Rupert Kent

Practice Profile

Rupert is a polished and sought-after barrister routinely instructed in the defence and prosecution of complex, multi-handed and lengthy cases involving financial crime and serious crime, in particular in ‘white collar’ fraud and organised crime. He is regularly instructed as leading counsel, and also appears as a led junior or junior alone. He is a Grade 4 CPS General Crime Advocate Panel member, receives Serious Fraud Office instruction (being security cleared), and is public access qualified.

In relation to financial crime, Rupert is both a Grade 4 CPS Fraud Specialist Advocate Panel member and a Serious Fraud Office B Panel member, and has advisory and advocacy experience (for both the prosecution and defence, and on appeal) in the following areas:

• Business crime
• Insolvency
• Asset restraint
• Confiscation
• Money laundering
• Investment fraud
• Banking fraud
• Tax fraud
• Mandate fraud
• Duty evasion fraud
• Immigration fraud

In relation to serious crime, Rupert is a Grade 4 CPS Serious Crime Specialist Advocate Panel member, and has advisory and advocacy experience (as above) in the following areas:

• Homicide and serious violence
• Firearms
• Drugs importation and supply
• Gang activity
• Human trafficking

Rupert's Privacy Policy can be downloaded here.

Appointments

• CPS General Crime- Level 4
• CPS Fraud- Level 4
• CPS Serious Crime- Level 4
• SFO - B Panel
• Kosovo Specialist Chambers Specialist Counsel (Defence; Victims)

Memberships

• Fraud Lawyers Association
• South Eastern Circuit

News

• R v N [Maidstone Crown Court] 2021

  Proceeds of Crime

  Rupert Kent was instructed by DJMS Solicitors as junior alone in this opposed pre-charge application for the extension of a moratorium period under s.336A of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002, arising from a Defence Against Money Laundering request made in relation to a suspect bank account.

• R v A & 8 Ors [Kingston Crown Court] 2021

  Drugs Importation

  Rupert Kent was instructed by the CPS as junior alone in this nine-handed drugs case, involving a conspiracy to import large amounts of cocaine into the United Kingdom using HGV vehicles.

• Operation Merseyside-1 [Isleworth Crown Court] 2020

  Proceeds of Crime

  Rupert Kent was instructed by teh CPS Proceeds of Crime Unit as a led junior in confiscation proceedings arising out of this 4-handed conspiracy to convert criminal property prosecution.

• R v A & 8 Ors [Southwark Crown Court] 2020

  Banking Fraud

  Rupert Kent was instructed by ABV Solicitors as junior alone (two-counsel application pending) in this nine-handed fraud case, involving the alleged activities of a criminal network in removing £500,000 from customers’ bank accounts. The case comprises over 50,000 pages of evidence.

• R v T & 12 Others [Leeds Crown Court] 2020

  Money Laundering

  Rupert Kent was instructed by Kangs Solicitors as a junior alone (QC application pending) in this 13-handed money laundering case, involving the alleged laundering of £260m in the proceeds of crime. The case comprises 15,000 pages of evidence, and the trial has a four-month time-estimate.

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