Thomas Daniel
- Attorney General’s Panel
- SFO Prosecution Panel – B Panel
- Crown Prosecution Service Panel – Level 2
- List of Specialist Regulatory Advocates in Health and Safety and Environmental Law (List B)
- Young Fraud Lawyers Association
- South-Eastern Circuit
- Essex Bar Mess
- Bar Vocational Course (Outstanding)
- LLB Hons (First Class)
- Keble Scholarship
- Pegasus Scholarship
- Bristol Law School Prize (First in Order of Merit on Bar Vocational Course)
- Western Circuit Advocacy Prize (Best Advocate on Bar Vocational Course)
- Bristol Law School Civil Advocacy Competition Winner
- South-Eastern Circuit Florida Advocacy Course Scholarship
- Inner Temple Exhibition
- Inner Temple Streuben Benefactor’s Award
- Inner Temple Duke of Edinburgh Award
- Inner Temple Lawson Moot (Runner-up)
- Inner Temple Pupils’ Advocacy Competition (Criminal)
- LLB Commendation Award (Top 1% on LLB)
- University Mooting Champion
- “Thomas has the ability to command the confidence of both judges and juries in serious fraud cases. He is unflappable under pressure” Legal 500 2026
- “Tom is fantastic. He is quick on his feet” Chambers UK 2026
- “Tom is incredibly hard-working, insightful and well-informed” Chambers UK 2026
- “Tom is meticulous and well-prepared” Chambers UK 2026
- “Thomas is a brilliant advocate who is unfazed by whatever a court case or trial throws at him. He is a real star of the future” Legal 500 2025
- “Thomas is a highly skilled trial advocate” Chambers UK 2025
- “There is nothing that Thomas will not know in terms of the evidence and the strengths and weaknesses of his client’s case” Chambers UK 2025
- “Thomas is very calm and measured and he deals with things without difficulty. He doesn’t make a mountain out of molehill and gets on with it” Chambers UK 2025
- “Tom is an extremely attentive barrister both in court and out. His eye for detail is second-to-none and his ability to grasp the facts and evidence of each matter is unparalleled. Tom is an outstanding advocate and his ability to think on his feet sets him apart. He is able to convey points in a clear and concise manner without losing the core point of the submission” Legal 500 2024
- “His eye for attention to detail is second to none and his ability to grasp the facts and evidence of each matter is unparalleled. Tom is an outstanding advocate, and his ability to think on his feet is what sets him apart in court” Legal 500 2024
- “He is going to be a star. He is able to cut to the chase, handle complex matters and win the trust of all parties” Chambers UK 2024
- “Thomas works his socks off. He is a great lawyer and he has got a great sense of humour” Chambers UK 2024
- “Passionate and intense, but meticulous and thorough when defending. He is a phenomenal technical lawyer and a persistent and persuasive advocate, able to adjust his style to a jury or a judge seamlessly. A real star at the Bar” Legal 500 2023
- “Thomas is immensely hard-working. His technical knowledge is exceptional. At the same time he is commercially minded, approachable and always helpful” Chambers UK 2023
- “Thomas is excellent, bright and good at focusing on the key issues. He also has a great manner in court” Chambers UK 2023
- “A fantastic asset to have on your team. An extraordinary strategist. A super-talented lawyer; a star” Legal 500 2022
- “A fantastic asset to have on your team. He uses technology to his advantage, an area which many Counsel often shy away from. In depth analysis of the evidence by using all applications under the sun are one of his main strengths” Legal 500 2022
- “A very engaged and energetic junior” Chambers UK 2022
- “He has great analytical skills when dealing with evidence” Chambers UK 2022
- “Very assured on his feet” Legal 500 2021
- “He has an easy and charming manner, but is strategically effective behind the scenes too” Legal 500 2020
Instructing Thomas Daniel
To instruct Thomas or for any further information please contact our clerks on +44 (0)20 7440 8888 or clerks@2br.co.uk.
Tom Daniel specialises in financial crime, heavyweight general crime, regulatory proceedings and various types of civil proceedings.
Financial Crime
Tom is listed as a “Leading Junior” in the following legal directories:
- Fraud: Crime (Legal 500)
- Business & Regulatory Crime including Global Investigations (Legal 500)
- Financial Crime (Chambers UK)
Tom has been consistently recognised in the leading legal directories for a number of years and during this time the directories have included:
- “A fantastic asset to have on your team. An extraordinary strategist. A super-talented lawyer; a star”
- “…a phenomenal technical lawyer and a persistent and persuasive advocate, able to adjust his style to a jury or a judge seamlessly. A real star at the Bar”
- “…a brilliant advocate who is unfazed by whatever a court case or trial throws at him. He is a real star of the future”
Tom is regularly instructed in large and complex financial cases, including allegations of bribery and corruption, conspiracy to defraud, fraud by misrepresentation, fraud by abuse of position and money laundering. These cases often involve an extra-jurisdictional element and require a detailed understanding of mutual assistance and multi-jurisdictional evidence gathering, as well as the approach foreign regulators and law enforcement agencies adopt towards international financial crime.
