23 Essex Street London WC2R 3AA
020 7413 0353
Richard Saynor
2009
Profile
Richard is a tenacious and persuasive advocate who is consistently
praised by both Judges and solicitors for his sound judgement, incisive
analysis, and precise and powerful submissions. Richard provides high
quality advice in a clear and coherent form, whilst his calm manner and
practical approach wins the trust and confidence of all parties
concerned.
Richard, who prosecutes and defends, has experience of all matters of
general crime. Recently he has been instructed as the Crown Court
defence advocate in cases involving conspiracy, armed robbery, serious
violence, dishonesty, and the production and supply of drugs, whilst
also acting as prosecution junior in a murder trial at Snaresbrook
Crown Court.
Richard is rapidly developing experience in financial crime and
regulation. Richard has experience prosecuting for the Health and
Safety Executive, and also of advising those appearing before the
Nursing and Midwifery counsel. Further, he is currently undertaking
advisory work for Stephen Platt Associates LLP (a financial regulation
and compliance consultancy based in the Channel Islands).
Prior to joining Chambers Richard gained substantial experience
appearing as an advocate in First-Tier Tribunals (Mental Health) as well
as conducted community care and Court of Protection work.
General Crime
Richard has considerable experience of prosecuting and defending in
the Crown, Magistrates’ and Youth Courts.
Counsel’s Clerk
Adamchapman@23es.com
Jackshah@23es.com
Regulatory Clerk
Benoneil@23es.com
Primary Areas of Practice
General Crime
Motoring Law
Fraud and Financial Crime
Regulatory and Disciplinary
Mental Health Law and the
Court of Protection
Education
 M.St, Law Faculty,
Cambridge University
 Diploma, Law Faculty,
Cambridge University
 Postgraduate LLB, BPP
 BA Hons, Modern History,
Oxford University.
Awards
 Middle Temple Major
Scholarship, Astbury
Oxbridge Scholar (2007 to
2009)
 Mansfield College Scholar:
2005 to 2007 (Oxford
University).
 Undergraduate Thesis prize
(Oxford University).
23 Essex Street London WC2R 3AA
020 7413 0353
Richard Saynor
2009
He has defended clients in trials spanning all manner of offences,
including, serious violence, burglary, drugs, sexual offences, robbery,
and fraud. He also has extensive experience of defending clients in
Parole Board hearings, and in cases that that have been brought by Her
Majesties Revenue and Customs, The Department of Work and
Pensions, and the RSPCA.
Richard advises clients before any charges are brought, to consider
whether and how prosecution can be avoided, and whether there are
alternative disposals that may be appropriate. He has also helped to
advise corporations on their criminal liability and disclosure
obligations.
Richard is on the CPS advocates panel and is regularly instructed to
prosecute in London, Essex and Kent. Further, he also prosecutes for
Her Majesties Revenue and Customs, Transport for London, the
National Probation Service, and the Health and Safety Executive.
In particular, Richard has prosecuted for the CPS Serious Organised
Crime Unit, including for matters that involve human trafficking and for
drugs cases that formed part of Operation Trident. He also recently
acted as junior in the three week murder trial or R v MW at
Snaresbrook Crown Court.
Richard has previously been privately instructed by a firm acting for
Government of Kazakhstan to write an advice on the initiation of
private prosecutions for a number of offences within England and
Wales.
Notable Crown Court Cases:
Prosecuting
R v HB [2012] (Central Criminal Court): acted as junior assisted in the
prosecution of a 3 day murder at the Central Criminal Court involving a
defendant who was pleading not guilty by reason of insanity.
R v MW [2012] Snresbrook Crown Court: acted as junior in the
prosecution of a 3 week murder at Snaresbrook Crown Court involving
a defendant who had stabbed his brother-in-law to death at a family
wedding.
23 Essex Street London WC2R 3AA
020 7413 0353
Richard Saynor
2009
R v X [2012] (Southwark Crown Court): prosecuted a number of
conspiracy to supply class A and B drugs cases at Southwark Crown
Court that have been investigated by the Opertation Trident team
(guilty pleas entered).
R v KA [2012] (Croydon Crown Court): prosecuted preliminary matters
for the CPS Serious Organised Crime Unit for cases concerning human
trafficking.
Defending:
R v CY and LY [2013] (Canterbury Crown Court): clients pleaded to
affray wherein the complainant was attacked by a group of 4 and
sustained a broken eye socket, jaw, and ankle. They received an 8
month suspended sentence.
R v SH [2013] (Blackfriars Crown Court): client charged with offences
under the Dangereous Dogs Act. Persuaded the Crown to discotninue
the case on the day of trial. Not guilty pleas directed.
R v RC [2012] (Canterbury Crown Court): client acquitted of all 3 counts
of theft from an employer, namely a charity shop that raised money
for the local hospital.
R v KD [2012] (Canterbury Crown Court): client pleaded guilty to an
armed bank robbery, during which he had held customers at gunpoint,
taken £3,000, and then threatened police in order to escape. He
received 7 years’ imprisonment.
