Leo Seelig

Call: 2007

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    • Leo is an exceptional advocate with sound judgement.

      Legal 500 (2025)
    • A diligent counsel who gets on top of new developments in a case quickly and never loses his head.

      Chambers UK (2023)
    • Very competent, fair and balanced when prosecuting. He works hard and understands how to cut through the detail in complicated cases.

      Chambers UK (2022)
    • He prepares meticulously, and the attention to detail which you see in his paperwork no doubt gives him the confidence which is obvious as soon as he gets to his feet. He has a dry sense of humour which he can deploy to devastating effect.

      Legal 500 (2022)
    • Judges immediately sense they can trust him; witnesses realise that if they are lying they are going to be exposed; juries love him. He has a wide ranging practice in general crime.

      Legal 500 (2022)
    • Very bright, with a calm and compelling court manner. A classic cross-examination style which was very effective.

      Legal 500 (2021)
    Leo Seelig

    Personal profile

    Ranked as a leading barrister in legal directories, Leo practises in all areas of Crime and Regulatory & Professional Disciplinary law. He advises on and appears as lead counsel in large, multi-handed cases involving complex, technical and sensitive evidence.

    He is instructed in cases including Murder & Manslaughter and Terrorism. In R-v-Dunleavy he appeared at first instance and in the Court of Appeal in a case concerning the preparation of terrorist acts. The case is cited extensively in Blackstone Criminal Practice in relation to reasonable excuse and the withdrawal of defences generally.

    Leo also has a wealth of experience in the field of Business Crime & Fraud. He appeared in the first ever case concerning criminal benefit obtained from the operation of an unregistered money service business, developing at first instance the law in this field of financial crime.

    Leo is instructed to appear in the High Court in sensitive ex parte matters.

    He is appointed at the highest grade as a CPS panel advocate to the Counter Terrorism, Serious Fraud panel and Serious Crime panels.

    Recommendations

    Leo is an exceptional advocate with sound judgement.

    ― Legal 500 (2025)

    Leo is a very good prosecutor.

    ― Chambers UK (2025)

    A diligent counsel who gets on top of new developments in a case quickly and never loses his head.

    ― Chambers UK (2023)

    Very competent, fair and balanced when prosecuting. He works hard and understands how to cut through the detail in complicated cases.

    ― Chambers UK (2022)

    He prepares meticulously, and the attention to detail which you see in his paperwork no doubt gives him the confidence which is obvious as soon as he gets to his feet. He has a dry sense of humour which he can deploy to devastating effect.

    ― Legal 500 (2022)

    Judges immediately sense they can trust him; witnesses realise that if they are lying they are going to be exposed; juries love him. He has a wide ranging practice in general crime.

    ― Legal 500 (2022)

    Very bright, with a calm and compelling court manner. A classic cross-examination style which was very effective.

    ― Legal 500 (2021)

    An extremely bright young barrister who is very hard-working. He’s a good jury advocate and judges like him.

    ― Chambers & Partners (2021)

    Crime

    Ranked as a leading barrister in legal directories, Leo practises in all areas of criminal and regulatory law.

    Featured Cases

    • Op Wheelswarf – leading counsel; facilitation of international child sexual abuse.
    • Op Bemat – terrorism.
    • Op Mainferre – leading counsel; importation of firearms.
    • Op Beefin – leading counsel; importation of firearms.
    • R-v-B,M,H and A – leading counsel; drugs conspiracies.
    • R-v-K – attempt murder.
    • Op Jawfallen – leading counsel; people smuggling.
    • R-v-A&A – leading counsel; firearms conversion.
    • Op Frizington – leading counsel; 10-handed drugs conspiracy.
    • R-v-H, A & S – leading counsel; importation of drugs.
    • Op Pancetta – leading counsel; firearms.
    • Op Jugavial – 5-handed attempt murder.
    • Op Gnathonize 1 – leading counsel; conspiracies to import drugs ([2022] EWCA Crim 1575).
    • Op Chaguar – terrorism ([2023] EWCA Crim 928).
    • Op Gnathonize 2 – leading counsel; money laundering.
    • Op Metatarse – terrorism.
    • Op Boswellian – preparation of terrorist acts ([2021] EWCA Crim 39)
    • Op Snowangel – leading counsel; 8-handed conspiracy to rob.
    • Op Broad – leading counsel; conspiracies to supply drugs.
    • Op Chueen – leading counsel; 14-handed conspiracy to supply drugs.
    • Op Donezteba – leading counsel; attempted murder.
    • Op Kakapo – terrorist financing.
    • R-P&P – police corruption.
    • R-v-R – infant murder.
    • R-v-Jiang – fraud / money laundering.
    • Op Dalmas – 8-handed £12m fraud.

    Education

    • Bar Vocational Course
    • Graduate Diploma in Law
    • MSc Medical Anthropology, University of Oxford
    • BSc Biology, University of Leeds: First Class Honours

    Awards

    • Wolfson Scholarship, Lincoln’s Inn
    • Sir Thomas More Bursary, Lincoln’s Inn
    • Hardwicke Scholarship, Lincoln’s Inn

    Professional Appointments

    • Recorder of the Crown Court (2022)

    Memberships

    • Serious Crime Group Specialist Panel Member
    • Fraud Specialist Panel Member
    • Counter-terrorism Specialist Panel Member
    • Rape and Serious Sexual Offences Specialist Panel Member
    • Association of Regulatory and Disciplinary Lawyers
    • CBA
    • South Eastern Circuit