Barristers

Alastair Smith

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Practise area and specialisations
Cases of interest

Called

2001

Appointments

Appointed to the Attorney General's List C of Prosecuting Counsel (2006)
Appointed to the CPS Advocate Panel at Level 3

Practice Areas and Specialisations

Serious Crime and Fraud

Alastair specialises in all aspects of criminal work, both prosecution and defence, with particular focus on serious and large-scale offences relating to drugs, violence and fraud.

In particular Alastair has been regularly instructed on serious cases involving complex forensic evidence and/or vulnerable witnesses relating to offences of conspiracy, serious violence and large-scale drugs supply.

Alastair is also instructed in significant cases involving allegations of large-scale fraud including the largest ever fraud perpetrated against the Land Registry (R v W).

Local Government

Alastair also has extensive and particular experience in undertaking a wide range of work on behalf of local authorities relating to areas of environmental, planning, education and regulatory enforcement.

Alastair has been involved in several high profile prosecutions relating to environmental enforcement as well as specialist areas such a tree preservation orders, food hygiene prosecutions and prosecutions under the Education Act and Town and Country Planning Act.

Alastair also provides training to local authority officers in the investigation and presentation of prosecutions.

Regulatory Prosecution

Alastair is regularly instructed by a wide range of prosecuting authorities including the Department of Business, Innovation and Skills, Ofcom and Capita.

Alastair both prosecutes and defends in offences relating to trade-mark infringement, director disqualification as well as offences relating to unlicensed broadcasting (R v H and others).

Confiscation and Forfeiture

Alastair has developed a specific specialism in both prosecuting and defending proceedings relating to confiscation and asset forfeiture.

Alastair has been instructed in a number of large-scale confiscations and has been instructed both by the defence and prosecution in cases of cash forfeiture.

Alastair is qualified to received instructions through Direct Public Access.

Education and Qualifications

Inns of Court School of Law
BA (Hons) - Manchester University

Memberships

Criminal Bar Association
South Eastern Circuit

Cases of Interest

Serious Crime and Fraud

R v. W - Reading Crown Court, 2009-2011. Led Junior in £7 million land fraud perpetrated against the Land Registry. This represents the largest ever fraud against the Land Registry.

R v. H - Croydon Crown Court, 2011. Junior Alone representing a director accused of theft by deception (£100k+) as well as acting as a director whilst disqualified.

R v. H - Isleworth Crown Court, 2011. Junior Alone charged with attempted murder following an attack with a bottle.

R v. O - Harrow Crown Court, 2011. Junior Alone representing 15 year old youth defendant charged with s.18 in relation to a machete attack.

R v. C - Isleworth Crown Court, 2010. Junior Alone charge with ABH on his 7 year old son.

R v. M - Isleworth Crown Court, 2010. Junior Alone representing alleged member of West London gang charged with a joint knife attack on rival gang members causing serious wounding.

R v. J - Kingston Crown Court, 2009. Junior Alone representing a serving PSCO accused of being involved in a large-scale conspiracy to supply class A drugs.

R v. S - Kingston Crown Court, 2009. Led Junior representing main defendant in large-scale human trafficking case relating to the alleged importation of workers from Afghanistan to the UK.

R v. C - Winchester Crown Court, 2008. Led Junior representing 17yr old male accused of arson with intent to endanger life after allegedly setting fire to the house of his estranged father’s partner.

R v. C - Winchester Crown Court, 2008. Junior Alone representing 15 year old suffering from autism alleged to have committed a sexual assault.

Local Govermnent

R v. W - Southwark Crown Court, 2011. First ever prosecution under legislation relating to mobile advertising within Westminster against the ‘Golf Sale’ sign on Oxford Street. Prosecution successful and subsequent appeal dismissed.

R v. D - Horseferry Magistrates’ Court, 2010. Prosecution of Lord Davenport for breaches of noise abatement notices relating to the property of 33 ‘Portland Place’ in central London.

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