Rebecca Chalkley KC
Call: 1999
Personal profile
Rebecca’s practice is cross-border and cross-discipline. She has extensive experience in all areas of Business & Financial Crime, Cyber Crime, Fraud, Bribery & Corruption, Tax & Insolvency, Money Laundering, Proceeds of Crime, Confiscation, Financial Service Regulation, Professional Discipline, Health Care Regulation, Environmental Regulation,Health & Safety and Sports & Global Investigations.
Rebecca is ranked as a leading silk for Financial Crime and Business and Regulatory Crime (including (global) International Investigations. She is is listed in the “Business Crime Defence” category of the Who’s Who Legal UK Bar 2024 Directory.
She advises and acts on behalf of corporates, in-house and City solicitors in areas such as compliance, Insolvency, corporate governance, Civil Recovery, business investigations, dispute resolution, fraud, Restraint, Freezing Orders, Norwich Pharmacal Orders, Deferred Prosecution Agreements, and Private Prosecutions.
Rebecca regularly acts for advises High Net Worth individuals both in their personal capacity and on behalf of their associated companies.
Rebecca has an international element to her practice. She is currently instructed by a family trust in a commercial dispute in Jersey and has recently acted for the Attorney General of Bermuda.
She was until her appointment as KC, Standing Counsel to the Department for Business and the Insolvency Service and advised on their most complicated issues of policy and their prosecutions. She has a vast experience of matters relating to Insolvency and Bankruptcy, as well as Director’s Disqualification and matters under the Companies Act. She regularly advises and acts for individuals and companies in such matters.
She is instructed in regulatory and quasi-criminal matters on cases involving breaches of Regulatory & Professional Discipline and on behalf of and against regulatory bodies. This includes the Health and Safety Executive, the Environment Agency, the Financial Conduct Authority, the General Medical Council, and the General Optical Council
She advises on and acts in Extradition cases. This includes cases involving the USA, the Russian Federation and Bermuda. This involves both the use and understanding of matters relating to International Criminal Law and Civil Liberties and Human Rights.
She has been instructed by various government departments, including in cases before the Special Immigration Appeals Commission (SIAC). Rebecca was instructed by the Government, in the Kamoka litigation, concerning allegations of rendition and ill treatment sustained in Libya, brought against the British Government. She has experience of advising in Inquests & Inquiries.
Rebecca has experience of advising on Judicial Review arising from both civil and criminal matters.
She is described in the directories as “the Queen of Disclosure”. In July 2022 she co-authored with Brian Altman KC the SFO’s independent review into the collapse of the R V Woods and Marshall trial (SERCO), The Altman Review. She has vast experience with regards to Legal Professional Privilege (LPP) and regularly advises on such matters.
Rebecca is an associate member of No5 Chambers in Birmingham.
Rebecca accepts instructions on a Direct Access basis.
Recommendations
― Legal 500 (2025)Rebecca is excellent. She is very sagacious, commercial and very proactive, and is very good at formulating a successful strategy.
― Chambers UK (2025)An adept advocate, her value lies as a tactician.
― Chambers UK (2025)She has a deep knowledge and is the judge whisperer.
― Chambers UK (2025)She has an insatiable appetite for work and does not appear to be fazed by pressure.
― Chambers UK (2025)Rebecca is extremely approachable and responsive.
― Chambers UK (2025)Rebecca is a highly respected specialist fraud practitioner with a strong reputation for excellence.
― Chambers UK (2025)Rebecca is a master strategist.
― Legal 500 (2024)Rebecca is fiercely bright, incredibly adaptable and unflappable.
― Legal 500 (2024)Rebecca is incredibly bright, adaptable and unflappable.
― Legal 500 (2024)Rebecca is approachable, knowledgeable and proactive. She is always well-prepared.
― Chambers UK (2023)Very pragmatic, safe, capable approach.
― Chambers UK (2023)The disclosure queen for private prosecution work. She knows everything about disclosure and the Court of Appeal praised her in their judgement.
Rebecca has been spotlighted in Chambers UK 2021 for Private Prosecutions.
― Legal 500 (2023)A confident and assertive advocate, she understands the intricacies of the legislation, identifies the key elements of the evidence and doesn't get mired in attempts to divert attention elsewhere.
