Abbas Lakha KC

R v Baker, 2025-2026

Bribery and corruption prosecution of a senior EON employee concerning energy infrastructure procurement contracts and alleged illicit payments from subcontractors.

R v O and G, 2012-2025

Prosecution and extradition of a former Minster and Head of Kenya Power alleged to have received corrupt payments for the granting of Government contracts for building the Kenyan power grid.

Jubilee Line Fraud, 2004

Bribery and corruption prosecution of a senior employee within London Transport surveyors Department concerning the leaking of price sensitive information to bidding companies to secure contracts.

R v H and H

R v B

Jubilee Line Fraud

R v V

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

HMRC v CEO of MSB, 2025-2026

Represented the CEO of a regulated Money Service Business subject to a large-scale money laundering investigation following an HMRC regulatory visit. Allegations centred on systemic AML failures and handling of suspicious transactions. Advised on compelled disclosure, interview strategy and regulatory engagement.

Successfully negotiated a civil settlement avoiding criminal prosecution while preserving both personal liberty and operational continuity of the licensed entity. Direct Access instruction involving sustained engagement with HMRC Solicitors Office.

R V P, 2025-2026

Defending in Operation Ramsay, a long-running HMRC investigation into alleged large-scale excise duty and VAT evasion within the tobacco trade. The prosecution alleged illicit importation of tobacco originating in Russia and routed through EU jurisdictions via parallel import mechanisms to evade UK duty. Represented one of the alleged architects of the enterprise, addressing issues of supply chain knowledge, beneficial ownership and financial tracing. The case involved extensive customs data, freight records and cross-border financial evidence

R v A R, 2023-2026

High-profile MSB money laundering prosecution following an undercover operation. Evidence includes mobile downloads, EncroChat material, overseas banking inquiries and accounting reconstruction. Attribution of Encro device usage forms a central issue. 

Operation Yulan, 2025

VHCC pension liberation fraud following an 8-year investigation involving offshore structures, introducer networks and international evidence. Proceedings involved extensive digital disclosure and expert accountancy analysis.

R v S H, 2025-2026

Defending a Harley Street surgeon charged with multi-count tax evasion and fraudulent evasion of income tax arising from corporate vehicles through which professional earnings were channelled. The case raises complex issues regarding attribution of personal tax liability where no dividends or remuneration were drawn and funds were extracted solely via director’s loan accounts. The defence challenges HMRC’s characterisation of loan withdrawals as taxable income and addresses corporate structuring, beneficial entitlement and criminal intent. Extensive forensic accounting evidence. 

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

R v F and Others, 2023-2025

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

Read more:

• The Times
• Europol Europa
• Investigatory Powers Tribunal
• Essex News and Investigations

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

R v Z

R v F and Others

COP 9 Settlements, 2026

Advising a senior executive in relation to a Code of Practice 9 investigation initiated by HMRC’s Civil Investigation of Fraud (Offshore) Team concerning alleged undeclared offshore income and capital gains. Managing disclosure under the Contractual Disclosure Facility while conducting sensitive negotiations to secure civil resolution. Strategic focus includes limiting penalties to 30% and securing protection from criminal prosecution under the COP 9 framework. 

R v H and H, 2024

The defendants were charged with tax evasion of £3.6 million on a substantial property transaction involving the Local Council. The tax evasion involved the use of a complex web of off shore structures in the BVI and Gibraltar. Ultimately negotiated a settlement which allowed the Court to defer sentence for the payment of the evaded Tax in full.

R v A (Fusilier Lee Rigby)

R v K (alleged Al Qaeda operative)

R v F (ricin case)

R v S and others (Afghan Hijacking)

• The Bar Council of England and Wales
• The Criminal Bar Association
• The European Criminal Bar Association
• International Bar Association
• The International Criminal Defence Attorneys Association
• The Society of Asian Lawyers
• The Society of Black Lawyers

• Bencher of the Honourable Society of the Inner Temple (2009)
• Inspector for the Department of Trade and Industry (2000)
• The Criminal Bar Association of England & Wales Co-opted Committee Member
• The Bar Council of England & Wales VHCC Fees Committee
• Member of the Crime Editorial Board of LexisNexis

• BA (Hons), Leeds Beckett University,  1980-83
• Barrister at Law, Bar School, Council of Legal Education, 1983-84

"Consistently brilliant." Chambers and Partners

"A wonderfully composed, methodical and smooth operator who provides calm and detailed advice." Chambers and Partners

"Very calm, unflappable and has the court’s ear." Chambers and Partners

"A very safe pair of hands." Chambers and Partners

"An absolute class act. His advocacy is top of his game." Legal 500