A specialist in Sports Law, Serious & Financial Crime and Regulatory proceedings
Ranked as leader at the Bar by The Legal 500
Craig has extensive experience in conducting the most serious, complex and high-profile cases at trial and before the full range of sports dispute tribunals, offering a unique combination of sports law expertise and many years practice as a criminal courtroom advocate, in both domestic and international proceedings.
He also appears regularly before the Court of Appeal and has conducted proceedings at UK Supreme Court and European Court of Human Rights levels.
The Legal 500 directory, in which he has long been ranked as a leader at the Bar, has acknowledged him across the years as being, “Clearly very experienced”, “A brilliant tactician”, and “A powerful and persuasive advocate…able to deal with novel and complex issues with ease”. Solicitors regard him as excelling in cases that raise novel issues of law.
His criminal work is defence-focused and covers the full spectrum of alleged offending, from top-end, international organised crime and homicide cases, through to road traffic matters in the lower courts, and ancillary matters such as proceedings under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002.
Qualified to act on a Direct Access basis, Craig is able to provide cost-effective, expert advice and leading representation to clients with direct access to their barrister. This service can also be accessed by, or through intermediaries including companies/clubs, employers, agents, governing bodies and other organisations.
He is also appointed as General Counsel at the international sports agency, FA Sport, but maintains an independent practice through Chambers under a Bar Standards Board dual-capacity practising certificate. This gives him a particularly unique insight into and understanding of sports law cases he conducts through Chambers.
See the sections below for further details, notable cases and press reports by practice area.
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Craig is ranked as a leader at the Bar in Sports Law in the current edition of The Legal 500.
Previous editions have said of his sport and criminal practices:
“He’s a brilliant tactician, always has all angles of a negotiation or dispute covered. A brilliant lateral thinker who shows superb judgement at all times”.
“He is a powerful and persuasive advocate who is able to deal with novel and complex issues with ease. He provides clear and considered advice. Has an ability to build an immediate rapport with lay clients even in the most testing of circumstances”.
“A passionate lawyer, whose commitment to a case is admirable and does not go unnoticed by clients. He thinks carefully about the arguments he wishes to make and works collaboratively when preparing a case”.
‘He is very experienced – articulate and composed, with a good eye for detail. A powerful advocate as much as he is technically able, he is excellent in cases with novel issues. A persuasive advocate inside and outside the courtroom, with a sharp intellect to gain the best possible result.’
‘He has a superb eye for detail and grasps the issues in a case quickly, however substantial or complex the evidence. An excellent tactician, appreciated for his thorough approach. An impressive advocate and a pleasure to work with.’
‘Clearly very experienced and comfortable in sports disciplinary proceedings. Always thinking laterally’.
He was also described as having ‘boundless knowledge’ as a contributor to Young, Summers & Corker on Abuse of Process in Criminal Proceedings (3rd ed.)
Craig is frequently instructed by athletes, agents, governing bodies, clubs, their executives and other participants in elite-level professional sport, across a wide breadth of matters including disciplinary, integrity & anti-corruption, anti-doping, safeguarding and other regulatory proceedings; arbitral claims, including training compensation claims in football; and investigatory processes.
He has appeared for and against world sports governing bodies and is also regularly appointed as independent counsel by such bodies, or other organisations, to investigate, report and/or sit on tribunals to determine disputes in the field.
International work has included his reporting upon alleged fraud within a world governing body, as to its selection of events and equipment for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, and appearing in proceedings arising out of the Abu Dhabi T10 corruption scandal.
Craig has also advised and guided athletes and club executives during internal grievance processes, through to completion of Settlement Agreements upon termination of their employment. He has particularly extensive knowledge of contractual matters between football players, their clubs and Football Agents, as well as the framework of the FIFA and FA Football Agent Regulations.
Tribunal appoints include his being:
- Chair of the Appeals Panel of the Welsh Football Association.
- Chair of the England Boxing Disciplinary Panel.
- A member of the Sport Resolutions Panel of Arbitrators and Mediators, through whom he has been appointed to a wide array of national governing body tribunals; and
- A former Chair of the National Serious Case and Anti-Discrimination Panel of the English Football Association.
He is retained panel counsel to:
- The League Managers Association, representing football managers in the Premier League, EFL and beyond.
- The Professional Cricketers Association; and
- The Sport Resolutions Pro Bono Panel of counsel, assisting those sportspeople who would otherwise not have the means to fund their legal representation.
High-profile matters have included:
- Disciplinary charges and appeals brought by the FA against Arsene Wenger, Moussa Dembele (both for The FA), Fernando Forestieri, Tom Pope, Daniel Podence, Jack Simpson, Gary O’Neil, Preston United FC and a host of other football players, managers and clubs, in the men’s and women’s games. Craig also acted for a former Club CEO in the seminal appeal of Hartlepool Utd v The FA, concerning disguised agent payments, and appeared in the John Yems case – perhaps the most significant brought by the Association in its history, concerning discrimination in football.
- Representing three former England international cricket players and a coach in proceedings arising out of the Yorkshire Cricket Club racism scandal and allegations made by Azeem Rafiq, as well as various other individuals in spin-off proceedings and investigations that arose later, such as that at Essex CCC.
