Paul Valder

Year of Call: 1994

Paul is an experienced barrister who prosecutes and defends serious and complex criminal cases. He is often instructed in large-scale fraud, including MTIC, and complex POCA cash forfeiture and confiscation cases post conviction. Paul also has a strong regulatory practice in local authority, police and medical cases.

Our specialist clerks can be contacted by email on clerks@5sah.co.uk or phone on 020 7332 5400. To contact our Chambers Director directly in relation to a specific members’ practice, please email dscothern@5sah.co.uk

Overview

Paul is an experienced barrister who prosecutes and defends crime at all levels.  He is a CPS level 4 appointed advocate, and appears in cases that demand his level of experience and expertise.  Paul has particular experience in MTIC cases, complex frauds and white collar crime work. As a consequence he is regularly instructed in complex confiscation post conviction.

He has specialised for some time in asset recovery work, particularly complex cash forfeiture proceedings on appeal to the Crown Court

Paul is also instructed in serious sexual assault and rape cases, including historic matters or with child complainants.

He prosecutes murder and motor manslaughter.

Paul does regulatory work and appears on behalf of local authorities, the Metropolitan Police and the General Dental Council (GDC).

Additional information

Direct Public Access

  • Paul accepts Direct Public Access instructions.  

Professional panel appointments

  • Paul is a level 4 advocate on the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) list of appointed advocates.
  • Paul is a specialist CPS advocate in respect of rape and serious sexual offences.
  • Paul is specialist CPS advocate for fraud and serious crime: Level 4.
  • General Dental Council (GDC) Band C (10 years + call) appointed specialist panel advocate.

Asset Recovery, Civil Fraud & Confiscation

Paul is regularly instructed in complex cases of Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA) cash forfeiture particularly on appeal to the Crown Court. He has wide experience in all aspects of confiscation post conviction.

Business Crime & Financial Regulation

Paul is regularly instructed to prosecute multi-handed complex fraud and has defended in both diversion and MTIC fraud. He has been appointed to the CPS Fraud panel at level 4, and undertakes the most serious and complex cases.

Criminal Defence

Paul defends in very serious criminal cases. He has particular expertise in relation to heavy fraud and drugs. Paul has been instructed in numerous cases of serious and complex drug smuggling, cross border crime, money laundering and duty evasion.

General crime includes: murder, rape, serious sexual offences (including historic abuse), serious road traffic matters involving serious injury or fatality, manslaughter and firearms.

He has substantial experience in the sensitive handling of vulnerable witnesses. 

Criminal Prosecutions - Private & Public

Paul specialises in crime both prosecution and defence with an emphasis on heavy fraud and drugs. Paul has been instructed in numerous cases of serious and complex drug smuggling, money laundering and duty evasion.

His general criminal work includes murder, rape, serious sexual offences (including historic abuse), serious road traffic matters involving serious injury or fatality, manslaughter and firearms.

He has substantial experience in the sensitive handling of vulnerable witnesses. He has particular expertise in the prosecution and defence of cases concerning cross border crime.

Sexual Offences

Paul is regularly briefed to prosecute and defend rape, child sex offences and historic sex abuse.

Professional Memberships

  • Criminal Bar Association.
  • Kent Bar Mess.
  • Proceeds of Crime Lawyers Association.
  • Fraud Lawyers Association

Cases of Note

Op Techo (R v Lewington and Ors)

Defence junior in multi-handed multi-million diversion fraud (an LCB case). Acted alone in the subsequent appeal.

Op Vehicle (R v Pitt and Ors)

First junior for the Prosecution in a multi-handed multi –million MTIC fraud.

Op Habitan (R v Choudhry)

Leading counsel in the prosecution of a serial tobacco smuggler (30 tonnes) and money launderer.

Op Los Angeles (R v Perry and ors)

The prosecution of 4 defendants who conspired together in the UK and Ireland to steal HGVs and plant from Luxembourg.

Abdul Fostock v Commissioner for the Metropolis

Instructed by the Met Police in an appeal against the forfeiture of cash, alleged to be terrorist funds, brought by Abdul Fostock, the son of Omar Bakri the “Tottenham Ayatollah”.

R v Uvovo

The prosecution of a DWP employee who hi-jacked legitimate Working Tax Credit claims and diverted £900k of tax credits into bogus bank accounts which was transferred out of the jurisdiction.

R v Pitt and Ors

The prosecution of 9 defendants who made a concerted attack on the duty free outlets of UK airports. The gang operated for several months using forged boarding passes for international flights to purchase cigarettes duty free at a much reduced rate. Over £500k duty evaded on 2 ½ million cigarettes.

R v Javaid and Ashraf

The prosecution of a UKBA employee for misconduct in public office and her boyfriend for aiding and abetting and fraud. She created false UKBA documentation which he used to defraud those seeking leave to remain in this country who would pay him in the mistaken belief that he was an immigration lawyer acting on their behalf.

R v Davis

The prosecution of a UKBA employee for misconduct in public office who, whilst working for the MPs’ enquiry line, granted leave to remain in UK to Jamaican nationals with no entitlement.

R v Barker

The defence of a Methodist minister charged with historic sexual assaults on a teenage member of his bible class.

R v Martin [2000] 2 Cr App R 42

(duress/necessity in context of armed robbery).