In addition to advising individuals and corporates currently facing criminal charges, Tom frequently provides legal, practical and tactical advice upon pre-charge options, including the consequences of self-reporting, making timely representations to the agencies conducting the investigation and the impact of various regulatory obligations upon those in regulated sectors.
Crime
Tom acts for both the defence and prosecution in serious criminal cases including allegations of murder, manslaughter, drug importation and supply, Misconduct in Public Office, perverting the course of justice, robbery and firearms offences.
Regulatory
Tom has experience of representing individuals before a wide array of professional tribunals. This includes acting for the Regulator and acting for individuals facing gross misconduct allegations and fitness to practise concerns.
Civil
Tom has a wide range of experience of the relationship between different types of proceedings and their respective procedures. For example, there is often a significant overlap between allegations of financial crime, financial regulatory requirements and commercial disputes.
Before joining chambers, Tom was an in-house advocate specialising in civil cases and he continues to act in civil cases and related matters, including claims for judicial review.
Practice Areas
Tom has appeared in the High Court and the Court of Appeal in relation to a variety of criminal cases and related matters
He has also made submissions to the Supreme Court of New Zealand and has appeared in the New Zealand Court of Appeal.
Tom has developed a specialism in Judicial Review and appealing by way of case stated. He has advised upon the merits of a number of appeals and has appeared before the Administrative Court and the Divisional Court in relation to these matters.
Notable appeals cases
R v Petrie [2014[ EWCA Crim 2912
This appeal concerned the definition of ‘Significant disparity of age’ for the purposes of the Definitive Guideline on Sexual Offences in relation to sexual activity with a child. The Court of Appeal considered that a sentence of 30 months’ detention was manifestly excessive and substituted a term of 12 months. The Court also quashed the Sexual Offences Prevention Order.
R v E (2015)
This case involved two appeals: one was against conviction for importing cocaine on the basis of disclosure failings by Customs & Excise and the other was an Attorney General’s Reference in respect of the sentence of 15 years’ imprisonment.
Banbrook v R [2013] NZSC 148
Acted for the Crown in successfully resisting an appeal in the New Zealand Supreme Court in relation to whether an abuse of process ruling induced a guilty plea.
Drafted submissions as junior for the Crown in relation to the statutory mitigation available to an offender based on his cultural background.
R v Grant (Norman Washington) [2012] EWCA Crim 2723
This was the first appeal in respect of jury irregularities heard after the Protocol was issued by the President of the Queen’s Bench Division in 2012.
R v Pandey
Junior for the Crown on an appeal against conviction in respect of Goods and Services Tax (the New Zealand equivalent of VAT).
Tom has been instructed in confiscation proceedings on behalf of clients involved in fraudulent activity, as well as those convicted of conspiring to import and/or supply drugs.
As well as confiscation proceedings, Tom has experience of cases concerning the restraint of funds and civil asset recovery. From his time working in a civil firm, he has experience of both civil and criminal methods of preserving assets.
Tom has appeared in a number of hearings involving applications for the detention and forfeiture of cash believed to be derived from or intended for use in crime.
He has accepted instructions following criminal proceedings or as counsel solely instructed to deal with the proceeds of crime.
Notable confiscation cases
R v W
Confiscation proceedings where the defendant was alleged to have been a large figure in a conspiracy where 71kg worth of Cocaine was alleged to be linked to him. The Crown asserted that the defendant had a benefit figure of £27m. The Crown subsequently accepted a benefit figure of around £1.2m with a confiscation order being made for just over £2,000.
National Crime Agency v KD
Successful defence in relation cash forfeiture proceedings where €30,000 cash was found in the defendant’s luggage and was alleged to be linked to a system of money laundering out of Algeria. Defence costs were awarded in full, despite being a rarity in Cash Forfeiture cases.
Tom has a wide-ranging defence practice and has defended in cases involving allegations of fraud, money laundering, serious assaults, firearms offences, false imprisonment, robbery, supply of drugs and sexual offences.
In addition to appearing in the Crown Court, Tom has also defended serving prisoners facing adjudications, where the allegations have been deemed too serious to be dealt with by the Prison Governor and he has also appeared before courts-martial.
As well as defending individuals, Tom has been instructed to represent companies facing tax allegations by HMRC, environmental offences and Trading Standards prosecutions.
Tom also has experience of issues concerning insolvent entities, including the civil and criminal liability of directors, valuers and auditors.
Notable criminal defence cases
R v B & Others
Represented the main defendant in a £20m conspiracy to defraud trial. Following a 10 week trial, the defendant was unanimously acquitted.
