Rupert is a polished and sought-after barrister routinely instructed in the defence and prosecution of complex, multi-handed and lengthy cases involving serious crime and financial crime, in particular in organised crime and in ‘white collar’ fraud. 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 serious crime, Rupert is a Grade 4 CPS Serious Crime Specialist Advocate Panel member, and has advisory and advocacy experience (for both the prosecution and defence, and on appeal) in the following areas:
Homicide and serious violence
Firearms
Drugs importation and supply
Gang activity
Human trafficking
In relation to financial crime, Rupert is a Grade 3 CPS Fraud Specialist Advocate Panel member, and has advisory and advocacy experience (as above) 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
Appointments
CPS General Crime- Level 4
CPS Serious Crime- Level 4
CPS Fraud- Level 3
Kosovo Specialist Chambers Specialist Counsel (Defence; Victims)
Rupert Kent was instructed by ABV Solicitors as a junior alone in this 11-handed drugs conspiracy case, involving the largescale importation and wholesale supply of drugs into and throughout the United Kingdom. The case comprised 12,000 pages of evidence, and this trial (one of four) was listed for 12 weeks.
Rupert Kent was instructed as junior counsel by the CPS Specialist Fraud Division in a conspiracy to defraud case arising from a large-scale, complicated, carbon credits ‘investments’ scam leading to £2.4m worth of loss, and comprising over 15,000 pages of evidence.
Rupert Kent was instructed by the CPS Complex Casework Unit as a led junior in this 5-handed conspiracy to convert criminal property prosecution. The case comprised over 12,000 pages of served evidence and almost 100 witnesses, and involved the service and disclosure of US-sourced material.
Rupert Kent was instructed by the CPS Complex Casework Unit as a junior alone in confiscation proceedings arising from a £7m drug importation prosecution in which he had appeared as a led junior. The POCA proceedings involved use of a European Investigation Order to gather information from Belgium relating to a pre-existing foreign confiscation order.
Rupert Kent was instructed as leading counsel by the CPS Specialist Fraud Division in a 7-handed fraudulent evasion prosecution investigated by Her Majesty’s Revenue & Customs. The case involved complicating fitness-to-plead considerations.
