CLOTH FAIR CHAMBERS 39-40 CLOTH FAIR, LONDON, EC1A 7NT, UK | (t) 020 7710 6444 | (f) 020 7710 6446
Clare Sibson QC
Called to the Bar - 1997
Queen's Counsel - 2016
Biography
"Quite astonishingly bright... Her legal analysis is first rate"
- Chambers & Partners
Clare Sibson is widely recognised as a leading practitioner in the fields of fraud and crime. Extremely thorough and immensely
capable, she grasps technical issues quickly and comes highly commended for her written work. She is a compelling court
room advocate and is praised for her excellent manner with clients.
In recent years, Clare has represented individuals and companies facing criminal prosecution in many of the highest profile
cases including Rebekah Brooks, Olympus Corporation and Robert Tchenguiz. She also has experience of heavy weight
cases in the area of financial regulation and professional discipline.
In addition, Clare excels at advisory work addressing the potential criminal and regulatory dimensions of commercial situations
involving matters such as securities trading, contract negotiation, trade secrets and customer confidentiality.
What Others Say
Chambers and Partners 2017
Crime, Financial Crime & Financial Crime: Corporate; A very talented barrister, who produces clear, concise advice on a
variety of criminal fraud matters”.. “Her legal analysis is first rate”
Entries from previous years
“Very talented – she produces clear, concise advice and her legal analysis is first-rate.”
“She is astonishingly bright, great on paper and has good client skills”
One of the most sought-after juniors at the Criminal Fraud Bar, Clare Sibson impresses clients with her clear, pragmatic
advice.
“Her legal analysis is first rate”
‘Crime Junior of the Year 2014′
“She is very impressive – the brightest junior at the Criminal Bar.”
“Quite astonishingly bright, she gets every point and writes beautifully.”
Clare Sibson has recently been acting in the Fraud Bar’s most high profile cases. Interviewees say she possesses “powerful
intellect and has a great manner with clients”
“The frighteningly good Clare Sibson…….a fraud specialist with “two brains” who has been instructed to defend, without a
leader, in an insider-dealing case.
“Clare Sibson is “willing to go through all the documents extremely thoroughly and is great at grasping the technical issues
really quickly.” Solicitors see her as “a rising star – she is definitely one to watch for the future.”
Recent & Current Cases
Clare represented Rebekah Brooks throughout her criminal trial, resulting in her acquittal on all charges. Clare also secured a
full acquittal for Olympus Corporation in the Crown Court and subsequent Court of Appeal proceedings regarding Companies
Act charges brought by the SFO.
Currently, Clare has been retained in all of the most serious, on-going financial crime investigations. She is acting for/advising:
A former high-ranking official of the Bank of England
A former Chief Executive of the Barclays Bank Group
Tesco PLC
An individual under investigation by the SFO for corruption in relation to Rolls Royce’s overseas contracts
Various individuals under investigation for their alleged roles in LIBOR and or FX fixing
Other notable instructions in recent years include:
Acting as sole advocate for the defence in an eight week trial of a £35 million “land-banking” fraud
Represented Robert Tchenguiz in the judicial review of his arrest and the investigation conducted by the Serious Fraud
Office
Advising the director of a global events company in relation to criminal proceedings revolving around the sale of corporate
tickets for the Olympic games
Civil Aviation Authority v Travel Republic: Advised Travel Republic Ltd leading to an acquittal by the regulator and success
at appeal in the proceedings brought by the Civil Aviation Authority
Representing Aivars Lembergs, a Latvian politician, in relation to $135 million commercial court worldwide freezing order
Advising the FSA in relation to market abuse and insider dealing investigations
Advising an interested party in relation to the BA/Virgin price-fixing investigation
Abacha corruption litigation – advising in relation to criminal proceedings in Jersey
R v K: successfully defended a solicitor charged with tax fraud (2007-9), landmark judgment
SFO v Generic pharmaceutical companies: successfully defended Ranbaxy UK in relation to alleged cartel activity
Previous Cases
Yukos litigation: advised an interested party in international cooperation and confiscation matters (2005-2008)
R v Heath: instructed to defend a solicitor accused of attempting to bribe the US Attorney General (2006-2007)
Advised and acted for the FSA in relation to matters arising from the 2004-2005 Shell investigation
R v Stovold: for Alan Stovold in the alleged operational lease market fraud (2005)
R v Coene: for Coene for tax fraud, including initial representation in relation to his extradition to the UK (2004)
R v Regan and others: for Andrew Regan in the Co-op corruption case, including initial representation in relation to
extradition (2000-2003)
Defended a Superintendent of the Metropolitan Police charged with disciplinary offences arising out of his conduct of the
CIB investigation into the death in custody of Rodney Sylvester (2003)
Represented 4 custody sergeants at the inquest, and subsequently in judicial review proceedings before the High Court,
into the suicide of a young man in police custody (2002)
Represented at a Coroner’s Inquest the police driver of an armed response vehicle involved in a fatal road accident (2002)
R v Clemente: for the Crown, one of the first prosecutions by the CPS for money-laundering the proceeds of fraud (2000)
R v Bookey: for a dentist accused of a series of indecent assaults upon patients
R v Tore: multi million pound Kurdish drugs cartel case, for the Crown (1999-2001)
R v Humphreys and others: for the defence in notorious ‘supergrass’ drugs case (1999)
R v Davis, Rowe, Johnson: M25 murder, on appeal, for the Crown pre-hearing (1998)
Education / Experience
Clare studied law at Corpus Christi College, Cambridge University, from where she graduated with a first class degree, being
ranked second out of 269 law finalists in 1996. She was a Manners Scholar of her College in 1993 and a Foundation Scholar
in 1996.
Clare is a contributing author to Montgomery and Ormerod on Fraud and to Mortimore’s Company Directors: Duties, Liabilites
and Remedies. She was a founding consultant editor of the Llyod’s Law Reports – Financial Crime and is a member of the
Consulting Editorial Board of Lexis Nexis.
CLOTH FAIR CHAMBERS 39-40 CLOTH FAIR, LONDON, EC1A 7NT, UK | (t) 020 7710 6444 | (f) 020 7710 6446