- Wider disciplinary cases in cricket, including representing the England Women’s captain, Heather Knight, as well as Alex Hales, Danni Wyatt-Hodge, Evelyn Jones, and Jack Brooks, amongst others.
- Representing an entire club playing staff during investigations arising out of the Luther Burrell allegations in rugby.
- Anti-doping proceedings, including the defence of Chris Wright.
- Multiple integrity investigations and cases, including the successful defence of Jamie Jones against match-fixing allegations before the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association, the Richard Bredice case (betting on matches by a Premier League performance analyst), and numerous anti-betting cases in cricket, including the representation of England player Brydon Carse.
- Acting for Clubs in football Training Compensation disputes.
- Advising the National League on the viability of holding the 2019/20 season Playoffs within restrictions imposed during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Craig has also acted for sportspeople in non-sporting matters, including Tyler Roberts (Welsh international footballer), Thomas Hitzlsperger (former German international and Premier League player), Derek ‘Del Boy’ Chirsora (World Heavyweight boxing title contender) and Eric Hall (the flamboyant, late football and entertainment industry agent).
Craig has appeared in cases of murder, kidnap, people trafficking, serious violence, firearms, large-scale drug conspiracies, arson, road traffic collisions resulting in multiple fatalities, serious sexual offences and offences of dishonesty, including fraud and proceedings for perverting the course of justice. He has a particular specialism in cases involving organised crime and appeared in ‘The UK’s largest drugs importation’ and ‘Europe’s largest drugs conspiracy’ cases, as they were at the time. His expertise includes complicated conspiracy cases, centring around Organised Crime Groups, and cases involving informants and Public Interest Immunity-protected material, as well as associated Proceeds of Crime Act claims.
Craig has also represented high-profile individuals charged with less serious motoring offences, including Premier League and international footballers Thomas Hitzlsperger and Tyler Roberts.
In appellate proceedings, he acted for Edwards in Harkins & Edwards v The UK at European Court of Human Rights level (led by Mark Summers KC), arguing that extradition to the USA to face charges for an “execution style murder” and possible life imprisonment without possibility of parole would violate Article 3 of the European Convention – overturning the House of Lords decision in Wellington regarding application of the Convention in extradition cases. And represented the Appellant in the leading case concerning strict liability, R v Robinson-Pierre, succeeding at the Court of Appeal and in opposing the Crown’s application for leave to appeal at Supreme Court level.
He is experienced in dealing with regulatory offences at all levels of the justice system, including but not limited to Trading Standards, Health & Safety and HMO-related prosecutions, and secured a successful outcome for a jet pilot who was charged by the Civil Aviation Authority and admitted flying 60+ worldwide passenger flights without the requisite licence rating.
- Murder of Jordan Briscoe: Killing of drug dealer – manslaughter verdict.
- Alleged murder of Wayne Potter: Verdict of manslaughter by loss of control.
- Murder of Kyrell Matthews: Murder of child by mother and stepfather – extensive challenge to medical and pathological evidence.
- Murder of Elton Gashaj: Youth stabbing in public park.
- Murder of Shahena Uddin: Familial homicide – death of vulnerable adult.
- Killing of Surjeet Singh:Conspiracy to commit grievous bodily harm with intent – violent disorder – stabbing.
- Killing of Reece Menzies:Alleged gangland murder – shooting – manslaughter verdicts.
- R v Budak: Alleged conspiracy to supply firearms and live ammunition.
- R v Zen: Conspiracy to ambush with firearms arising out of drug gang feud.
- R v Granfield: Multiple street stabbing.
- R v Thompson: Alleged conspiracy to possess firearms with intent to endanger life, including a loaded Uzi – successful appeal against conviction.
- R v Halstead: Alleged GBH with intent – chopping off index finger with meat cleaver live on Snapchat to avenge drugs debt.
- R v Lightfoot:Alleged false imprisonment – GBH with intent – threats to injure with a pneumatic drill.
- R v Islam: Relating to a spree of shootings in tit-for-tat gang warfare around the Bedford area – possession of shotguns and scorpion machine gun with intent.
- R v Hamilton: Alleged kidnapping at gunpoint – successful duress defence.
- R v Merice Brown: Attempted murder – shooting – Born-again Christian’s confession 10 years after the event.
- R v Darko-Kwakye: Acted as leading counsel – Gangland kidnap for ransom – drugs deal gone wrong – second revenge kidnap followed – firearms – torture with hot irons – GBH – perverting the course of justice – see the trial Judge’s observations here.
- R v Garratty & Others: Armed robbery – Flying Squad investigation – conspiracy to rob multiple small businesses with live firearms.
- R v Bethel & Others: Armed robbery – orchestrated raid of a high value goods storage facility – use of cable ties, CS gas and multiple getaway vehicles.
- Football-related violence: Including Tottenham Hotspur & Chelsea violence (2022) – West Ham & Sunderland violence (2014) – Violent disorder at the Wembley FA Cup Final amongst Millwall fans (2013) – Operartion Balconi (widespread violence between Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham fans).
