June 5, 2026
David Walbank KC has now been briefed for the defence in the second of two trials in Operation Salmon. The case is fixed for April 2028 in the Southwark Crown Court with a time estimate of 6 months. David will lead Ben Waidhofer of Foundry Chambers and is instructed by Keith Wood of Lewis Nedas Law.
David is also briefed for another defendant in the first of the Operation Salmon trials. That trial is fixed for 6 months from September 2027, again in the Southwark Crown Court. In that case, David will lead Chantel Gaber of 25 Bedford Row and is instructed by Daniel Cundy and Naureen Shariff of Blackfords LLP.
The Operation Salmon prosecutions follow a 6-year investigation by HM Revenue & Customs. A total of twenty defendants has been charged with offences relating to the alleged evasion of £98 million worth of Value Added Tax and National Insurance Contributions.
The allegations relate to the supply of payroll and associated administrative services in respect of the supply of tens of thousands of temporary workers to a range of recruitment agencies, well-known high street retailers and other market-leading brands. The charges are denied.
David Walbank KC specialises in defending individuals charged with white collar crime. He is a regular contributor to New Law Journal in his Crime Brief column and, most recently, in a series of biographical articles entitled ‘Lives of the Great Advocates’: see here. David is also the founder of the www.crimecast.law criminal law updating website, on which he presents more than 250 video case reviews of recent criminal judgments: see here.
Barristers
David Walbank KC
Call: 1987 | Silk: 2018