Bruce Stuart Law

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Bruce Stuart

Bruce Ian Stuart

Background

Bruce was called to the Bar of England & Wales in 1977. He was called to the Bar in Scotland in 1989.

Since 1990 Bruce’s main area of practice has been defending in commercial criminal fraud, in particular cases prosecuted by the SFO, HMRC and the FCA, including Money Laundering, Bribery, Corruption and Asset Recovery. Bruce also advises on and appears for individuals and companies charged with insolvency and company offences.

Bruce is a contributing editor of Butterworths Money Laundering Law. He has an excellent working knowledge of information technology and uses it extensively in the preparation of cases.

His knowledge of Scots Law allows him to deal with cross border issues. He is instructed in trials in all parts of England and Wales.

Bruce is authorised to conduct litigation as a direct access barrister.

Expertise

  • Money Laundering
  • Corporate Fraud
  • VAT Tax Tribunals
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Noteworthy Cases

Please see below for a list of cases Bruce has worked on

Fraud

  • SFO v. TS (2020) - Legal insurance fraud, expected to be a 4 -6 month trial.
  • Trading Standards v LM and 8 others (2020) - Fraud and money laundering expected to be a 4 month trial.
  • R. v. Hall. (2017) - Largest copycat website fraud prosecuted by Trading Standards. 3 Month trial, leading Junior counsel.
  • R.v.G (2016) - Boiler Room fraud, Rare earth metals.
  • R. v. Geston (2014) - £50m MTIC and money laundering – 4 month trial, leading junior.
  • R. v. Graham (2009-2012) – FSA prosecution for manipulating the market – largest FSA prosecution to date.
  • Operation Orange – (2007/8) – unique private prosecution under the Computer Misuse Act.
  • R. v. Chatfield. (2007/8) - Corporation Tax and Vat fraud. Leading Junior.
  • R. v. Routledge and Others (2005-6) 8 month HMRC MTIC fraud – leading junior counsel.
  • R. v. Grainger and Others.(2007). SFO invoice discounting fraud, leading junior. Reported case on the definition of “benefit” in confiscation proceedings.
  • R.v Hurley and Others (2005) SFO prosecution for misuse of funds obtained under the Landfill Tax Credit Scheme.
  • R v Gohir(2003). Leeds Crown Court. Leading Junior Counsel in multi-million pound mobile phone fraud. Indictment stayed by the Judge following submissions concerning whether VAT was properly chargeable in carousel fraud cases, based on the ‘Bondhouse’ VAT tribunal decision.
  • R v Awan.(2002) Leading Junior Counsel in HM Customs & Excise Bond Duty Fraud. After an abuse of process argument heard by Grigson J. the prosecution offered no evidence against all defendants. This case resulted in the Butterfield Review of Customs and Excise prosecutions which led to the government decision to withdraw from Customs and Excise their power to prosecute.
  • R v Palmer. Leading junior counsel for the defence in a case prosecuted by HM Customs and Excise. The case concerned over £200 million of diverted duty and VAT. The indictment was stayed by Customs and Excise on the first day of trial and before lengthy abuse of process applications were to start.
  • R v Gorst. Junior counsel in an Inland Revenue prosecution of a prominent Estate Agent. The case had many complicated cross border issues.
  • R v Mathews. Defence counsel in a case prosecuted by the Inland Revenue involving allegations against a chartered accountant.
  • R v Cassidy. Leading junior counsel for the defence in a case prosecuted by the Inland Revenue and HM Customs and Excise. The case involved a major construction company and involved complicated VAT and PAYE issues. The case was listed for 9 months. The indictment was stayed after a successful abuse of process application.
  • R v Schofield. Junior counsel for the defence in a case which involved the defrauding of the World Bank in relation to overseas Aid.

Money Laundering

  • R.v. Hall 2(2018) – 8 week money laundering, leading junior counsel.
  • R. v. W(2015-6) - £50m money laundering through Foreign Exchange Bureau.
  • R. v. Onuigbo –(2010) – Nigerian Money Laundering – cross border issues.
  • R. v. Evans (2009-15) – Money Laundering multi jurisdiction. ( Reported case)
  • R. v. Edwards (2007/8) – Money Laundering – Leading Junior.
  • R v Izzigil. Leading junior counsel for the defence in this extremely serious drug money laundering case. The case concerned £5 million pounds per week from heroin importations. The case lasted 10 weeks.

Restraint / Confiscation / Forefiture

  • R.v. CH (2017-19) – confiscation with alleged hidden assets of over 30m. Listed for a 4 week hearing I April 2019. Leading junior counsel.
  • R. v. JK – complicated hidden assets hearing,(3 weeks), leading junior counsel.
  • R. v. Grainger and Others.(2007). SFO invoice discounting fraud, leading junior. Reported case on the definition of “benefit” in confiscation proceedings.