R v TM
Defendant acquitted of witness intimidation of a witness with special needs, who alleged threats had been made to stab him and others in the course of proceedings (junior alone).
R v E
Represented a man alleged to have imported over 50kg of cocaine at high purity.
R v P
Represented a leading figure in a conspiracy to supply Class A drugs on a wholesale basis (junior alone).
R v C
Represented the main defendant in a conspiracy to import cocaine from Europe inside high performance cars that had been adapted to allow drugs to be placed into hidden compartments (junior alone).
R v LW
Defended in a False Imprisonment and ABH case where two teenagers trapped, caged and injured a young boy down a secluded alleyway as part of a gang initiation. Secured a non-custodial sentence for the older defendant, who had previous convictions for violence (junior alone).
R v KP
ABH trial resulting in a successful submission of ‘no case to answer’ where positive ID procedures were contaminated by Facebook.
R v AS
Successful defence in a burglary trial, which involved the exclusion of a full confession interview after a voir dire, requiring cross-examination of the custody sergeant and a psychiatric nurse.
R v F
Defended an international company accused of offences under the EPA 1990.
S v TFL
Defended London Underground in a case under the EPA 1990.
HM Prison Service v KM
Successful defence of a serving prisoner alleged to have brought a mobile phone, phone charger and alcohol into prison.
HM Prison Service v DM
Acquittal of a serving prisoner, accused of having drugs in prison, after a successful preliminary legal argument over the court’s jurisdiction.
Tom has advised upon and appeared in a number of cases involving allegations of fraud and financial crime.
He has appeared for the defence, both as a led junior and as a junior alone, in cases concerning conspiracies to defraud and cheating the public revenue, as well as frauds by misrepresentation and by abuse of position.
He has experience of the way large prosecutions are conducted from his time at the Financial Conduct Authority and has an in-depth knowledge of the disclosure process and the importance of this in large cases of a financial nature.
Tom’s experience of acting for both the prosecution and the defence enables him to approach large cases in an analytical and tactical manner from an early stage, based upon an anticipation of the likely approach the other side will take during the case.
Notable fraud & financial crime cases
R v B & Others
Represented the principal defendant in a ‘land banking’ fraud, where the prosecution alleged the defendants had defrauded purchasers out of £20m. Following a 10 week trial, the defendant was unanimously acquitted (led by Timothy Kendal).
R v S & V
Acted as junior alone for two defendants accused of trading in breach of HMRC’s securities regime, where HMRC alleged nearly half a million pounds’ worth of trading had occurred in breach of the security requirement. HMRC discontinued proceedings following service of a skeleton argument in respect of an application to stay proceedings as an abuse of process.
R v L
Prosecution disclosure counsel in an HMRC prosecution of an accountant who dishonestly amended his clients’ tax returns.
R v DD & Others
Led by Nigel Lithman QC in a 10 week trial. Represented all three shareholder directors and secured acquittals on the main count alleging a conspiracy to defraud.
Operation Tabernula
Part of the Financial Conduct Authority disclosure team on the most complex Insider Dealing case prosecuted by the FCA (or its predecessor the FSA).
Operation Cotton
Part of the disclosure team in respect of a conspiracy to defraud and land banking scheme.
Operation Cheshunt
Provided charging advice to the New Zealand SFO in relation to allegations concerning the misuse of trust monies in the gambling industry. This involved working alongside the Crown Solicitor and the case concerned novel points of law in light of the criminal legislation governing such practices.
Tom has been instructed to advise upon claims for judicial review in relation to criminal, quasi-criminal and regulatory cases.
Judicial review work has an overlap with the civil litigation Tom conducted before joining chambers and has a relationship with requests for advice on appealing by way of case stated, statutory appeals to the High Court and other ways of challenging decisions by public bodies.
Tom has drafted pleadings and appeared before the Administrative Court and Divisional Court, both as a led junior and as a junior alone.
Tom has been instructed in claims for Judicial Review on a private basis, by insurers and where civil legal aid has been granted based on the merits of the claim.
Tom is on the pro-bono advocate panel for judicial review cases and is prepared to advise on a pro bono basis where deserving claimants have a meritorious claim but cannot afford to privately instruct lawyers to achieve justice.
Notable judicial review cases
R (on the application of Morales) v Kettering Magistrates’ Court [2013] EWHC 1922 (Admin)
Successful Judicial Review, where the magistrates had acted ultra vires in adding a new charge against the defendant.
R (on the application of S) v NHS England (2015)
Judicial review of the decision of the FHSAU to terminate the registrant’s contract to provide dental services.
R (on the application of VL) v KP (2014)
Application for Judicial Review of a police decision to caution.
R (on the application of S) v Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis (2015)
Application for Judicial Review of a police decision not to offer an alternative to prosecution.