R v DD [2012] (Canterbury Crown Court): Client convicted of ABH,
having broke the victim’s jaw. He received a nominal sentence of 3
months to coincide with his release for other matters.
R v SS [2012] (Isleworth Crown Court): successfully overturned a
conviction for common assault during an appeal to the Crown Court at
Isleworth, where the client ran factual denial and 4 eye-witnesses
giving evidence for the prosecution.
R v AK [2012] (Wood Green Crown Court): succesfully overturned a
conviction for common assault against the defendant’s ex-partner.
23 Essex Street London WC2R 3AA
020 7413 0353
Richard Saynor
2009
R v TN [2011] (Glocester Crown Court): negotiated a plea to violent
disorder for a defendant charged with section 18 (GBH) on a joint
enterprise basis with another co-defendant. He received 3 years, whilst
his co-defendant, who pleaded to the section 18, received 10 years.
Notable Magistrates Court Cases:
R v IT [2012] (Stratford Magistrates Court): the bench dismissed
allegations of producing cocaine, possession of prohibited weapons,
and possession of cannabis following submissions the police had not
proved the defendant had sufficient control over the items.
R v PW [2012] (Canterbury Magistrates Court): the defendant was
acquitted of theft although he failed to attend court for his trial.
R v TS [2012] (Brent Magistrates Court): the defendant was acquitted
of two counts of common assault against his teenage children, all three
of whom gave evidence against him.
R v SB [2011] (Highbury Corner Magistrates Court): the court dismissed
an allegation of s.20 GBH (reckless infliction of HIV) at a section 6(1)
committal following submissions the Crown had insufficient forensic
evidence.
R v AW [2011] (Chatham Magistrates Court): the defendant was
acquitted of assault on a paramedic although she turned up to trial 3
hours late, and walked out of court on 3 occasions.
R v MD [2011] (Ealing Magistrates Court): the defendant was charged
with 6 offences. Following a three day trial, 4 matters were dismissed
at half time, 1 matter was dismissed following a legal submission, and
the defendant was acquitted of the final matter at the end of the trial.
Motoring Law
Richard regularly receives private instructions to advise and represent
clients in all manner of road traffic cases. He has considerable
experience in this area, and a good record of ensuring his clients retain
their licences wherever this is possible
Fraud and Financial Crime
23 Essex Street London WC2R 3AA
020 7413 0353
Richard Saynor
2009
Richard has been instructed to defend in a range of cases involving
fraud. He also has experience of conducting work under the Proceeds
of Crime Act 2002, including provided advice in relation to criminal
confiscation proceedings and claims for civil recovery, and also
conducting contested confiscation hearings at the Crown Court.
Richard also prosecutes on behalf of HMRC, conducting cash forfeiture
proceedings in the Magistrates’ Court.
Notable Cases
R v EF [2012] (Maidstone Crown Court): during the hearing persuaded
the court to overturn a compensation order for £10,000 on the basis it
was unlawful, and then reduce the confiscation order from £70,000 to
£1 .
R v PW [2012] (Canterbury Crown Court): following a conviction for
robbery agreed an order of £3,000 – down from the £50,000 being
sought.
R v RM [2012] (Harrow Crown Court): client involved in benefit fraud
to the value of £37,000.
Regulatory and Disciplinary
Richard has written advices on and conducted in-depth research into
the legislation and regulations concerning the financial services
industry, including the criminal and civil offences that can result. His
approach to this type of advisory work recognises the importance of
considering the commercial and practical implications for his clients.
Richard is currently undertaking advisory work for Stephen Platt
Associates LLP (a financial regulation and compliance consultancy
based in the Channel Islands).
Richard also has experience advising those who are due to appear
before professional bodies, such as the Nursing and Midwifery Council.
Richard also prosecutes in this field, and has experience of prosecuting
matters for the Health and Safety Executive where it is alleged that
Health and Safety Regulations have been breached.
23 Essex Street London WC2R 3AA
020 7413 0353
Richard Saynor
2009
Mental Health Law and the Court of Protection
Richard has considerable experience of dealing with clients who suffer
mental disorder. Since 2008 he has been appointed as an Associate
Hospital Manager for South London and Maudsley NHS Trust, with the
task of convening mental health hearings within hospitals and
reviewing the decisions of psychiatrists and the Courts to ‘section’
individuals under the Mental Health Act 1983 (i.e. detain and / or treat
mentally disordered individuals).
Prior to joining the bar Richard acted as an in-house advocate for a
London based solicitor. During this time he regularly conducted Mental
Health Tribunals, representing those who were detained under both
civil and forensic sections (i.e. those detained under sections 2, 3, 37
and 37/41of the Mental Health Act 1983). At the same time he also
conducted community care and court of protection work, including in
cases concerning welfare, financial and serious medical treatment
decisions, nearest relative displacement applications, judicial review
and habeas corpus applications by detained patients.
As a result of above he has a comprehensive working knowledge of
mental health law. Further, the training he has received at the
Maudsley Hospital – one of the world’s leading mental health
institutions – has provided him with expertise in handling those who
are vulnerable and mentally disordered witnesses in the court
environment.