Inquiries

  • Shipman Inquiry.(2002) Represented Police Authority Investigating Officer who had conducted the first investigation into Shipman.
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About Us

Please expand the sections below for more information

Bruce Stuart practises in criminal, (including road traffic offences) and regulatory law. He advises and represent clients:

  • Facing criminal charges in the Magistrates’ or Crown Courts. He also acts for clients in the High Court, Court of Appeal and Supreme Court. He is authorised to conduct litigation in Direct Access cases. Contact Us

Contact Us
The following are invited to contact Bruce Stuart for a quote on his services (or e-mail bs@brucestuart.law):

  • Solicitors or other practising lawyers;
  • Licensed Access clients, who may either hold a licence issued by the Bar Standards Board, or be a member of a professional body which has been recognised by the Bar Standards Board; and
  • Members of the public who wish to instruct a barrister under the Public Access scheme.

I will provide you with a quote as soon as possible. I always aim to set out quotes clearly, but if you receive your quote and there is something you do not understand, please contact me.

Barristers in chambers are regulated by the Bar Standards Board. You can search the Barristers’ Register on the Bar Standards Board’s website. This shows (1) whether a barrister has a current practising certificate, and (2) whether a barrister has any disciplinary findings, which are published on the Bar Standards Board’s website in accordance with their policy. Alternatively, you can contact the Bar Standards Board on 020 7611 1444 to ask about this (or e-mail ContactUs@BarStandardsBoard.org.uk).

A separate sheet is enclosed which provides information about:

  • Our complaints procedure;
  • Any right you may have to complain to the Legal Ombudsman (LeO) – the independent body which can help you if you have complained to your lawyer and are not happy with their response;
  • How to complain to LeO; and
  • Any time limits for making a complaint.

You can also search the decision data on LeO’s website.

This shows providers which received an ombudsman’s decision in the previous 12 months, and whether LeO required the provider to give the consumer a remedy. Alternatively, you can contact LeO on 0300 555 0333 to ask about this (or e-mail enquiries@legalombudsman.org.uk).

If you are a member of the public, the Bar Standards Board’s Public Access Guidance for Lay Clients is enclosed. This will help you to understand how the Public Access scheme works, and explains how you can use it to instruct barristers directly.

Bruce Stuart can advise and represent you in court if you are charged with a ‘summary only’ motoring offence. This is a motoring offence which can only be heard in the Magistrates’ Court; for example, driving while disqualified, driving without insurance, careless driving, failing to stop or report, and speeding.

Timescales for my services may vary depending on factors such as my availability, the complexity of your case and the need for additional documents, the other side’s approach and court waiting times. As a guide, written advice on your case will be available within two to four weeks where possible. You may also need representation at short notice. If so, please contact me and I will aim to represent you at the hearing where possible.

I most often charge hourly rates for private criminal and regulatory work (where the client is not eligible for or does not wish to apply for legal aid). I most often charge fixed fees for road traffic work and appearances in court.

I also accept instructions under conditional fee agreements (“no win, no fee” agreements) in certain circumstances. For information, please contact me at bs@brucestuart.law).

I may charge fixed fees, which means that I will charge you a set amount of money for the work. Below we provide estimates based on the ranges of fixed fees for me in Ladyplace Chambers. All fees exclude VAT (where applicable).

If we charge fixed fees, these may vary depending on your needs – for example, your fees may be towards the higher end of the range if you have a complex case. If you have a particularly complex case, your fees may also be higher than the estimates below. There are also likely to be additional costs for travel disbursements.

Stage of case Ranges of fixed fees (estimates)
Preparation of case, including meetings with you and assistance with drafting of court documents. £150-£350 per hour.
Travel to meetings court etc. £40 per hour.
Written advice on your case £300-£5000.
Guilty pleas £750 -£5000.
First appearance (pre-trial court appearance) £750 -£3000.
First day of trial £1500-£4000.
Court appearances per day, or part day after the first day of trial £1000-£4000.

Contact Us
All information is correct as of 1 January 2020, but fees are estimates only. For a quotation please contact me at bs@brucestuart.law.

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Contact Us

Phone

020 7097 5886

Email
Address

Ladyplace Chambers,
Kemp House, 152-160 City Road, London, EC1V 2NX

Ladyplace Chambers,
Shepperton Marina, Felix Lane,
Shepperton, TW17 8NS

Ladyplace Chambers
Kemp House
152-160 City Road
London
EC1V 2NX

Ladyplace Chambers,
Shepperton Marina, Felix Lane,
Shepperton, TW17 8NS