― Legal 500 (2023)Rebecca brings exceptional oral advocacy and has a very deft touch with judges in court.
― Legal 500 (2022)A great advocate and disclosure expert.
― Chambers UK (2021)She is an outstanding advocate – very nice and very bright. She’s incredibly knowledgeable.
― Chambers UK (2021)A fantastic team player who works exceptionally hard.
― Chambers UK (2021)A pleasure to work with, always available and approachable.
― Legal 500 (2021)Fearless in court, and unafraid of making difficult decisions.
― Chambers UK (2020)Incredibly imaginative and creative in her approach, and also completely fearless.
― Chambers UK (2020)She’s a good advocate, who is hot on the law and really efficient.
Business Crime & Fraud
Rebecca is ranked as a leading silk for Financial Crime and Business and Regulatory Crime (including global investigations).
Rebecca is listed in the “Business Crime Defence” category of the Who’s Who Legal UK Bar 2024 Directory.
She has extensive experience of defending and prosecuting serious and complex Fraud, Business Crime and Money Laundering (including HMRC, SFO, Private Prosecutions, Companies House, CPS) cases. With this has come an expertise in Confiscation and Restraint.
Rebecca has both prosecuted and defended in cases of money laundering and has a wealth of experience advising in relation to suspicious activity reports (SARs). She has experience of appeals against forfeiture orders made under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 and of complex confiscation hearings.
Rebecca is often instructed to act pre-charge or at the early stage of proceedings. This is in on behalf of both suspects pre and during the interview phase and the investigating authority.
She has been instructed in various cases which resulted in Deferred Prosecutions Agreements (DPA), including that against Rolls Royce PLC.
Rebecca is currently instructed in the prosecution of Steel Magnate Sanjeev Gupta who has been charged over his alleged failure to file accounts in the UK for more than 70 companies.
The charges relate to 76 companies including Liberty Commodities, the trading firm founded by Gupta in the 1990s, and a number of businesses comprising his Liberty Steel group of metals plants.
She has been instructed by Companies House.
Read news stories here:
[The Guardian] [City AM] [The Times]
She is a member of the LexisNexis Corporate Crime Consulting Editorial Board.
Tax & Insolvency
Rebecca was until her appointment as KC, Standing Counsel to the Department for Business and the Insolvency Service and advised those departments on their most complicated issues including policy and their prosecutions.
She has a vast experience of matters relating to Insolvency and Bankruptcy, as well as Director’s Disqualification and matters under the Companies Act. She regularly advises and acts for individuals, including High Net Worth individuals and Family Offices, and corporates in such matters.
She is currently acting for the Liquidators for Arena TV.
Rebecca successfully prosecuted the tennis player Boris Becker for offences under the Insolvency Act. She was names as the Times Lawyer of the Week for this.
R v Boris Becker (2019-2022) – Instructed by the Insolvency Service. [Press Report]
Bribery & Corruption
Rebecca has significant experience of cases involving bribery and corruption, particularly with an international dimension.
She was instructed in the SFO’s investigations into Rolls Royce PLC as well as ENRC. These attracted extensive media and public interest bothnationally and internationally.
She is currently instructed on behalf of the CEO of a multinational company which is under investigation by the SFO, the US Department of Justice (DOJ), the FCA and its sectors regulators for allegations of international bribery and corruption.
Rebecca has experience of advising corporate clients upon self-reporting and anti- bribery and corruption responsibilities.
In addition to Bribery & Corruption, Rebecca has Rebecca significant experience of cases involving Misconduct in a Public Office. This includes two of the largest to have appeared before the Courts in recent times (Operations Weeting and Elevden- see below)
Case of note include:
- ENRC (2020-2022) Instructed by the SFO in their investigations into allegations of bribery and corruption. Numerous articles including [Press Report]
- Rolls Royce (2016–2019) – Instructed by the SFO in their investigations into allegations of bribery and corruption.[Press Report]
- Sweett Group PLC (2016) – Instructed to prosecute charges of bribery. The company pleaded to failing to prevent an act of bribery intended to secure and retain a contract with Al Ain Ahlia Insurance Company (AAAI), contrary to s7(1)(b) Bribery Act 2010, and fined £2.25m. [Press Report]
- Operation Elveden (2014–2016) – Instructed in numerous cases that formed part of the investigation into allegations involving the unlawful provision of information by public officials to journalists, including various senior members of The Sun.
