Paul Wakerley
Call 1990LLB (Hons) (Birmingham)
Practice: Fraud, Regulatory and Crime
'Recommended in Crime' - The Legal 500 (2010)
Summary
Paul Wakerley is a criminal law specialist with extensive experience of all aspects of criminal litigation.
He regularly acts as a Leading Junior, defending and prosecuting serious crime including murder, manslaughter, serious violence, drugs, firearms and trafficking allegations.
He is also experienced in fraud and confiscation at all levels. Since joining QEB he regularly undertakes trading standards work and has developed a regulatory practice (particularly with the General Social Care Council)
Recent Work
Paul Wakerley spent much of the later part of 2008 in a multi-handed trial at Southwark. He defended Facuna, who was the principal trafficker of a young girl brought into the UK and thereafter sold into prostitution.
In 2009, Paul Wakerley successfully defended in a series of cash-in-transit robbery allegations heard at Inner London Crown Court (R v. Bonah and others) Of the three defendants his was the only acquittal.
He then led for the prosecution in a multi-handed firearms sale/transfer conspiracy case at Southwark Crown Court.
In April 2009 he acted as junior counsel in a murder allegation at Reading Crown Court. His female defendant was acquitted of murder but convicted of manslaughter.
Throughout 2009 and into 2010 he has been acting for Brent Trading Standards in a massive counterfeit goods case which will end later in the year after confiscation is determined.
In March 2010 he defended at trial an employee who had stolen in excess of £300,000 from his employer and committed a series of mortgage frauds.
In April 2010 he led for the prosecution at the Old Bailey in an attempted murder (firearms) case and subsequently prosecuted a number of defendants for attempted robbery where one of the men involved was killed in the course of the incident and where the central witness for the prosecution had been tried and acquitted of his murder.
In May 2010 he spent a week defending in an historic rape allegation in Leicester.
Career Details
Paul Wakerley started his career in 4KBW, a common law set practising mainly in the Thames Valley area. He developed a strong practice, which led to an increase in leading junior instructions in London Courts. He was for a time Head of the Crime Team at 4KBW.In November 2008 he moved to join QEB Hollis Whiteman where his practice continues to flourish.
Additional Information
Member of the British Association of Sports LawMember of Criminal Bar Association
Member of South Eastern Circuit
Member of Midland Circuit
Member of Gray's Inn
Approved pupil supervisor
Registered with the Bar Council – Public Access Directory
Member of the Public Access Bar Association - PABA
Notable cases:
R v Mirza & Others (2011)
Prison Officer jailed for 2 years
R v Chuck (2010)
Fraud/theft from employer
R v Lao and others (2009)
Trading Standards
R v S (2009)
Acquittal of multiple rapes following two week trial
R v Khakh & others (2009)
Kidnap & blackmail case
R v Facuna & others (2008)
Prostitution and trafficking
R v Sterry & others (2008)
Multi-handed drugs conspiracy
R v Gibson (2008)
Attempted murder and blinding
R v Oyebanjo (2007)
Money-laundering trial
R v Baker & others (2007)
Farmer accused of corporate manslaughter