Tom accepts instructions to appear in disciplinary proceedings, both for the regulator and for the registrant. Tom has experience of appearing before panels and advising on matters at first instance and on appeal.
In addition to his criminal background, Tom’s previous experience of civil litigation before joining chambers means that he has a good grasp of different procedural rules, as well as being accustomed to delivering both written and oral advocacy.
Notable professional discipline cases
S v SRA
Advised on a High Court Appeal against findings made by the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal in respect of allegations of dishonesty.
Re X
Appeared on behalf of a black cab driver before the carriage office, who had accepted a criminal caution for a sexual offence. On appeal, the carriage office overturned the decision to erase and ordered a period of suspension instead, in light of the ‘exceptional circumstances’ of the case.
UKCP v S
Appeared as the Presenting Officer for the UKCP in disciplinary proceedings brought for breaches of the Code.
Re C
Instructed in relation to a case concerning whether two principals in an investment company were ‘fit and proper persons’.
UKCP v C
Acted for the UKCP in an appeal out of a decision by the Preliminary Enquiry Committee.
Tom has prosecuted for the Crown Prosecution Service, United Kingdom Border Agency and HM Revenue & Customs. He is currently graded as Level 2 on the CPS Advocates’ Panel.
Tom is used to handling sensitive information on behalf of government agencies and third party corporations. He has experience of handling sensitive material generated by intelligence services in the UK and abroad, including Suspicious Activity Reports in financial crime cases and sensitive personal data pertaining to witnesses in criminal proceedings.
Tom was part of the Financial Conduct Authority’s disclosure team on the most complex Insider Dealing case ever prosecuted by the FCA (or its predecessor the FSA). He was also involved in the prosecution of a ‘land banking’ scheme, involving allegations of fraud, breaches of financial regulations and money laundering.
In 2013, Tom was seconded to the office of the Crown Solicitor for Wellington, New Zealand, which is the office responsible for prosecuting all of the serious offences in the country’s capital. Whilst in New Zealand, he was involved in prosecutions for manslaughter, rape and firearm offences as well as a fraud investigated by the New Zealand Serious Fraud Office. Tom also worked at Crown Law, which is a unique body responsible for representing the Crown on appeals to the Court of Appeal and Supreme Court, as well as advising the New Zealand government. During this time, he appeared as junior in the Court of Appeal and was part of a consultation on whether New Zealand should establish a Criminal Cases Review Commission.
Notable prosecution cases
R v W & Others
Prosecution junior in a multi-handed trial where the defendants were teachers at a school for children with behavioural difficulties. The defendants were accused of child cruelty against the pupils from 1975 to 1999.
R v H
Junior alone in prosecution of an attempted VAT fraud of over £500,000 of taxpayers’ money using a series of shell companies in the UK and abroad.
Operation Resolve
Instructed to advise as part of this investigation into the Hillsborough Disaster.
R v L
Disclosure Counsel for HMRC in a prosecution of an accountant for his involvement in a conspiracy to defraud.
R v K
Prosecution junior in a sexual assault case where the defendant, a priest, was convicted of sexually touching his daughter.
R v W
Successful legal argument in relation to the admissibility of a confession obtained through the use of ‘scenario evidence’ where undercover police officers posed as criminal gang members and the defendant confessed to his involvement in a child’s death as part of his gang initiation.
Operation Tabernula
Part of the Financial Conduct Authority disclosure team on the most complex Insider Dealing case ever prosecuted by the FCA (or its predecessor the FSA).
Operation Cheshunt
Provided charging advice to the New Zealand SFO in relation to allegations concerning the misuse of trust monies in the gambling industry. This involved working alongside the Crown Solicitor and the case concerned novel points of law in light of the criminal legislation governing such practices.
Banbrook v R [2013] NZSC 148
Acted for the Crown in successfully resisting an appeal in the New Zealand Supreme Court in relation to whether an abuse of process ruling induced a guilty plea.
Drafted submissions as junior for the Crown in relation to the statutory mitigation available to an offender based on his cultural background.
R v Pandey
Junior for the Crown when successfully resisting an appeal against conviction in respect of Goods and Services Tax (the New Zealand equivalent of VAT).
Tom has advised on variety of cases with a sporting element since joining chambers. This has involved allegations against cricketers and football league administrators.
In addition to his involvement in disciplinary proceedings, Tom has advised on the application of international regulations governing the transfer of players.
Notable sports law cases
Re: JC
Advised an U17 international football player on FIFA’s Regulations on the Status and Transfer of Players, International Transfer Certificates and the procedure before the FIFA Dispute Resolution Chamber.
FA v KP; MR
Advised league administrators on misconduct allegations arising from breaches of the FA Rules.
ICC v A
Provided advice in relation to an ICC investigation.
