William Davis has considerable experience of serious crime, fraud and confiscation both as leader and junior. He is a Recorder of the Crown Court.
Widely experienced in complex and demanding criminal cases, he is appreciated for his hard work and enthusiasm, his confident and incisive courtroom style, and meticulous advisory work.
Mark Heywood KC led William Davis in the prosecution of a company that manufactures total parenteral nutrition, which is supplied to vulnerable patients receiving nutrition intravenously. In 2014 a contaminated batch was supplied to hospitals treating severely premature babies. 19 babies developed infections as a result, and one died. After protracted and contentious litigation, the defendant company pleaded guilty to a health and safety offence and to offences under the Medicines Act 1968. The company was sentenced in April 2022.
Anthony Orchard QC led William Davis for the prosecution in a murder trial following an incident outside a nightclub in which a man was stabbed. After the killing the Defendant fled to Cyprus with the assistance of a friend, who was convicted of assisting an offender. The Defendant was extradited to the UK in 2019.
Anthony Orchard QC led William Davis in the prosecution of two defendants for an incident in Kingston town centre in which a van was deliberately driven at one males, and another was fatally stabbed.
Anthony Orchard QC led William Davis in the prosecution of a defendant in connection with an incident at an all-night party in Aldgate in which one man was fatally stabbed, and three others were injured.
William Davis was Junior Prosecution Counsel (led by Brian O’Neill QC) in a gang-related murder, carried out in revenge for the attempted murder of the main Defendant by members of a rival gang.
Danny Robinson QC led William Davis in this prosecution for murder of a Defendant who stabbed his wife at least 58 times in an attack described by the pathologist as involving “extreme” force.
Jonathan Polnay led William Davis in this long running MTIC fraud involving five companies and tax losses of around £13M. There were multiple trading chains supported by a wealth of forged documentation, and the proceeds of the fraud were transferred offshore via banks in Eastern Europe and Hong Kong.
William Davis was Junior Prosecution Counsel (led by Louis Mably QC) in prosecution for murder of a Defendant who stabbed his neighbour after a confrontation in the street.
William Davis acted for the crown in this case that was a revenue fraud prosecution and instructed by the CPS Specialist Fraud Division. The Defendant was a Polish lorry driver caught with four million cigarettes concealed in a lorry carrying parts for a destined for a major car plant in the UK. The total revenue evaded was over £1M.
William Davis led in the prosecution of a group of accountants who committed a £700K fraud against the Redundancy Payments Service (RPS), a government agency that makes payments to workers owed money when their employers become insolvent. The Defendants arranged for 105 false applications to be submitted, in some cases supported by false identifies and forged documents. This was the first ever prosecution for fraud against the RPS. In a separate investigation, William Davis again led in the prosecution of Lennox McLeod for a VAT fraud committed during the same period as the RPS case. The defendant took over the VAT affairs of a company after the death of its director and falsely claimed over £100K in VAT refunds.
William Davis led Dickon Reid in the prosecution of five defendants charged with a £3.6m alcohol duty and VAT evasion fraud. The ringleaders were importing beer, wine and spirits from Europe using sophisticated mirror loads. Evidentially, the case was complicated and comprised numerous strands including surveillance, phone evidence, CCTV, business records and expert evidence relating to cell site, handwriting and tachographs. The two leading defendants received sentences close to the statutory maximum. Instructed by CPS Special Casework.
William Davis was Prosecution Counsel instructed by the Health and Safety Executive. A patient was injured during routine surgery. He received severe burns from a warming mattress on the operating table when a saline bag was placed on the temperature sensor, causing the mattress to overheat. The subsequent investigation revealed serious failures in the procurement process for the equipment, and in the training offered to staff.
"William is a star in the making. He is approachable, balanced, unflappable and extremely helpful. Nothing is ever too much trouble. That said he is determined, steely and focused. William is a great lawyer and first-class advocate. An excellent all-rounder."
Legal 500 2025
"He's a star of the future."
Chambers UK 2024
"He's really impressive the way he presents legal arguments and deals with witnesses."
Chambers UK 2024
‘William is a star in the making. He is always calm, collected and in control and he is a first class advocate and lawyer. He is able to deal with multiple issues at once and always in a professional and courteous manner.'
Legal 500 2024
"He shows great maturity and fairness in court while also being deadly."
Chambers UK 2023
Will is well-respected by the judiciary due to the structured and engaging nature of his advocacy.'
Legal 500 2023
"He is a class act with superb advocacy. He is well prepared, never fazed and the complete article."
Chambers UK 2025
