gateway application timetable for 2026/2027 has now been confirmed. For further information, please visit: bit.ly/45GpIko

6KBW College Hill is delighted to announce that Alistair Richardson has been shortlisted in the Crime Junior category at the Chambers & Partners UK Bar Awards 2026. The winners will be announced at the awards ceremony on Thursday, 12th November 2026. We would like to extend our congratulations to Alistair and to all those who have been shortlisted. To view the full list of nominations, please visit: bit.ly/4bK0HZ9

We are pleased to launch our 2026 essay competition, aimed at fostering greater diversity and inclusion at the Bar. The deadline is 30 September 2026. For more information, please click bit.ly/4hEgyfg

With the publication of the Chambers and Partners High Net Worth Guide 2026, 6KBW College Hill is delighted to be recognised as a leading set for Financial Crime: High Net Worth. We are also pleased that David Perry KC, Duncan Penny KC and Rebecca Chalkley KC have each been recognised as leading practitioners in this year’s Guide. The Guide states that “6KBW College Hill is well regarded for financial crime matters involving high net worth individuals. Members at the set are regularly instructed to handle complex investigations involving bribery, corruption and sanctions.” It also notes that “6KBW does not seek glory but seeks to provide the most practical, sharp and insightful service” and that “6KBW College Hill are regarded as doing high-profile, high net worth cases. They have a great reputation.” David Perry KC is recognised as “highly experienced in handling financial crime matters, both prosecuting and for affluent and high-profile defendants.” The Guide further describes him as “a font of all knowledge, particularly for proceeds of crime and civil recovery matters”, adding that he is “totally unflappable and has super judgement” and “intimidatingly brilliant.” Duncan Penny KC is recognised for his work on financial crime matters for high net worth clients and is described as “well respected among instructing solicitors for this work.” The Guide adds that his “intellect and knowledge of the law is up there with the best, but what sets him apart is his strategic analysis and judgement”, while also describing his “instinct, knowledge and experience” as “exceptional.” Rebecca Chalkley KC is recognised for regularly handling complex financial crime mandates for high net worth clients, with a particular focus on private prosecutions. She is described as “a pleasure to deal with”, “calm, unflappable and… a very reliable and consistent partner”, and “a fantastic advocate, brilliant with clients, and is a real team player as well.” Congratulations to all those recognised, and thank you to all those who took the time to provide feedback to Chambers & Partners.

6KBW College Hill is delighted to announce that the following Members of Chambers have been appointed to the Attorney General’s Civil Panel: Adam Payter has been appointed to the A Panel. Megan Millar has been appointed to the B Panel. Alex Du Sautoy has been appointed to the C Panel. The appointments take effect from 1st September 2026.

Michael Bisgrove and Lyndon Harris appeared for the Crown in the prosecution of Jogesh “Johnny” Bhandari, Craig Morris and Meenakshi Bhandari. Jogesh Bhandari and Craig Morris were responsible for perpetrating a large multi-national fraud during the Covid-19 pandemic concerning the purchase and supply of PPE, specifically nitrile gloves, resulting in the loss of millions of dollars to a USA based company and a German based company. Jogesh Bhandari’s company - Banton - had offices in the UK, USA and Dubai. At the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, Jogesh Bhandari sought to get into the PPE business. He arranged deals to purchase and supply nitrile gloves and worked with Frank Labruzzo, a US Assistant Attorney General at the Louisiana State Justice Department. Labruzzo provided a fraudulent escrow service, which say funds that should have remained in the escrow account until the completion of the proposed PPE deals in fact transferred to Bhandari. Bhandari then paid off his own debts, bought a Porsche 911, completed home renovations and took his family on holiday. He worked with Craig Morris who assisted him in making misrepresentations to those Banton was trying to do business with. The promised deals were for millions and millions of boxes of gloves. One such deal was valued at over $1bn. Meenakshi Bhandari, Jogesh’s wife, used the money to pay off her debts. Purchases of jewellery were also made. Jogesh Bhandari and Craig Morris were convicted of fraud. Meenakshi Bhandari was convicted of money laundering in relation to the proceeds. They will be sentenced on 21 August 2026 at Leicester Crown Court. Further details can be found here bit.ly/4fk57qq (NCA) and here bit.ly/4aXf5wN (BBC)

Former Nigerian Minister of Oil and Head of OPEC Cleared of Bribery. Following a six month trial, Diezani Alison-Madueke and Olatimbo Ayinde were cleared of bribery offences, in the UK’s largest ever bribery trial. Diezani Alison-Madueke was the Nigerian Minister of Oil and first female Head of OPEC under President Goodluck Jonathan. She faced five charges of bribery, and an allegation of conspiracy to commit bribery, spanning a five-year period following an investigation that lasted 13 years. She was represented by Alistair Richardson, led by Jonathan Laidlaw KC, instructed by Mark Bowen of Shearman Bowen. Olatimbo Ayinde is the Chairman of a group of oil companies. She faced an allegation of bribing Diezani Alison-Madueke, and of bribing a foreign public official. She was represented by Peter Ratliff, led by Jonathan Lennon KC, instructed by Aziz Rahman and Francesca Cassidy-Taylor of Rahman Ravelli. Archbishop Doye Agama, Dizani Alison-Madueke’s brother faced an allegation of conspiracy to commit bribery. All three defendants were acquitted of all the allegations they faced. bit.ly/4uWDQ3h

We are pleased to launch our 2025 essay competition, aimed at fostering greater diversity and inclusion at the Bar. The deadline is 19 September 2025. For more information, please click here: bit.ly/4eZTFzV

Yesterday was the first day of public hearings in Module 6 of the UK Covid-19 Inquiry which focuses on adult social care. Adam Payter & Megan Millar represent NACAS (National Association of Care & Support Workers) instructed by Claire Lipworth and Helen Boniface at Hogan Lovells.