Consultant Solicitor
LLB (hons)
Recommended in the Legal 500 and Chambers, Fergus has developed a wealth of experience over the years in all aspects of criminal litigation, professional discipline and regulatory proceedings.
He advises in respect of allegations of white-collar crime, business crime, money laundering, contraventions of the Financial Services and Markets Act and investigations relating to bribery and corruption.
Fergus’ practice also involves advising clients accused of being involved in serious organised crime, importing drugs on a commercial scale, the supply of firearms and murder. In many of these instances, life sentences are a possibility.
Fergus has a detailed understanding of complex financial and regulatory investigations, including allegations of multi-million-pound fraud, tax evasion and money laundering. Fergus has vast experience in preparing Very High Cost Cases and defends prosecutions brought by the FCA, HMRC, Trading Standards and the SFO.
Fergus is currently advising the director of a multi-million pound company who has been charged with fraudulent trading in connection with the mis-selling of solar panel systems. This investigation is being conducted by Trading Standards. Fergus is also advising a sales representative of a large national company who is being prosecuted by Trading Standards for mis-selling double glazing.
Fergus has extensive experience of preparing lengthy and highly complex Crown Court trials, often involving the miss selling of diamonds, alternative investments and precious metals. Fergus has developed particular expertise in advising individuals involved in boiler room frauds. He advised defendants in the first three land banking prosecutions in the UK, including Operation Cotton.
Fergus is sought after by individuals being investigated by their own professional bodies for misconduct, such as the GMC, GDC and NMC. Fergus is currently advising the partner of a commercial law firm in London, in respect of allegations of mortgage fraud. He is also advising another lawyer who is under investigation for perverting the course of justice.
With links to the sports industry, Fergus is regularly called upon to advise professional football players, boxers and other sports figures. Fergus has advised two international football players regarding match fixing in Australia’s A-League. Fergus also recently secured the acquittal of a Championship football player charged with assaulting a fan during a pitch invasion, following the Championship play off semi-final last season. Fergus has a proven track record of securing results for high profile clients, in situations where convictions can be career ending. This is a testament to Fergus’ drive and ability to achieve results even in the most complex scenarios.
Fergus has built up a credible private client following, advising high net worth individuals, as well as company directors, in relation to HMRC investigations, VAT fraud, mortgage 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 importation of tonnes of class A drugs and carry substantial sentences. Fergus is currently advising a client charged with conspiring to export 450 kilos of MDMA to Australia concealed inside a Doosan digger.
Fergus recently secured the acquittal of a defendant charged with importing 1.5 tonnes of class A drugs into the UK. Fergus is also currently preparing for a trial involving the importation of over 2 tonnes of cannabis from Ghana to the UK.
Fergus previously secured the acquittal of a company director who was charged with importing in excess of 2 tonnes of class A drugs into the UK from Malaysia and 1 tonne of cannabis from Kenya.
Fergus is particularly sought after in cases involving EncroChat evidence linked to Operation Venetic. He is renowned for his ability to analyse and comprehend vast amounts of complex telecommunications data. Since the EncroChat server was hacked in 2020, Fergus has worked with a number of the country’s leading telephone experts and computer experts to assist with Encrochat cases. He has also instructed French Law experts to provide commentary on the involvement of the French authorities in Operation Venetic.
Fergus is also adept at handling matters involving gang violence, murder and serious organised crime. He is representing a client charged with murdering a rival drug dealer with a shot gun. In September 2023 Fergus secured a not guilty verdict for a client accused with thirteen others of murdering the guardian of a cannabis factory. Fergus is skilled in diligently preparing complex trials, involving complex cell site evidence and CCTV footage.
Fergus has developed a niche following of clients charged with committing criminal offences while in prison. Fergus is currently advising a client charged with importing firearms into the UK while in prison. He also represents a client charged with smuggling drugs into prison. Earlier this year the same client was acquitted of conspiring to cause GBH to a police officer. This involved the slashing of a police officer in the face during a PACE interview conducted in prison. It was alleged Fergus’ client had ordered a “hit” on the police officer who was attacked.
Fergus is regularly instructed in cross border investigations and recently travelled to Dubai to carry out financial investigations on behalf of a client. Fergus is currently advising an individual charged with the trafficking of Albanian nationals into the UK using private aircrafts. This is a multi-jurisdictional investigation which will require Fergus to travel overseas to conduct investigations and interview witnesses.
