Douglas Wotherspoon

Douglas specialises in extradition, inquiries, and investigations. He has experience advising and representing individuals, companies, and governments.

Douglas offers well-thought-out, focused advice and serves as a composed and determined advocate in court.

Background and Expertise

Douglas frequently receives instructions to advise and represent individuals facing extradition under both Part 1 and Part 2 of the Extradition Act. He has represented and advised requested persons in extradition proceedings at both initial stages and on appeal. Douglas is experienced with requests for surrender from Austria, Belgium, Croatia, the Czech Republic, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Spain, Switzerland, Turkey, and the United States of America.

Before specialising in extradition, inquiries, and investigations Douglas prosecuted and defended domestic crime. Douglas has experience as a junior alone in single defendant and multi handed trials, handling cases involving offences of violence, blackmail, offensive weapons, and firearms and ammunition.

Prior to joining chambers Douglas gained experience at a leading criminal litigation practice known for representing high net worth and high-profile individuals, specialising in fraud and financial crime and complex crime.

Douglas has advised a company concerned in the Grenfell Tower Inquiry, advised HMRC in relation to Legal Professional Privilege in relation to offenses arising from an Employee Benefit Trust Scheme, assisted a company in relation to the Post Office Horizon IT Inquiry, acted as junior counsel to the Undercover Policing Inquiry, and assisted in the provision of advice to the Government of South Sudan.

Notable Cases

The Republic of Turkey v UM, Ongoing

Mr M is sought by Turkey following a conviction for his membership of an armed terrorist organisation.

Douglas is being led by Joe Middleton KC.

The Netherlands v X, 2024

Mr X’s surrender was sought by the Netherlands to face trial for his alleged participation in an organised criminal group and the export of nearly 1 tonne of cocaine from the Netherlands. The evidence against Mr X was collated from Encrochat. Following the service of an expert report which indicated the warrant was invalid the Netherlands withdrew the warrant, Mr X was discharged, and immediately released from custody.

New Zealand v NW, 2024

Mr W was sought in respect of his alleged involvement in numerous fraud offences between 2012 and 2015 to the value of nearly $2,000,000 NZD.

Douglas was led by Ben Joyes.

Belgium v C, 2023

Mr C was sought for 186 convictions for making false statements, the falsification and forgery of documents, and fraud. Mr C was convicted of doing so as part of a group over a period of one month in 2017. Douglas argued that the particulars contained in the warrant in regard to the requested person’s role in the offending were insufficient in setting out his position in the hierarchy of the group and consequently the transposition exercise could not be satisfactorily completed,

Mr C was discharged by District Judge Minhas on 23 October 2023, finding that the warrant for Mr C’s surrender was insufficiently particularised under s.2(6)(b) of the Extradition Act 2003.

Romania v C, 2023

Ms C was sought by Romania for violent offences committed in September 2016. During the extradition proceedings efforts were made to address the conviction in Romania by the defence team. Following the final hearing, before judgment, the warrant was withdrawn by the Requesting Judicial Authority.

AWARDS

Sir Edward Marshall-Hall Scholarship, The Honourable Society of the Inner Temple
Major Scholarship, The Honourable Society of the Inner Temple
Duke of Edinburgh Scholarship, The Honourable Society of the Inner Temple
Advocacy Scholarship, BPP University Law School
Excellence Scholarship, BPP University Law School
PASS Scholarship, The Honourable Society of the Inner Temple