Profile
“David is a delightful advocate. He’s highly intelligent, charming and has an enormous brain. He’s the leading criminal silk of his generation.” – Chambers & Partners
“David is absolutely superb on the law. His knowledge is encyclopaedic and he is a fantastic strategist and tactician.” – Chambers & Partners
“David is extremely thorough and a very good lawyer. His exposition of legal arguments is exceptional.” – Chambers & Partners
“David is one of the very best criminal barristers in the country. He is a superlative advocate, fiercely bright and very wise.” – Chambers & Partners
“David is a font of all knowledge, particularly for POCA and civil recovery matters. He is totally unflappable, has superb judgement and is really good at steering a ship and looking at the long game.” – Chambers & Partners
“David has a well-deserved stellar reputation. He has an encyclopaedic knowledge of criminal law and is able to apply this in a practical and considered way.” – Legal 500
“One of the most experienced and respected extradition practitioners at the Bar. He combines exceptional technical knowledge of extradition law with excellent advocacy and strategic judgement.” – Legal 500
“David has encyclopaedic knowledge on all areas of POCA and asset forfeiture, supreme intellect, extraordinary judgement and is exceptionally hardworking; he is truly a master in this field.” – Legal 500
“David is absolutely superb on the law, the facts and tone. His knowledge is encyclopaedic.” – Chambers & Partners
“David Perry is amazing.” – Chambers & Partners
“David is totally unflappable and has super judgement. He is really good at steering a ship and looking at the long game.” – Chambers & Partners
“David is an amazing advocate – if I were against him, I would be very afraid.” – Chambers & Partners
“David is a brain on a stick and one of the nicest people at the Bar.” – Chambers & Partners
“He is second to none. He has an ability to see the bigger picture clearly and put everything into its context.” – Chambers & Partners
“David Perry is undoubtedly number one in extradition.” – Chambers & Partners
“David Perry is a titan.” – Chambers & Partners
“David is the consummate professional, and a delightful advocate. He’s highly intelligent, charming and a delight to work with.” – Chambers & Partners
“David Perry is one of the best barristers at the Bar, full stop!” – Chambers & Partners
“David’s real skill is that the higher courts love him and he has a gentle and whimsical advocacy style that the upper tribunals like. He is brilliant.” – Chambers & Partners
“He is easy to work with and his advice is very sensible and pragmatic.” – Chambers & Partners
“An absolutely charming, outstanding individual who is brilliant at everything he takes on.” – Chambers & Partners
“One of the hardest working and most committed silks at the Bar” – Chambers & Partners
Chambers & Partners describes David as a “phenomenally impressive” silk who is “consistently viewed by peers as one of the hardest working and most committed silks at the Bar. Possessed of a very diverse practice, Perry not only handles complex domestic cases but also advises overseas governments and is a top extradition expert.”
“David’s extraordinary brain means that he is a master in all cases he turns his hand ro. He is fabulous with clients and has brilliant judgement. His knowledge and experience of POCA matters makes him a stand out choice for work in this area” – Legal 500
“David is very thorough with his preparation and has an extraordinarily broad knowledge of the law which he applies to the criminal sphere.” – Legal 500
Expertise
Legal 500 describes David as “in the very highest rank” in this field. Chambers and Partners categorises him as a “star individual” for criminal work, for whom “no challenge is too daunting”. He has appeared in most of the important criminal appeals of recent years and is regularly instructed to appear in the Supreme Court, Privy Court and Court of Appeal. As a former Treasury Counsel, he acted in a wide range of high profile criminal trials.
David also appears in the criminal courts of Hong Kong, the Bahamas, the Cayman Islands, Gibraltar and Northern Ireland. He frequently acts on behalf of the United Kingdom government in cases before the European Court of Human Rights.
David Perry KC is a highly accomplished silk who is at the apex of the criminal bar. David is regularly instructed in relation to overseas bribery and corruption investigations into house-hold name companies. He continues to enjoy the confidence of individuals and corporates in some of the most important and demanding cases currently being investigated. David represented Rolls-Royce in the deferred prosecution agreement proceedings and has advised other household names from the manufacturing, pharmaceutical and financial services sectors in respect of allegations of corruption and other aspects of business crime.
Chambers and Partners describes David as an “absolutely formidable man” who is amongst the leading barristers of his generation. It notes that he has appeared in the majority of the cases in this areas that have reached the House of Lords and the Supreme Court.
David has acted on behalf of many overseas governments and appeared in the High Court, House of Lords and Supreme Court in the leading cases. He has acted as an expert consultant to the Commonwealth Secretariat on international co-operation and has advised overseas governments on the drafting and implementation of their domestic legislation.
In 2012, together with Lord Justice Scott Baker and Anand Doobay, David was appointed to conduct the Home Office’s Independent Review of the UK’s extradition arrangements. The review formed the basis of changes to the Extradition Act 2003.
He frequently appears in proceedings by way of judicial review on behalf of claimants and defendants.
