Charlie Sherrard KC
- Recorder (2019)
- “Charles is the go-to barrister for the most serious offences and complex cases.” “He is an extremely safe pair of hands, a leader in every way and a really class act.” Chambers UK Bar, 2025 (Band 1)
- “Charlie is brilliant and clever. He has the command of the courtroom and is a quick thinker on his feet, able to digest a lot of heavy evidence very quickly. His advocacy style is easy for the jury to follow and direct.” Legal 500, 2025 (Leading Silk, Crime)
- “He has a very engaging style of advocacy and is able to charm a jury and judges to great effect” Legal 500, 2025 (Leading Silk, Fraud)
- “Charlie is a diligent silk who is easily contactable, meticulous in his case preparation, never leaves a stone unturned and a pleasure to work with. His advocacy style is measured and clever.” Legal 500, 2024
- “Charlie is a sought-after advocate who has a jury-friendly manner. He is able to bring to life the sometimes drier aspects of a fraud trial.” Legal 500, 2024
- “He is a brilliant silk, who is tenacious in his advocacy.” Chambers UK Bar (Band 1)
- “A very bright lawyer, who’s got a very attractive style that juries love.” Chambers UK Bar (Band 1)
- “Charles Sherrard KC’s cross-examination is like missile strikes and just as effective”
- “Dedicated, fastidious and incapable of switching off his brain once he has a case in it.”
- “Sees angles others don’t and is a lawyer of great gravitas with a wicked sense of humour.”
Instructing Charlie Sherrard KC
To instruct Charlie or for any further information please contact our clerks on +44 (0)20 7440 8888 or clerks@2br.co.uk.
Charlie Sherrard KC is ranked as Band 1 in Crime & Financial Crime, and has been for 13 years.
Charlie’s practice and name, as one of the go-to silks in Murder, Sexual Offences, Serious Organised Crime, White Collar Fraud, Private Appeals, Private Prosecutions and Regulatory work, has never been stronger. He is regularly instructed on a Direct Access basis with a steady stream of private appeals across all range and age of cases.
This explains why Charlie was instructed in 2024 to defend in the ‘Bournemouth Beach’ murder case [ R v NS at Winchester CC], the horrific child cruelty case of the family living in a shipping container [R v NY at Coventry CC], the ’Murder on the Dancefloor’ [R v KC at Birmingham Crown Court], and many other notable high profile cases such as the random killing of Jodie Chesney, the first FGM trial, numerous gangland murders, historic & multiple-complainant rape cases, the murder at HMP Pentonville, numerous Carbon Credit & tax frauds, the worst multiple death case in UK history on our roads and the UBS rogue trader trial.
2024 also saw Charlie locking horns with Roy Keane and Micah Richards at Highbury Magistrates Court. Over the early part of the year, he was instructed in a series of murders involving youths armed with zombie knives which has now led to ‘Ronan’s Law’ being enacted.
With an incredibly adaptable and personable manner, Charlie’s eye for detail and ability to connect with clients across a broad spectrum, whether vulnerable, young, demanding or complex, means he never fails to generate a rapport and a sense of confidence backed up by results.
Charlie’s skillsets have been recognised on a Judicial level by being appointed as a Recorder of the Crown Court since 2019 and to the Mental Health Restricted Patients Tribunal.
Charlie’s sustained reputation is based on his painstaking preparation, an assiduous eye for detail and sympathetic client care. He has a great ability to switch from fierce, aggressive cross examination to incredibly sensitive in order achieve the best results for his varied clients. His work ethic and personal attention to detail have resulted in continual recommendations by word of mouth and professional contacts.
Charlie has been a regular legal expert guest on LBC News Radio with Nick Ferrari, Theo Usherwood & most recently Shelagh Fogerty regarding the Manchester Bomber case. Was legal advisor to LBC regarding the Labour Party file of anti-semitism. Recently introduced by Andre Morgan on LBC News London as “LBC News Radio’s foremost legal analyst” when discussing the fallout from the parole board decision in the case of John Warboys.
In June 2024, Charlie was a guest on the BBC Podcast “The Law Show” dealing with matters criminal.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m00202gp
Legal advisor to The Sun regarding Ched Evans acquittal and relevant law.
Expert contributor on Channel 1 Europe TV to Bengali community on Cyber Crime & Money Laundering
Practice Areas
Charlie, regularly instructed in Carbon Credit and Carousel Frauds, has been consistently held in high regard before and after he defended the ‘UBS Rogue Trader’ [R v KA]. Despite the overwhelming evidence of thousands of false orders, KA was acquitted on that part of the indictment.