- Operation Weeting & Sacha (2013–2016) – The “Phone Hacking” case at The News of the World and the associated investigation into allegations of perverting the course of justice. [Press Report]
Private Prosecutions
Rebecca has been and is instructed (defending and prosecuting), in the largest Private Prosecution before the courts and is recognised by the legal directories as a leader in that field. She has been ‘spotlighted’ as such in Chambers UK.
Rebecca often advises Corporates, Individuals and bodies (including charities, Insolvency Practitioners and Trustees in Bankruptcy) at the initial stages of the discovery of the “wrongdoing” with regards to the various options available to them before both the civil and criminal courts.
This often includes:
- Advising on the scope and nature of internal and external domestic and international Investigations, and the analysis of the fruits of such investigation.
- The obtaining of material via the civil and criminal courts, including Witness Summons, Production Orders and Norwich Pharmacal Orders.
- The freezing and Restraint of assets both domestically and world-wide and Civil Recovery.
- Advising on the preparation of the case to be referred to a Regulator, the SFO, the police for public prosecution.
Cyber Crime & Data Protection
Rebecca has experience of advising companies in respect of ‘cybercrime’ offences, offences under the Misuse of Computers Act and industrial espionage. This includes the Private Prosecution on behalf of an Insurance Company, of a former employee who ‘hacked’ back into their systems to steal confidential data, client lists, for use by his new employer.
Trading Standards
Rebecca has experience of advising and acting in cases involving infringements of Trademark.
This includes advising and acting for JUUL the American Global E-Cigarette brand in a series of Private Prosecutions.
Investigations
Rebecca is ranked as a leading silk for (global) International Investigations.
Rebecca often advises Corporates, Individuals and bodies (including charities, Insolvency Practitioners and Trustees in Bankruptcy) at the initial stages of the discovery of the “wrongdoing” with regards to the various options available to them before both the civil and criminal courts.
This often includes:
- Advising on the scope and nature of internal and external domestic and international Investigations, and the analysis of the fruits of such investigation.
- The obtaining of material via the civil and criminal courts, including Witness Summons, Production Orders and Norwich Pharmacal Orders.
- The freezing and Restraint of assets both domestically and world-wide and Civil Recovery.
- Advising on the preparation of the case to be referred to a Regulator, the SFO, the police for public prosecution
Rebecca regularly acts for advises High Net Worth individuals both in their personal capacity and on behalf of their associated companies.
Rebecca is described in Legal 500 (2025) as “excellent….very sagacious, commercial and very proactive, and is very good at formulating a successful strategy.
Financial Services Regulation
Rebecca is ranked as a leading Silk for Regulatory Crime.
She has experience in cases conducted by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and other Financial Service Regulators.
She advises and acts on behalf of corporates, high net worth individuals in areas such as compliance, Insolvency, and corporate governance.
She is currently instructed on behalf of the CEO of a multinational company which is under investigation by its regulators.
She has experience of advising corporate clients upon self-reporting to regulators and anti-bribery and corruption responsibilities.
She was until her appointment as KC, Standing Counsel to the Department for Business and the Insolvency Service. She has a vast experience of matters relating to Insolvency and Bankruptcy, as well as Director’s Disqualification, Companies House and matters under the Companies Act. She regularly advises and acts for individuals and companies on such matters.
Professional Discipline
Rebecca has many years of experience advising on and acting in cases involving Professional Misconduct.
This is both on behalf of and against regulatory bodies. This includes the General Medical Council, and the General Optical Council.
Rebecca is currently instructed by the Criminal Bar Council (CBA) to advise generally regarding possible claims against barristers who took part in the industrial action and specifically in regard to one member of the criminal bar.
Health & Safety
Rebecca has extensive experience of acting in cases brought by the Health & Safety Executive. This includes cases where serious life changing injuries or fatalities have occurred. She has expertise in cases involving asbestos.
Environment
Rebecca has extensive experience of acting in and advising on (defence and prosecution) matters relating to:
- Water pollution offences
- Air pollution offences
- Waste dumping and land pollution offences
- International movement of waste
- Dangerous waste and contaminated land
- Waste packaging
- Agriculture and fisheries
- Contaminated land
- Drainage and Sewerage
- Tree Preservation Orders
- The Drinking Water Inspectorate
Rebecca has been instructed in the Environment Agency’s largest and most high-profile water pollution cases. This includes a series of prosecutions of Anglian Water including the following:
She has acted for DEFRA in a prosecution on behalf of the Drinking Water Inspectorate.