David has appeared in a number of high profile inquests and has also appeared in shipping inquiries. He has advised the Government in relation to a number of public inquiries in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
• Queen’s Counsel 2006
• Deputy High Court Judge 2003
• Senior Treasury Counsel 2001
• Junior Treasury Counsel 1997
• Standing Counsel to the DTI 1991
• General Editor Blackstone’s Criminal Practice
• Criminal Law Review, Editorial Board Member
• University College London Centre for Criminal Law, Board Member
David frequently lectures at legal conferences and seminars on criminal and public law.
To view David Perry KC’s Privacy Notice, please click here.
Recognition
Notable cases
R v Z
Acting on behalf of an overseas businessman in relation to letters of request.
Kate Wilson v The Commissioner of Metropolitan Police
Proceedings before the IPT in respect of claims against an undercover officer.
Director of Public Prosecutions v Jugnauth
Appeal from the Supreme Court of Mauritius involving the current Prime Minister of Mauritius.
R (Murray) v Secretary of State for the Home Department & Others
A challenge to the decision not to release evidence on grounds of national security for the purpose of prosecution against the suspect in...
Russia v Yurov
Appeared for Ilya Yurov, former Chairman of a large Russian bank and previously accused of fraud, to successfully resist an extradition...
USA v Brian Dempsey
Appeared for the Government of the United States in relation to an extradition request for an individual who had travelled to Syria as part...
Sweden v Serwin, Gergeo, Farrell & Thomas
Appeared for a Swedish Judicial Authority in a case involving an allegation of a multi-million pound fraud on the Swedish Pensions Agency.
Russia v Alexander Zmikhnovskiy
Extradition request of former CEO of Oboronenergosbyt JSC, who was alleged to have been involved in fraud by the Russian Federation, his...
Bunnvale Ltd - R(Bunnvale) v City of London Police
Criminal investigation into Russian national traders of oil futures contracts on the Intercontinental Exchange. Instructed by two of the...
Russia v A
Instructed to advise A in respect of a prospective extradition request from Russia. The issues in the case are likely to relate to prison...
The Environment Agency v Paul Barrass and Others
A case concerning the definition of the River Thames. The High Court handed down judgment on 21 March 2017. In particular, the Court...
Serious Fraud Office v King
At the request of the South African authorities, the Serious Fraud Office, on an ex parte without notice application, obtained a restraint...
Serious Fraud Office v BAE
Members of chambers acted on both side of this lengthy SFO investigation into BAE’s global business affairs, including the public law...
Revell-Reade v SFO
A judicial review challenge to search warrants obtained by the SFO in a ‘boiler room fraud’
In Re Guardian News and Media and Others / R (Marine A) v Judge Advocate General
Challenge by news media organisations to the rulings as to the anonymity of “Marine A” and the trial judge’s ruling not to release...
Hong Kong Special Administrative Region v Hui, Kwok & others (Court of First Instance, Hong Kong)
David Perry QC and Louis Mably acted for the HKSAR in the prosecution of the former Chief Secretary of Hong Kong over allegations of...
Vinter and others v United Kingdom (66069/09, 130/10, 3896)
David Perry QC and Louis Mably represented the United Kingdom in the Grand Chamber of the European Court of Human Rights concerning the...
Al-Khawaja and Tahery v United Kingdom
David Perry QC and Louis Mably represented the United Kingdom in the Grand Chamber of the European Court of Human Rights. The case was...
‘Cash for Honours’
Louis Mably was asked to give independent legal advice in relation to the ‘Cash for Honours’ affair, a widely publicised investigation...
Norris v Government of the United States of America
David Perry QC and Louis Mably represented the Government of the United States in the Supreme Court in the leading case on the application...
Norris v Government of the United States of America
David Perry QC and Louis Mably represented the Government of the United States in the House of Lords in the leading case on cartels and...
R v Z/Hasan
The leading case on duress and confessions.
Inquest into the death of Jean Charles de Menezes
Members of Chambers represented Assistant Commissioner Cressida Dick and other senior police officers at the inquest into the death of Jean...
R v Z
Appeal to the House of Lords on the question of whether the Real IRA is a proscribed organisation for the purposes of the Terrorism Act...
R (Chief Constable of Greater Manchester Police) v Salford Magistrates’ Court and Hookway
A case involving the interpretation of Part IV of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 and the power of the police to detain a suspect...
R v Davis
The decision of the House of Lords on anonymous witnesses which led to the passing of the Criminal Evidence (Witness Anonymity) Act 2008.
Al Khawaja and Tahery v United Kingdom
The leading case concerning the compatibility with the ECHR with the use of hearsay evidence.
Taxquet v Belgium
A case concerning compatibility of the European Convention on Human Rights with trial by jury.
R v Varma
A Supreme Court case which decided that a conditional discharge may be coupled with a confiscation order.
Re Peacock
A Supreme Court case which decided that a confiscation order may be increased with reference to assets subsequently and legitimately...
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No case to answer for W80 following fatal shooting of Jermaine Baker
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Entain plc
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The Legal 500 Bar Awards 2022 Nominations...
Chambers are delighted to announce that we have been shortlisted for the following at The Legal 500 Bar Awards 2022... Corporate Crime junior of the year: Katherine Hardcastle Corporate Crime...
Authorised Criminality
David Perry QC and William Hays recently acted for the Respondents in a challenge to the Security Service’s policy whereby its agents may, in certain circumstances, become involved in criminal...
