Kane specialises in defending serious crime and enjoys a strong practice, achieving regular acquittals before juries in cases where the evidence appears overwhelming. He is an advocate deeply trusted by professional and lay clients alike, and accordingly is instructed regularly in cases of the utmost gravity and sensitivity, including serious violence, firearms, complex fraud, modern slavery & forced labour, vast drug importations relating to Encrochat, and serious sexual offending including rape.
Kane has a natural flair for oral advocacy. One opponent of many years’ experience described Kane’s court performance in a complex forced and compulsory labour trial as ‘absolutely top drawer…hands down the best performance by someone of his call I have ever seen’.
Similarly, Kane’s written work is sharp and persuasive, his arguments having been described by judges as ‘first rate’, and ‘unanswerable’. He has regularly secured wins in cases on the strength and cogency of his written advocacy.
These qualities have also leant themselves naturally to a strong appellate court practice, and he has already achieved numerous successes in the Court of Appeal against both conviction and sentence.
Kane understands that being an effective advocate is rooted in empathy – knowing your audience – whether judge, jury, opponent, or client: understanding what people feel and what they want, and tailoring the approach and strategy accordingly. His client care is second to none, and he will always go the extra mile for his lay clients and solicitors.
Prior to starting at Furnival, Kane worked at leading firm Hickman & Rose in the financial crime and regulatory departments, assisting on various high-profile cases including FCA and SFO prosecutions against individuals involved in the LIBOR rate-rigging scandal, Rolls Royce, and the recent acquittal of the Tesco UK directors for fraud and false accounting.
As well as his strong criminal defence practice, Kane is also instructed in regulatory matters and those with a quasi-criminal aspect, as well as in extradition.
Rónán McCann, leading Kane Sharpe, secure acquittals for client in large, 8-handed drug conspiracy.
Kane Sharpe’s client acquitted of attempted murder and GBH with intent at Southwark Crown Court.
Kane Sharpe secures acquittal in burglary trial at Luton Crown Court.
Kane Sharpe’s client acquitted of Class A drug supply offences at Wood Green Crown Court
R v Sean Stewart (2025) Multi-handed Murder. Victim was a 66-year-old pensioner. This was a very complex four-handed cut-throat case where, unusually, the prosecution were not able to say who the principle stabber was said to be. Hundreds of hours of CCTV, cell site, forensics and complex vehicle telematics data featured. Novel aspects of law were litigated including the use of s114(1)(d) to adduce parts of prison transcripts from one defendant as evidence in support of another. Detailed cross-examination of various witnesses, experts, and co-defendants. Client acquitted of murder. Convicted of manslaughter. News story here
R v Shafi Saleem (2024) Defence counsel for a self-dubbed ‘2x convicted terrorist’ who denied posting a video to suicide bombings on his Instagram story. The defendant had been convicted twice before of sharing pro ISIS propaganda and breaching his terrorist notification requirements. His defence was that he did not know the video contained bombings at the end of it, and that he thought it was simply a Nasheed video reminding people not to become obsessed with materialistic possessions. He was sentenced to a sentence for offenders of particular concern following an assessment by probation that his online extreme personality seems at odds with his offline persona. News story here
R v Dhir & Raijada (2024): Unprecedented cocaine smuggling operation from the UK to Australia, involving in excess of 6.5 tonnes of the drug worth over £800 Million. Arti Dhir and Kavaljitsinh Raijada, described by the prosecution as a ‘husband and wife team’, had both worked for years in the air freight industry, set up a false freight company and were able to exploit flaws in the air freight systems. The extensive and extremely complex investigation was ‘reverse engineered’ by the NCA and led to the doorstep of the two defendants. In addition, £3 million cash was discovered in a self-storage unit, together with gold bullion and millions of pounds moving between dozens of bank accounts. Case involved extensive phone and banking evidence, DNA forensics, and careful cross-examination of various air freight professionals. After trial the couple were both sentenced to 33 years’ imprisonment, the judge describing the case as ‘exceptional’ and warranting a sentencing in excess of the usual 30-year ceiling for such offences. The couple are also wanted in India over unrelated allegations of arranging the murder of their adopted 11-year-old foster son. The case garnered international media attention. News story here
R v O (2022) 11-count indictment alleging modern slavery offences involving two vulnerable drug addicts. The Crown’s case was that Jeremiah Opemiyam was “Jay” – controller the Jay drugs line. The two drug users attended court to give evidence that Opemiyam was Jay, their exploiter, having previously picked him out independently at an ID parade. The Crown further relied on 14 voice recordings of Jay issuing threats violence to the drug users, which a forensic speech analyst found strong support for being the voice of Opemiyam. Opemiyam denied being Jay or the person on the recordings; his defence was that Jay was also exploiting him . Acquitted.
R v MS Conspiracy fraudulently to evade the prohibition on the Importation of Cocaine. An Operation Venetic case, involving the importation of hundreds of kilos of cocaine from Ecuador via Amsterdam, arranged using the Encrochat network. The Court of Appeal has been upholding sentences in excess of 25 years on conviction. Evidence and disclosure in this case ran into the many thousands of pages, including complex, challenged cell site, Encrochat evidence and detail as to the underlying method of the implant system, complex financials, and surveillance evidence. NCA story here
BPTC, City Law School, “Outstanding”, 2017
GDL, City Law School, “Distinction”, 2016
Professional Acting Training, LAMDA, 2007-2009,
BA (Hons), English Literature and Language, Oxford University, 2:i, 2006
Inner Temple: Inner Temple Exhibition Award (BPTC)
LAMDA, Lawrence Atwell Scholarship for performance
St Catherine’s College, Oxford: Foundation Scholar – Stephen Gill Award
