Trevor Archer

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“Trevor is extremely bright, detailed and always calm in his advocacy.”
Chambers UK (2024)
“He is very bright, reliable and always thinking of creative solutions.”
Chambers UK (2024)
“He works at a phenomenally quick rate and is superb.”
Chambers UK (2023)
“His work is consistently well structured, accurate and to the point while still being comprehensive. He also demonstrates strong advocacy skills in explaining his legal views clearly and persuasively.”
Chambers UK (2022)
“Trevor is exceptionally bright, down to earth and reliable and a real pleasure to work with.”
Legal 500 (2022)

Personal profile

Trevor Archer impresses across a variety of specialisms. He is regularly ranked in the major legal directories as a leading practitioner in Financial Crime, and Business & Regulatory Crime (including Global Investigations). His regulatory practice includes Health and Safety and Professional Discipline. Trevor also undertakes Murder & Manslaughter and Serious & Organised Crime cases.

Recommendations

Trevor is extremely bright, detailed and always calm in his advocacy.

― Chambers UK (2024)

He is very bright, reliable and always thinking of creative solutions.

― Chambers UK (2024)

He works at a phenomenally quick rate and is superb.

― Chambers UK (2023)

His work is consistently well structured, accurate and to the point while still being comprehensive. He also demonstrates strong advocacy skills in explaining his legal views clearly and persuasively.

― Chambers UK (2022)

Trevor is exceptionally bright, down to earth and reliable and a real pleasure to work with.

― Legal 500 (2022)

Calm, hardworking, and well prepared.

― Legal 500 (2021)

He has a keen mind and an attractive advocacy style.

― Legal 500 (2020)

Fraud

Trevor has worked on many SFO investigations into international corruption and Fraud, including advanced fee fraud, ramping fraud, rent fraud, mortgage fraud, Ponzi fraud, banking fraud and market manipulation. These investigations frequently involve evidence obtained from other jurisdictions, and collaborative work with international agencies.

Trevor also regularly prosecutes and defends fraud prosecuted by the CPS specialist fraud group, including VAT fraud investigated by HMRC and benefit fraud.

Trevor has extensive experience of advising in relation to legal professional privilege. He has advised major banks in the UK and the US on privilege, and he frequently acts as independent counsel for the SFO, the Insolvency Service, and HMRC.

Featured Cases

R v K (2020 – ongoing) – Instructed to prosecute fraud and Company Directors Disqualification Act offences relating to a group of property development companies.
Op. Vouch: R v T and others (2018-2019) – Junior counsel for CPS Specialist Fraud Division in the prosecution of ten defendants for boiler room fraud and conspiracy to launder criminal property in the UK and abroad.
R v B (2018-2019) – Instructed to defend an allegation of procurement fraud prosecuted by a local authority.
R v S and another (2017–2018) – Instructed as disclosure counsel for the SFO in prosecution of fraud and money laundering by the CEO and Chief Operating Officer at a FTSE250 listed corporation.
R v R (2017) – Led by Gillian Jones QC in defending an allegation of misconduct in public office, fraud, theft and money laundering prosecuted by the London Borough of Southwark.
R v J (2016) – Instructed to defend a multi-handed boiler room fraud.
R v S and others (2015) – Instructed as disclosure counsel for the SFO in a £45m London-based Ponzi fraud.
R v J (2015) – Junior counsel for the SFO in an allegation of aiding and abetting another to use a false instrument to mislead the financial markets.
R v B and S (2015) – Instructed to prosecute offences under the Company Directors Disqualification Act, arising from four companies that became insolvent with deficiencies exceeding £18m.
Op. Saturn (2012) – Instructed as disclosure counsel for the FCA in insider dealing prosecution of two defendants working within two major investment banks.

Bribery & Corruption

Serious Bribery & Corruption is a mainstay of Trevor’s practice. Between 2010 and 2014, Trevor was instructed by the Special Investigation and Prosecution Team to advise in relation to a bribery investigation and prosecution involving the highest echelons of the former Turks and Caicos Islands Government and real-estate developers.

Since then, Trevor has represented the Serious Fraud Office in multiple complex bribery prosecutions, including the groundbreaking first successful UK prosecution of a company for bribery of a foreign public official. He has also represented the SFO in hearings to secure three DPAs, which all related to bribery offences.

Trevor often is instructed to assist corporations with internal investigations into suspected bribery.

Featured Cases

R v AB Ltd and CD Ltd (2020–2021) – Instructed as junior counsel for the SFO in UK’s eleventh and twelfth DPAs, both related to bribery offences. [Press Report]
R v Guralp Systems Limited (2016–2019) – Instructed as junior counsel for the SFO in the UK’s sixth deferred prosecution agreement (DPA), involving bribery offences.
R v G and others (2016–2019) – Instructed as junior counsel for the SFO in prosecution of three individuals for conspiracy to make $1m corrupt payments to a foreign public official for contracts to provide seismic equipment.
R v S and O Ltd (2016) – Instructed as junior prosecution counsel in the SFO’s first successful prosecution of a company for bribery of foreign public officials. A UK company and two company directors were convicted of paying bribes totalling £400k to Kenyan and Mauritanian officials to secure contracts to supply printing materials for public elections and academic examinations. [Press Report]
R v M and others (2010–2014) – Instructed in an investigation into allegations of corruption involving ministers in the Turks and Caicos Islands Government and property developers.

Proceeds of Crime and Confiscation

Early in his career, Trevor spent five months seconded to the Asset Forfeiture Division of the Revenue and Customs Prosecutions Office.

He was specifically engaged on a review of Confiscation Orders following the judgement of Toulsen L.J. in R v Chambers [2008] EWCA Crim 2467.

Trevor developed a comprehensive understanding of the subtle and intricate issues surrounding confiscation under POCA.

