Giles Cockings

Year of Call: 1996

Ranked as a leading junior in crime in Chambers & Partners (2008)

According to those he has worked with, Giles Cockings is a rising star, who is highly effective in cross-examination and has both a strong tactical sense and an impressive grasp of cultural sensitivities. His inherently good judgment, which cannot be taught was singled out for particular praise. Regularly instructed in some of the most serious cases at the Old Bailey and other UK courts, his practice encompasses major murders, financial white collar fraud, money laundering, sexual offences and the large-scale importation of drugs.

His experience in violent crime cases has included over 15 major murder trials (including success in six of the last seven over an 18 month period). Here his experience includes contract killings, cultural and abuse-led revenge killings, gang warfare, financially-driven murders and 'single punch' deaths. He has also appeared in manslaughter, armed robbery, conspiracy to rob, firearms and terrorism cases, and has experience of shaken baby syndrome and issues of medical causation.

Giles has an extensive track record in financial crime including money laundering trials as well as advance fee, mortgage, VAT and banking fraud, many of them involving cross-jurisdictional elements. He recently successfully  defended in the largest attempted currency fraud against the Bank of England. His expertise extends to specialised accountancy fraud and other complex City frauds, where his full understanding of banking operations, experience in the financial markets and interest in regulatory work and FSA legislation come into their own. His experience of confiscation and asset seizure cases extends across the areas of fraud and drugs crime, where he also has extensive experience. Recent examples include acting in connection with one of the largest alleged importations of class A drugs into the country.

In the area of sexual offences, his extensive experience includes Operation Goldsmith, involving the highly-publicised Welsh National Children's' Home historic abuse allegations: Giles acted in the only trial of 12 in which any defendant was acquitted. He has also appeared in Courts-Martial.