Similar success in the white-collar field has been achieved in Carousel Frauds in Liverpool [Operation Forbear] securing the only acquittal in the whole operation, and not guilty verdicts for a solicitor said to be at the heart of a fraud on the Olympic Development Authority [Operation Cavalcade] in a long running fraud trial at Southwark. Other notable and high-profile fraud cases have seen Charlie represent professionals, this time an accountant, at the heart of a massive property fraud [R v E & others] and a banking consultant in Operation Amazon.
Notable complex fraud cases:
R v SJ – defendant acquitted of fraud while caught up in the bitter rivalry of others concerned with JJB Sports, JD Sports and Sports Direct arising out of the Capital raising dispute.
R v MB – represented accountant acquitted in 17 defendant fraud to cheat the revenue and conspiracy to money launder
R v SYL – Charlie successfully represented SYL, otherwise known as ‘TR’ for Income Tax fraud
R v E – represented accountant in long running fraud trial concerning multiple property frauds
Since taking silk in 2012, Charlie’s resourceful and powerful tactical expertise, together with a dedicated hands-on preparation and management of cases, has been recognised by continual instruction in a series of high profile and complex homicide cases. He has been ranked Band 1 Crime for many years as a result and a regular fixture at the Old Bailey.
Notable murder & manslaughter cases:
R v NS – Charlie defended the 20 year old that shocked Bournemouth and the country by planning and ultimately attacking two random ladies on the beach late at night.
R v JR – secured acquittal of defendant charged with murder at HMP Pentonville arising out of prison gang warfare.
R v KC – In what became described by the media as the ‘murder on the dancefloor’, Charlie represented the lead defendant in the murder of Cody Fisher, the former Birmingham City footballer
R v RK – successfully defended a 15 year old tried for murder in a joint enterprise stabbing on the steps of the Bull Ring shopping centre in the middle of the day.
R v AW – successfully defended the mother of a 3 year old accused of murder in a cut throat trial with her partner.
R v NY – represented the mother of two children in a very dark and tragic case arising out of decisions to live life ‘off-grid’ with her controlling husband in a shipping container. Ultimately their children sustained life changing and, in one tragic case, death, from rickets and vitamin D deficiencies’.
R v SO – represented the lead defendant in the random killing of Jodie Chesney that shook the community and many nationally.
R v WB – secured the acquittal of a 16 year old said to have been the killer in a multi-handed cut throat gangland killing
R v BT – secured the acquittal in a joint enterprise murder case involving rival drug gangs.
R v JJF – secured acquittal of defendant in multi handed cut throat trial arising out of post-code gang warfare that resulted in 3 deaths.
R v M – represented lorry driver in Britain’s largest single loss-of-life driving case.
Charlie has been consistently instructed over many years in all manner of sexual offences whether they require extreme sensitivity, tenacious probing or tactical awareness.
His track record, experience and adaptable style has also resulted in him being authorised to sit as a Recorder in the Crown Court on sexual offences.
Notable serious sexual offences cases:
R v JB – dogged and ultimately successful representation of defendant accused of multiple rapes of multiple members within the same community across three generations.
R v IS – successful defence securing acquittal of father, in cut-throat trial at the Old Bailey, jointly accused in the first FGM case. The 3 year old’s mother was ultimately convicted.
Charlie’s experience over 37 years has seen him instructed in cases that cover the whole range of offences and regulatory issues.
In the Regulatory field, Charlie has been retained as Counsel by a leading international firm of private investigators in addition to a firm of liquidators and tennis coaches appearing before the LTA. His advice has covered such diverse areas as Inquests, Cyber Crime, Sports Law and an increasing number of Private Prosecutions. In 2019, Charlie’s engagement in a tragic inquest into a fatality at a Rail Station, contributed to major changes into Health & Safety provisions at a Thameslink Station and assisting in step-free access.
Going back a while now, but currently covered in a Netflix series, ‘Diamond Heist’, he represented BC in the Millennium Dome robbery.
Additional cases include:
R v SL – represented the Arsenal fan accused of head-butting Roy Keane. The trial involved fierce cross examination of both Roy Keane and Micah Richards under the glare of media coverage.
R v RN – long running drugs and proceeds of crime case
R v AK – represented head of Birmingham drug network securing incredibly low sentence and confiscation settlement
R v RM – cold appeal on behalf of 55yr old convicted of drugs conspiracy. Appeal involved demonstrating negligent representation by previous legal team
