Fergus Harrington
LLB (hons)
Solicitor
Fergus has 10 years’ experience in practicing criminal law. He advises in respect of allegations of white-collar crime, business crime, money laundering, the importation and supply of drugs, the supply of firearms, murder and serious sexual offences. His practice has an emphasis on complex financial and regulatory matters including allegations of fraud, tax evasion and money laundering. Fergus has vast experience in preparing VHCC cases and defends prosecutions brought by the FCA, HMRC and the SFO.
Fergus has developed a particular expertise in advising individuals involved in boiler room frauds. He advised defendants in the first three land banking prosecutions in the UK, most recently Operation Cotton. Fergus has extensive knowledge of preparing lengthy and highly complex Crown Court trials, often involving the miss selling of diamonds, binary option investments and asset recovery services.
Fergus has built up a credible private client following, advising high net worth individuals, as well as company Directors, in relation to HMRC investigations, tax evasion, mortgage fraud, benefit fraud, charity fraud and money laundering.
Fergus has significant expertise in preparing cases concerning the supply and importation of drugs on a commercial scale. These types of cases often involve the conspiracy to supply and import in excess of 100 kilos of class A drugs and carry substantial sentences.
Fergus is also adept at handling serious matters involving violence, murder and serious organised crime.
Money Laundering
R v K – Southwark Crown Court
Represented the owner of an Exchange Bureau charged with money laundering of £9.2 million through the bureau over a 9 month period.
Boiler Room Fraud
R v N – Old Bailey
The defendant was charged with Conspiracy to Defraud. This allegation involved the misrepresentations to investors re the sale of Green Belt land and Carbon Credits. There were a number of defendants who were charged with this matter. Net loss was in excess of £6 million. Defendant acquitted of the fraud relating to land and retrial ordered in respect of carbon credits.
R v B – Wood Green Crown Court
This case involved a serious conspiracy to cause arson. The defendant was subsequently acquitted. The incident was vastly reported and which led to the closure of the M1 (Apex Corner) for about two weeks causing nationwide disruption.
Murder Manslaughter
Operation Harleston – Old Bailey
Represented a father of 8 who along with his partner were alleged to have murdered a man in New Addington. Defendant acquitted of murder after trial.
Operation Foreston – Central Criminal Court
Murder allegation as part of a Gangland dispute often referred to as a postcode war. The defendant was thought to be a central figure of the notorious ‘Beaumont Boys Gang’. The Prosecution in this case made a Witness Anonymity application under the provisions of section 87(1) Coroners and Justice Act 2009.
Serious Drugs Offences
R v K & Others – Birmingham Crown Court
Multi-handed nationwide conspiracy to supply a vast amount of class A drugs. The case involved a large amount of covert recordings and cell site data. 48 phones were attributed to the defendant. The defendant we represented was acquitted of 5 out of 6 of the charges against him.
Landlord Licensing Offences
London Borough of Waltham Forest v A
Prosecution bought by L.B.W.F in relation to breaches of landlord licence. Alleged that client produced a false licence in order to evict tenants. Case ongoing.