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Philip Levy
CALL: 1968
Email: [email protected]
AREAS OF EXPERTISE
Heavy crime, but expert on motoring law having been political advisor on 1988 Road Traffic Legislation.
Never wanted to be a QC and never applied.
Hugo Young in the Guardian comments: “Mr Philip Levy is a reassuring specimen of the kind of legal service
available among the advocates hacking around the unchronicled courts of London... his demeanour in Court
is that of a hardened defender... Mr Levy has the air of menace about him. Although sometimes his crossexaminations seem forlorn, they carry a sense of heavy, if not impenetrable moment. When it became clear
what he was seeking to show, his delivery became accelerated and his lucidity became unmistakable.”
CASES OF NOTE
R v Bertie Smalls First Supergrass 1973.
Sullam v Hicks Trade Descriptions 1983 [147 JP 493 (DC)]
R v Skidmore Sentencing Recidivists 1983 [Crim Law Rev 407 (CA)]
White v Met Police Commissioner 1984 [Crim LR 687 (cited in Wilkinson’s 21-45)]
A rare case where special reasons were found for not providing a specimen.
R v Orgles Jury 1993 [98 Cr App Rep 185 (CA)]
R v Wheelhouse Aiders and Abettors 1994 [Crim Law Rev 756 (CA)]
R v Blake Pirate Radio 1997 [1 Cr App Rep 209 (CA)]
R v X and Y 1998 (SAS case).
R v Gingell Handling 2000 [1 Cr App Rep 88. (CA)]
R v TW 2001 [1 Cr App Rep 128 (S)]
Damage to education grounds for reducing sentence for young sex offender.
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R v Cash New evidence rape 2004 [148(SJ) 416 (CA)]
R v Golding Escape sentence 2007 [2 Cr App Rep (S) 66 (CA)]
R v Montgomery Leading case on definition of escape 2008 1 WLR 636 (CA)]
R v SW First person arrested by Serious Organised Crime Agency, conspiracy to supply one ton of cocaine
Ipswich Crown Court 2009. Co-defending with Ken Aylett. SW acquitted.
RvM
Teacher caught speeding 6 times in 3 days. 3 points already on licence. Counsel persuades court not to
disqualify due to exceptional hardship despite 21 points on her licence.
R v S (Daily Telegraph)
Well-known doctor multiple crashed Bentley when well over limit. 12 months imprisonment upheld by
Court of Appeal
R v Grant 2010 [EWCA 215]
Successful appeal on finding of contempt in the face of the court. The case was a catalyst for the proposals
for the changes in the Criminal Procedure Rules (see paragraph 62 of the report)
R v Rahman 2010
Successful appeal to the Court of Appeal defining in what circumstances a person can use the defence of
necessity when carrying drugs for another.
R v Gill 2010
Successful appeal when defendant supplies sample of blood sufficient to be analysed but insufficient to be
divided. Defendant refuses to give further sample of blood after 4 attempts by doctor. Sample analysed and
found to be just over limit. Sample excluded under section of the Police and Evidence Act 1984
Dept of Skills Innovation and Business v C May 2012
A test case where defence argued that the offence of being involved in the management of a company was
so vague that it contravened Article VII. Circuit judge ruled against. Not appealed as defendant, on Mr Levy’s
advice, got a Goodyear indication, and received a suspended sentence despite £400,000 deficit.
Decision not binding and point worth arguing again.
Academic Background
Clifton College and Manchester University 2.1 with firsts in property and tax law.
Called November 1968 Inner Temple; probably the last person to have passed the Bar Finals without attending
a single lecture on the course.
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PERSONAL INTERESTS
Script-writer. Occasional Broadcaster. Chess at County standard (drew with CHO`D Alexander in
simultaneous). Bridge, (current holder, with wife Sheila, of Thomas Tausz Trophy). Best known as a writer
of programme notes, having written for the Amadeus, Ashkenazy, Barenboim, Brendel, the ECO, the LPO,
Menhuin, Academy of St Martins, Rubinstein and over 200 others.
Occasional contributor to professional journals.
PREVIOUS CAREER
Formerly a financial journalist and university law lecturer.
Occasional contributor to professional journals.