Abbas Lakha KC

King's Counsel

CALLED

1984

SILK

2003

"A wonderfully composed, methodical and smooth operator."

Chambers and Partners, 2026

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Speaks: Gujarati, Swahili

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For more information please get in touch:

clerks@9brchambers.co.uk

Phone Number - 020 7489 2727

Out of Hours Number - 079 7115 3192

Abbas Lakha KC is one of the UK’s leading criminal silks, with a heavyweight practice spanning serious and organised crime, international financial crime, and regulatory and asset recovery work. He is consistently instructed in cases where the stakes are highest—liberty, reputation and substantial financial exposure.

Abbas is regularly instructed in the most challenging and high-profile matters, including murder, terrorism, firearms and major drugs conspiracies; complex financial crime including fraud, money laundering, bribery and corruption; and regulatory and tribunal work before the Tax Tribunals and professional disciplinary bodies. He is frequently engaged at the pre‑investigation and pre‑charge stages, particularly in matters involving reputational sensitivity and international elements.

Investigatory Power and EncroChat Litigation

A defining aspect of Abbas’s modern practice is his expertise in challenges to covert investigatory techniques and surveillance‑derived evidence. He has acted in proceedings before the Investigatory Powers Tribunal, including litigation arising from EncroChat‑related interception and warrantry issues, addressing questions of lawfulness, statutory interpretation, proportionality and Convention compliance in cases of national significance.

Financial Fraud, Asset Recovery and Regulatory Work

Abbas has extensive experience across civil and criminal fraud and asset forfeiture, including restraint and confiscation, and appears regularly before the First‑tier and Upper Tribunal (Tax) in VAT and tax matters. He is particularly well known for substantial HMRC‑related litigation, including complex VAT/MTIC and excise disputes and challenges to regulatory enforcement decisions.

International and Cross-border Expertise

Abbas is frequently instructed in cross‑border investigations and litigation involving overseas authorities, international evidence and extradition‑linked issues. His work often involves sensitive reputational considerations for high‑profile individuals and corporate clients.

Approach

Abbas is known for meticulous preparation, strategic judgement and calm authority under pressure, combining technical mastery with clear and pragmatic advice focused on achieving the best possible outcome for the client.

Specialisms

Notable Cases

Bribery and Corruption

R v H and H

R v B

Jubilee Line Fraud

Bribery and Corruption

Drugs

R v V, 2021

The case involves the largest ever importations of Class A drugs from the Netherlands over a period of two years and the D V is alleged to be the Dutch mastermind behind the importations which flooded the North East of the United Kingdom. This is a VHCC which has been split into 4 trials each lasting over 6 months.

Complexities: Extradition; Mastery of the Vast Scale of the evidence; foreign intercept evidence.

Manchester Crown Court

Drugs

Extradition

Austria v PN

R v M

Jersey v O and G

View Extradition

Financial Crime

Operation Yulan, R v P, 2024

This operation follows an 8-year investigation into an alleged Pension Liberation Fraud whereby vast sums of Pension Monies were unlawfully extracted from the Pension Funds of 100’s of alleged Victims. The case has been categorised a VHCC because of its complexity, the international reach of the alleged fraud and the vast amount of evidence relied upon.

Leeds Crown Court

HMRC v S A and Others

R v G (Operation Vaulter)

R v G (Operation Inertia)

R v H (Operation District)

Z K v HMRC

View Financial Crime

Investigatory Powers Tribunal

R v F and Others, 2023

Representing 14 Applicants before the Investigatory Powers Tribunal in a complaint relating to Unlawful interception of Data following a Pan European Operation. The operation led to Worldwide arrests of alleged Master Criminals involved in the most serious criminality. The challenge before the IPT has the potential to lead to the staying of all Criminal Trials relying on evidence obtained from the interception of data and as such is the most high-profile Litigation in the Country.

I am also instructed in the associated Criminal Trials wherein the charges include Conspiracy to Murder, Conspiracy to Possess Automatic and Semi-Automatic Weapons with Intent, and a multitude of Drugs Conspiracies at the very highest end.

Complexities: the interpretation of the Investigatory Powers Act and the concept of ‘Bulk interception’ wrongly being the subject of Targeted Equipment Interference Warrants; lack of candour and its impact on the validity of the Warranty granted by the Commissioner; breaches of ss. 9 and 10 of the IPA and the consequences and potential breach of Article 8 arising from the unlawful interception of Communications.

Investigative Powers Tribunal

Rape and Sexual Offences

R v T, 2024

The Defendant was a Nepalese man who came to this country as a refugee without a bean. He built up a very successful vape business and eventually married a Latvian lady who had 3 children from a previous marriage. He cared for them as his own until the marriage broke down when the family moved out. Allegations were made by the children of sexual abuse over many years from a young age. The Defendant’s case was that these allegations were a revenge for not supporting the family in the way he had for many years. He was acquitted of all the charges.

Leeds Crown Court