Lyndon Harris

Lyndon prosecutes and defends in the Crown Court and Court of Appeal (Criminal Division) and accepts instructions across a full range of criminal work, focusing upon homicide, terrorism, fraud and serious drugs matters

He prosecutes on behalf of the CPS and other prosecuting agencies. Recent prosecution instructions include cases of murder, manslaughter, terrorism, fraud and money laundering, firearms, serious non-fatal violence and the supply of Class A drugs. Additionally, he is instructed in the first prosecution for offences contrary to the sanctions regime, involving a Russian politician.

Recent defence instructions include cases involving offences of conspiracy to supply Class A drugs, rape and other serious sexual offences (including involving children), robbery, serious violence, human trafficking and cases of neglect resulting in death.

He has extensive experience in cases involving highly sensitive material and PII and when acting for the defence, in making targeted section 8 applications for disclosure.

Additionally, he has experience advising on issues surrounding legal professional privilege including at a pre-charge stage and acting as independent counsel.

He has also provided ad hoc advice to Jonathan Hall KC in his role as the Independent Reviewer of Terrorism Legislation.

Lyndon accepts instructions in financial crime matters in respect of individuals and corporations. Instructions include acting for corporations in internal investigations, investigations conducted by an investigating authority and where criminal proceedings have begun. Recent instructions include large-scale international money laundering involving the engagement of sanctions legislation, ‘boiler room’ fraud and conspiracy to defraud. Additionally, Lyndon has experience in proceedings involving financial regulators, including financial penalties and prohibitions on performing management functions.

He is adept at marshalling large volumes of material quickly and effectively and is instructed both as sole junior and led junior in a range of such cases.

Additionally, he acts in a range of Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 matters, both following conviction in relation to Part II of the Act (including at the enforcement stage) and in relation to the civil powers in Part V of the Act. Recent instructions have included cases involving applications for account freezing orders (R. (National Crime Agency) v Westminster Magistrates’ Court [2022] EWHC 2631 (Admin)), forfeiture, confiscation orders where the benefit figure runs to many millions and the enforcement of such orders.

Lyndon also accepts instructions in matters where public and criminal law intersect. His recent instructions in judicial review/case stated matters involving unlawful detention, prisoner transfer agreements and decisions of prosecuting authorities and criminal courts. Additionally, he is instructed in cases involving civil proceeds of crime matters (such as those concerning account freezing orders), sanctions and regulatory matters.

Lyndon also accepts instructions in other areas including firearms licensing matters,

Lyndon acts in a range of sanctions matters, including criminal breach of the sanctions regimes, applications for freezing and forfeiture of funds where the funds are said to be criminal property linked to sanctions breaches, and advice to corporates on compliance with the sanctions regimes.

Lyndon sits on the Football Association’s General Appeals Panel in relation to misconduct and regulatory matters arising from a variety of different leagues and levels of football.

He welcomes instructions in sports regulation and regulatory matters more generally.

Lyndon is frequently instructed to advise individuals and corporations on a range of matters, including criminal (where proceedings are live and where they are contemplated), regulatory matters and civil matters where there is an intersection with the criminal law.

He is adept at providing clear and concise advice in a timely manner, with a focus on a quick identification of the real issues and considered practical advice tailored to the client’s needs and priorities.

Lyndon is a contributing editor to Archbold (2018 to date) (editor, HHJ Lucraft KC) and Miller on Contempt (4th ed, 2017) (editors, C.J. Miller and D. Perry KC). He is the editor of Archbold Review and has written chapters for Millington and Sutherland Williams on The Proceeds of Crime (2023) and Human Rights in Criminal Law (2023).

He is the author of Sentencing Principles, Practice and Procedure (2020 to date) (with Sebastian Walker), Thomas’ Sentencing Referencer and Current Sentencing Practice (with Professor Julian Roberts KC (Hon) and Sebastian Walker), among other titles.

Additionally, he writes monthly case commentaries in the Criminal Law Review and is an editorial board member of the Judicial College Crown Court Compendium. He regularly lectures at Judicial College on sentencing and related matters.

His academic work has been cited with approval in the Court of Appeal (Criminal Division).

Prior to joining Chambers, Lyndon spent four years as a lawyer at the Law Commission of England and Wales. He was principally responsible for the Sentencing Codification project which resulted in the enactment of the Sentencing Act 2020, reforming the law of sentencing procedure.  He has previously taught criminal law at the University of Oxford and King’s College, University of London.

• CPS Panel Advocate, Level 4 (general crime); Level 3 (serious crime; counter terrorism)
• SFO Panel Advocate, C Panel (fraud)
• Member, Criminal Bar Association
• Member, Young Fraud Lawyers Association
• Editorial Board Member, Crown Court Compendium, Judicial College
• General Appeals Panel, Football Association of England and Wales

DPhil, Worcester College, University of Oxford.

LLM and BVC, BPP Law School.

LLB, Lancaster University.

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