Featured Cases

R v Y – Instructed to advise and represent a local authority in confiscation proceedings relating to breach of a planning enforcement notice.
R v X – Instructed to prosecute confiscation proceedings involving equity in a matrimonial home registered to the defendant’s wife.
R v G – Instructed by the SFO to review files because the defendant alleged SFO had breached an undertaking provided in relation to confiscation proceedings.
R v X – Instructed by the CPS Organised Crime Division to prosecute confiscation proceedings in a weapons importation case.

Crime

Trevor defends and prosecutes a wide variety of offences including conspiracy to murder, firearms offences, aggravated burglary, robbery and causing grievous bodily harm with intent.

Trevor has particular experience of cases involving gang-related offending and expert evidence relating to the same. Trevor also has expertise in cases that require complex disclosure management, informant handling, and evidence relating to cell site, GPS, mobile phones, DNA, fingerprint and gunshot residue.

Featured Cases

R v O (2020-2023) – Led junior, prosecuting a high-profile drill rapper for firearms.
R v F and others (2017-2018) – Led junior, prosecuting eight defendants for gang-related conspiracy to kidnap, wounding with intent and conspiracy to pervert the course of justice.
R v C and others (2017) – Led junior, prosecuting three defendants for conspiracy to murder a heavily pregnant woman.

Professional Discipline

Trevor regularly represents the General Medical Council in disciplinary proceedings before the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service. Since the GMC relaxed its policy regarding panel advocates, Trevor is able to represent doctors in disciplinary proceedings. Trevor also represents optometrists facing proceedings before the General Optical Council.

Featured Cases

Mr H (2023) – Allegation of dishonestly recording cup:disc ratios
Mr A (2023) – Failure to detect signs of retinal detachment
Dr DG (2022) – Clinical failures by a consultant plastic surgeon leading to tissue necrosis.
Dr T (2021) – Clinical failures by a consultant leading to death of a two-day-old baby.
Dr P (2021) – Clinical failures by a consultant leading to death of a patient.
Dr A (2021) – Consultant exposing patient’s genital area without consent.
Dr S (2021) – Surgeon failing to notify the GMC of a criminal conviction.
Dr H (2019) – Probity allegations relating to doctor’s response to a critical incident investigation into patient’s death.

Inquests & Inquiries

Prior to coming to the Bar, Trevor worked on a number of high profile inquests, including the second inquest into the death of 13 teenagers in a New Cross house fire in 1981 and the death of Zahid Mubarek, who was murdered in his cell by a fellow prisoner.

As counsel, Trevor has represented properly interested persons at a number of jury inquests, and for several years he worked on the Al-Sweady Inquiry.

Featured Cases

Anthony Quigley Inquest (2014) – Instructed by the Treasury Solicitor to represent the Crown Premises Fire Inspection Group at an inquest into the death of a prisoner following a cell fire at HMP Chelmsford.
Al-Sweady Inquiry (2012 and 2014) – Instructed as support counsel to an inquiry into allegations of torture and murder of Iraqi detainees in the custody of British Forces in 2004, leading a multidisciplinary team to analyse evidence and prepare for the oral hearings and assisting the chairman in preparing his inquiry report. [Press Report]
Lee Balkwell Inquest (2008) – Instructed to represent an employer (initially suspected of murder) at a jury inquest into the death of a builder who became trapped in a cement mixer.

Judicial Review

Trevor has advised and appeared in the High Court in relation to claims for Judicial Review. Trevor’s experience of this area of law informs his approach to casework more generally.

Featured Cases

R (Rawlinson & Hunter) v SFO (2012) – Instructed by the SFO and Treasury Solicitor to advise on duty of candour in judicial review, regarding an application for search warrants, relating to circumstances surrounding the collapse of the Icelandic bank, Kaupthing, in October 2008.
R (H) v Northampton Crown Court (2009) – Instructed to represent the claimant in judicial review of a circuit judge’s decision to remand the claimant in custody. The claim was granted and the decision was quashed. The criminal proceedings were later discontinued.

Health & Safety

Trevor has defended and prosecuted Health & Safety cases for many years. He has experience of cases involving construction, manufacturing, gas and healthcare. He is appointed to the regulatory panel for the Health and Safety Executive, the Office of Rail Regulation and the Environment Agency.

Featured Cases

R v NS Ltd, FC Ltd and JR Ltd (2020 – 2021) – Instructed to prosecute three companies for offences arising from an employee being crushed by an air conditioning unit that fell from the roof of a commercial building.
R v L Ltd (2019–2020) – Instructed to prosecute a company for an offence arising from defective perimeter fencing at a concrete manufacturing plant.
R v WC Ltd & RJF Ltd (2017) – Instructed to prosecute two companies for an offence relating to a carbon monoxide leak and risk of gas leak inside a residential tower block. This resulted in fines and costs totalling £700k.
R v O (2017) – Instructed to defend two alleged breaches of the Diving at Work Regulations 1997. The defendant was acquitted.
R v DI Plc (2017) – Instructed to prosecute a company for an offence arising from the collapse of a temporary floor system for the BBC Proms in the Park, crushing an employee.
R v An NHS Trust (2016) – Instructed to prosecute an offence concerning the death of an 87-year-old man in a residential nursing home.
R v AC Ltd (2016) – Instructed to prosecute a company for an offence arising from the collapse of a site hoarding, severely injuring passing pedestrians.
R v AAC(W) Ltd (2016) – Instructed to prosecute a company for an offence arising from an injury caused by a vertical milling machine.
R v O and others (2014) – Instructed to defend a multi-handed prosecution under the Environmental Protection Act 1990. The defendant and two co-defendants were local council waste recycling employees accused of exploiting their position to assist others to make unauthorised deposits of commercial waste.