Rebecca recently acted for a landowner in the largest Tree Preservation Order (TPO) prosecution to date.
Rebecca successfully prosecuted the first case under the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Regulations.
Serious & Organised Crime
Rebecca has been instructed for the last 25 years in a very large number of drug trafficking and money laundering cases, involving various national and international law enforcement agencies (including the NCA, DOJ & FBI).
This included prosecuting the then largest on-land seizure of cocaine. The drugs had a street value of more than £65m.
She has considerable experience of working with policy, training and various specialist teams, including those responsible for the gathering and handling of intelligence and witness protection. She also has extensive experience of Part 1 RIPA material and the use of undercover officers and informant involvement both in this jurisdiction and abroad. She is alert to the competing issues in relation to KE witnesses and is thoroughly familiar with all aspects of public interest immunity (PII).
Extradition
Rebecca is regularly instructed in Extradition cases. This includes cases involving the USA, the Russian Federation and Bermuda. These cases often include matters and issues relating to International Criminal Law and Civil and Human Rights issues.
Featured cases:
Recently instructed in a series of high profile and complex cases acting for the Russian Federation. Rebecca is familiar with Article 3 issues arising from political and human rights (including prison conditions) conditions within that country.
Successfully acted for the US Government in a complex case involving the selling of counterfeit cancer drugs in the USA and a manslaughter case.
Public & Administrative Law
Rebecca has been instructed by various government departments, including in cases before the Special Immigration Appeals Commission (SIAC). Rebecca was instructed by the Government, in the Kamoka litigation, concerning allegations of rendition and ill treatment sustained in Libya, brought against the British Government.
Rebecca was instructed by one of the core participants in the Azelle Rodney Public Inquiryand advised in the Inquest into the shooting of Mark Duggen.
She regularly advises on Judicial Review arising from criminal, civil and regulatory proceedings.
Education
- BA MA (Hons), Experimental Psychology, University of Oxford (1993-1997)
Awards
-
Listed in the “Business Crime Defence” category of the Who’s Who Legal UK Bar 2024 Directory
-
Included in the Hot 100 list 2023, produced by The Lawyer Magazine.
-
Lawyer of the Week’, The Times, April 2022
-
The Queen Mother’s Scholar, Middle Temple (1999)
Recommendations
-
Listed in the “Business Crime Defence” category of the Who’s Who Legal UK Bar 2024 Directory
-
Included in the Hot 100 list 2023, produced by The Lawyer Magazine.
-
Lawyer of the Week’, The Times, April 2022
-
A LexisNexis Expert in Corporate Crime, appointed April 2022
Professional appointments
- Appointed as a member of the LexisNexis Corporate Crime Consulting Editorial (2022)
- Visiting Professor of Practice at the Institute of Advanced Legal Studies (IALS) at the University of London
- Standing Counsel to the Department for Business & the Insolvency Service (2017, reappointed 2020)
- SFO Prosecution Panel (A List) (2013, reappointed 2020)
- Attorney General’s Regulatory List of Health & Safety Executive, Office of Rail Regulation and Environment Agency (B List) (2012, reappointed 2019)
- GMC (Full List) (2015)
- CPS Specialist Panel Advocate (Serious Organised Crime, Extradition and Fraud) (Gradel 3)
- Attorney General’s Prosecutor (List B) (2006)
Memberships
- St Hilda’s College, Oxford Law Network
- South Eastern Circuit
- Midlands Circuit
- CBA
- FLA
- PPA
- ARDL
- FSLA
- Female Fraud Forum
Publications
- The SFO’s independent review into the collapse of the R V Woods and Marshall trial (SERCO), The Altman Review, 21 July 2022, co-author
- RIPA contributor: Judicial Studies Board (2008)
- CPS Guidance Notes for the Prosecution of VAT & Excise Frauds, 2006–2007, co-author
- Response to the Review by Lord Justice Auld of the Criminal Courts: General Council of the Bar & CBA, 2001, contributor
Languages
French (conversational)