Patrick Harrington

Patrick Harrington has an established fraud practice throughout England and Wales and, sometimes, abroad. Unusually, he both prosecutes and defends at the highest level.

He prosecuted “Operation Bulkead” a film tax fraud with high profile defendants. He was originally instructed in 2008. Guilty verdicts were returned in May 2016.

With Ben Douglas-Jones (now QC) he prosecuted “Operation Valgus” a mortgage fraud involving 800 residential properties. The trial lasted five months. The convictions were upheld in the Court of Appeal.

He prosecuted “Operation Penco” (whilst the jury was in retirement in “Bulkhead”) a boiler room fraud involving sales of “carbon credits” tried by HHJ Korner QC at Southwark Crown Court.

He represented the principal defendant in R v Eric Evans and others [2014] 1 WLR 2817 in which Higginbottom J (as he then was) dismissed the case. He also acted in the sequel in which Fulford LJ declined to grant the SFO a voluntary bill of indictment R v Evans [2014] EWHC 3803 (QBD).

He represented the first named defendant, Dominic Ryder, in “Operation Lunar” (2017) a £324m alleged fraud against the Revenue. This case was dismissed by HHJ Simon Drew QC; a decision to seek a voluntary bill of indictment by the SFO was abandoned after much further consideration.

He acted for Dr MG (instructed by Philip Williams of Blackfords) a director of Rolls Royce against whom the SFO recently abandoned their attempts

He was recently instructed GHP Solicitors (Wrexham) for AW whom the Special Casework Division of the CPS investigated with eight others for alleged misfeasance in public office. They recently indicated no prosecution is to ensue.

Apart from fraud, Patrick has a large general crime practice having acted for prosecution and defence in over 250 homicide cases. He also practises in Health and Safety throughout England and Wales.