Fergus has the ability to handle matters when the stakes are at the absolute highest. This is illustrated by the wide array of criminal litigation and regulatory matters Fergus is entrusted to handle by his clients. Whether it is a client’s career, reputation or liberty which is on the line Fergus prepares each case with great skill and care.
Serious Fraud & Business Crime Cases
Represented the owner of an Exchange Bureau charged with money laundering of £9.2 million through the bureau over a 9 month period.
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.
Serious & General Crime Cases
Fergus is preparing for the trial of a client charged with importing 2 tonnes of cannabis from Ghana to the UK. It is alleged that legitimate imports of fresh fruit and vegetables were highjacked and used to conceal the drugs. 2 tonnes of cannabis was seized.
Fergus secured the acquittal of a client charged with importing 1.5 tonnes of class A drugs into the UK. Vast amounts of telephone evidence was served and cell site experts were instructed by the defence.
Fergus represented a client charged with importing 300kgs of class A drugs into the UK from Holland under the cover of a business importing fresh meat. Spoofer phones were utilised by those accused and expert evidence was sought by the defence.
Fergus represented a client alleged to have been involved in the importation of in excess of 100kg of class A drugs into the UK. This involved corrupt baggage handlers at Heathrow Airport.
Fergus successfully represented a company director accused of importing 2 tonnes of cocaine from Malaysia into the UK along with 1 tonne of cannabis from Kenya. Fergus travelled to Dubai to secure defence witness evidence.
Conspiracy to supply in excess of 100kg of cocaine. This case involved the movement of commercial quantities of cocaine across Surrey and Hampshire using Encro phones. The conspirators had their own network of couriers and street dealers. There was a single seizure of 45kgs of cocaine in Maidenhead.
Advising a client under police investigation for importation and supply of class A drugs across the home counties.
Commercial supply of cocaine across Surrey, Sussex and Hampshire. At this stage it is thought that in excess of 1 tonne of cocaine was supplied by the conspirators. Encro messages show that deliveries of between 80kgs and 100kgs were a regular occurrence.
Conspiracy to import and supply 500kgs of cocaine involving Encro chat evidence. A French law expert, a telephone expert and a cell site expert have all been instructed to assist. Significant quantities of telephone data has been served.
Conspiracy to supply class a drugs (heroine and cocaine). The wider conspiracy is alleged to have resulted in the onward supply of in excess of 80kgs of cocaine and heroine.
Conspiracy to supply 30kgs of cocaine across Essex and the surrounding areas involving 8 defendants. The organisers of the conspiracy used Encro phones to direct the supply of cocaine. They used a business as a cover and also had a team of low level dealers involved in street supply and county lines drug dealing.
Conspiracy to produce ketamine, conspiracy to supply cocaine and conspiracy to import cannabis. This case involved 18 defendants. Our client was alleged to be the “cook” operating a ketamine factory capable of producing 50kgs of ketamine at once. The conspirators had close links to the source of the cocaine as it entered the UK on the South Coast. This was then supplied nationally across the UK. Large amounts of raw data was served having been captured from the Encro server.
Commercial supply of cocaine across London. Our client was under surveillance and seen to deliver what transpired to be £500,000 cash to an address in South London. The following day he was arrested with 20kgs of cocaine concealed within a “hide” in his boot. The defendants used Encrypted phones to communicate with each other.
Nine defendants charged with conspiracy to supply cocaine across Liverpool. In excess of 30kgs supplied across the wider conspiracy. Large quantities of Encro chat data served.
Five defendants charged with conspiracy to supply cocaine and heroine. In excess of 40kgs of cocaine and heroine seized in Islington. Encro chat evidence served.
Conspiracy to supply heroine, cocaine, ketamine and MDMA and firearms across the South of London. Based on Encro chat messages 70kgs was deemed to have been supplied. Modified vans were used to transport the drugs. One vehicle seized contained concealed compartments capable of storing 20kgs of class A drugs.
Client charged with conspiracy to cause GBH to a co-defendant of his in a separate Crown Court trial. Evidence gathered of the proposed “hit” via Encro chat messages.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Regulatory Cases
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.
03445879996
EMAIL US
0344 587 9996 
EMAIL US