- R v Sahil “Redz” Patel: Gangland drug-related kidnap for ransom.
- R v Wakeling & Others: Conspiracy to import £8m worth of amphetamine.
- R v Hart & Others: Conspiracy to import massive amounts of Class A drugs – dropped from light aircraft flown into the UK beneath radar.
- Operation Casino: Conspiracy to flood the Midlands with Class A drugs trafficked from London.
- Operation Brutus: Widespread commercial drug trafficking and money laundering conspiracy.
- R v Bhatia: Serious Organised Crime Agency prosecution – multi-million pound drugs and cigarette importation – approximately 50kg of cocaine, 100kg of cannabis and millions of cigarettes imported through a bonded warehouse. Led by Oliver Blunt QC.
- Operation Nemesis (2013): Family drugs “empire”.
- R v Dang & Others (Operation Opaque):International organised crime syndicate conspiring to produce cannabis on largest ever scale in the UK – said to be the largest drugs conspiracy ever uncovered in Europe – acquitted following 4-month trial.
- R v Glen Cornick (Operation Beath II): The UK’s largest drugs importation – tonnes of cocaine and cannabis imported worth more than £100million. Led by Oliver Blunt QC – £28million confiscation proceedings conducted alone.
- The “K Network”:Conspiracy to supply drugs from London to Norwich – flooding Norwich with class A drugs – represented a leading defendant
- R v Tamale: Alleged conspiracy to pervert the course of justice arising out of the murder of Khiry Ford.
- R v Iqbal: Trading Standards prosecution – large-scale conspiracy to produce and import counterfeit clothing from Pakistan – connected confiscation proceedings.
- R v S & Others: Newham Borough Council prosecution – extensive HMO and regulatory/welfare offences charged against a limited company, as well as its directors in person – successful application of the ruling in Sumal and Sons to stay confiscation proceedings worth more than half-a-million pounds.
- R v Omarov & Angelov: Perverting the course of justice – alleged to attempt by a Russian business tycoon and a head hotel concierge to “buy off” a prosecution witness – acted successfully for the concierge.
- R v Nicholas & Smith: Retained as leading counsel – DEFRA prosecution – “cattle ringing” fraud and animal welfare offences.
- R v TW: Historical familial rapes and multiple other sexual offences against siblings.
- R v Csomor, Ruszo & Others: International people trafficking for sexual exploitation – management of brothels – human slavery.
- R v McBride: Attempted “stranger rape”.
- R v SH: Rape following serious violence within relationship – issues surrounding application of the ‘section 75’ presumptions against consent.
- R v MH: Rape – adult defendant with IQ of a child – fitness to plead in issue.
- R v MP: Alleged kidnap, false imprisonment and violent gang rape.
- R v RJ: Sexual offences against children – historical allegations – multiple complainants – making and possession of indecent images.
- R v D: Perverting the course of justice – juvenile charged with making false allegations to have been victim of a double rape by two brothers.
Craig was initially retained and later became part of the counsel team for the lead defendant, Sanjay Shah, in criminal and Commercial Court proceedings arising out of an alleged $billion international dividend-arbitrage, ‘cum-ex’ trading fraud.
He is regularly instructed in multi-million-pound fraud matters and is experienced in conducting all ancillary proceedings that arise out of fraud, money laundering and other dishonesty cases, including contesting confiscation proceedings, forfeiture applications and applications for disqualification of directors.
He is also experienced in dealing with cash detention and forfeiture applications before the magistrates court, including having acted for the Respondent in Kent Police v Rusha, concerning cash detention and forfeiture applications arising out of the infamous £50m Tonbridge Securitas depot heist – Britain’s highest-ever value cash heist.
Other notable cases include:
- R v Kimmence: Fraud by celebrity stockbroker.
- R v J & J: Private prosecution of solicitors alleged to have to defrauded their employer company by generating false bonus payments through misrepresenting profit schedules.
- R v Mosley: Large scale wine fraud and confiscation proceedings.
- R v Bolster: Alleged fake “Botox” injection fraud by unqualified medical practitioners.
- R v Ashman: Alleged laundering of a drug-lord’s criminal proceeds.
- R v Karl Gilleeney: VAT fraud conspiracy.
- R v Smith (Operation Bugs): Trading Standards prosecution – conspiracy to defraud – national Sky box warranty fraud.
- Operation Icicle: Large-scale car ringing and exportation conspiracy.
Craig is a regular speaker at events concerning sport and criminal law. Of note, he has been:
- A panel speaker at the LawInSport global Football Law Conference.
- Delivered a Policy Knowledge Event lecture on, ‘A New Strategy to Tackle Dangerous Dogs – Assessing the Reforms to the Dangerous Dogs Act’, following his success in the seminal case of R v Robinson-Pierre [2013] EWCA Crim 2396.
- Published, ‘The English FA v Hartlepool United: Are “deterrent sanctions” permissible?’ in the Football Legal International Journal, Issue #10; and
- Was an acknowledged contributor to Young, Summers & Corker on Abuse of Process in Criminal Proceedings (Bloomsbury, 3rd ed.)
Please contact Craig by email or via Chambers’ clerks to discuss inviting him to speak at an event.
