Robert Bryan

Practice
Overview: Practicing mainly on the Western Circuit Robert Bryan is happy to be instructed nationwide, and regularly appears off Circuit. As both Junior and Leading Junior his work covers the wide spectrum of serious crime including homicide, sex-offending, serious fraud and drug conspiracies. As Junior alone he has successfully defended attempted murder, and has both prosecuted and defended in a number of motor vehicle death cases.

Specifically:  Robert is particularly known for ‘document’ and ‘computer’ cases. He was instructed as Junior Counsel (together with Karim Khalil Q.C) for the Defendant in an ‘Anarchist Cookbook’ terrorism case, described as being the largest collection of such material seized by the Police.

He is increasingly instructed as a Leading Junior particularly in the areas of fraud (including mortgage fraud), money laundering, drug importation and duty evasion. He is often asked to advise and appear as an Advocate in the related subjects of confiscation, forfeiture and restraint (including when not originally instructed at trial).  He has an interest in Health & Safety and other regulatory work.

Robert is regularly briefed in multi-complainant cases of sexual offending (including historic abuse cases) by the Defence Solicitors and the Crown Prosecution Service.

He appears before Military Courts (Courts-Martial and Summary Appeal Courts) both in the United Kingdom and abroad, instructed both by civilian solicitors and by AFCLAA.

Furthermore he is asked advise on cases post-conviction when he was not Trial Counsel; these cover the whole calendar of offences including murder, and including applications on behalf of prisoner’s sentenced to Life Imprisonment for the reconsideration of their minimum term. 

As an Advocate he is known for his careful attention to detail and methodical approach to cases.  He has a particular interest in the use of computers in the analysis and preparation of cases as well as in the presentation of evidence, and is at the forefront of the use of new technology in Courts.  Robert edits the Sentencing section of news@ONE and writes/administers the Chambers blog: onepaperblog

Robert Bryan is known for being approachable and engaging well with clients; he has considerable experience of handling high-maintenance lay clients; he is particularly noted for sensitive handling of child witnesses, victims of sexual offences and other vulnerable adults, and generally for dealing with witnesses and juries with courtesy.

He is an approved Pupil Supervisor, an approved Advocacy Trainer and is a member of the Committee of the Western Circuit. 

Away from the Bar Robert runs, and plays and coaches hockey; he and his wife keep livestock and poultry.

Examples of cases undertaken:

R. v. V & V [2012]
Portsmouth Crown Court – Defending in case involving alleged child trafficking for exploitation from Eastern Europe and linked benefit fraud by illegally obtaining UK National Insurance Numbers. Case prosecuted by Hampshire Constabulary's Serious & Organised Crime Unit as Operation Landings.

R. v. Ojo [2011]
Southampton Crown Court – Defending in money laundering case with value in excess of £500,000 transferred through Western Union by shopkeeper and Western Union agent.

R. v. Jackson [2011] EWHC 1628 (QB)
High Court of Justice - Representation of convicted murderer on an application to review an existing minimum term set for a murder committed in 1985, but prosecuted to conviction in 2000. Submissions concerned the applicability of Article 7 of the European Convention on Human Rights to Schedule 22 of the Criminal Justice Act 2003, and whether the correct tariff, when setting the minimum term for a murder committed under a previous regime, had been used.

R. v. Harris [2011]
Southampton Crown Court - Prosecuting night time sex attack on lone female student asleep in her flat. Case investigated by Hampshire Police Major Crime Department (Hampshire Police OP Chromo).

1. Mirror

R. v. Thorn & Thorn, R. v. Lambert, R. v. Puckett [2011]
Southampton Crown Court – Prosecuting series cases of serious sexual assaults and neglect on children and grandchildren by family members and friends.

R. v. Chowdhury [2011]
Winchester Crown Court – Defending in property/investment fraud occurring within the Bengali and Bangladeshi communities valued in excess of £700,000.

1. BBC
2. BBC

R. v. Maddams [2011]
Portsmouth Crown Court – Defending teenage pupil who formed relationship with school girl leading to webcamming and an incident of sexual intercourse.

R. v. Williamson [2011]
Portsmouth Crown Court – Defending in multi-count, million pound self-certification mortgage fraud.

R. v. Caddick [2010]
Liverpool Crown Court – Defending motorcyclist who caused the death by dangerous driving of his girlfriend who was riding as pillion passenger on his motorbike.

R. v. T Brown [2010] – Defending with Karim Khalil QC anarchist cookbook collector.

1. BBC

R.v. Denton [2010]  
Kingston Crown Court – Defending Special Constable and Scenes of Crime Officer charged with causing death by dangerous driving (involving crash reconstruction and forensic examination of CCTV and mobile telephones):

1. Daily Mail
2. Telegraph
3. Daily Mirror

R. v. Ferguson [2010] 
Portsmouth Crown Court – Defending fantasist nurse said to have claimed to be a doctor:

1. Daily Express
2. The Sun
3. Daily Mail

R. v. P Brown [2009]
Winchester Crown Court – Defending Attempted Murder and rapes on lone girl walking home at night:

1. BBC
2. BBC

R. v. Cole; R. v. Keet  [2007]
Court of Appeal – Admissibility of hearsay evidence when sole evidence is from unavailable hearsay witness.  Appeal against conviction.

1 W.L.R. 2716, [2008] 1 Cr.App.R. 81(5), [2007] 8 Archbold News 2, 172 J.P.N. 196, [2008] L.S. Gazette, March 28, 16; sub nom. Reg. v. Cole; Reg. v. Keets, The Times, October 2, 2007; sub nom. Cole v. Reg.; Keet v. Reg., 72 J.C.L. 274, C.A. ([2007] EWCA Crim. 1924) CLW/07/31/6

1. Times

R. v. Cambray [2007]
Court of Appeal - Defending learner driver convicted of death by dangerous driving having driven over sea wall, the car landing on a small child playing on the beach.  Appeal against conviction and sentence.

R.T.R. 128(10), C.A. ([2006] EWCA Crim. 1708) CLW/07/08/1 & CLW/07/08/

1. BBC

R. v. Johnston [2004]
EWCA Crim 2806, 5th Edition Banks on Sentence paragraph 118.32
Led by Michael Hubbard QC, murder committed by defendant using a car as a weapon

R. v. Inett [2004]
Worcester Crown Court - Lead by Michael Hubbard QC in £550,000 SFO fraud matter

1. SFO

Attorney-General’s Reference No.1 of 2001 (Arthur John Anthony M.) [2001] 
Serious indecent assault on child by close family member

[2001] 2 Cr.App.R.(S.) 469

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