Ben Edwards

Darren Almeida

YEAR OF CALL 2011

Education

LLB Hons
BVC (College of Law)

Memberships

Criminal Bar Association
Ecclesiastical Law Society

Appointments

CPS Advocate panel Level 3

Overview of Practice

Darren is an experienced advocate in prosecuting and defending serious criminal offences encompassing murder, violent disorder, S18 GBH, robbery, kidnap, drug, firearms and fraud. He is also instructed on behalf of the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy as well as the Insolvency Service and local authorities. He has appeared as junior alone and been led by Queen’s Counsel.

Darren is regularly instructed by the Metropolitan Police legal service to deal with closure orders, PII and disclosure applications.

He advises and defends companies and directors on cases including personal and corporate insolvency, fraud, misrepresentation, misappropriation, breach of trust, breach of fiduciary duty and money laundering. Darren also advises on asset recovery, financial tracing, freezing orders, dissipation of funds and restraining orders.

Darren is known for providing an effective and efficient service for both lay and professional client delivering quality oral and written advocacy.

Notable cases

R v HA (Harrow Crown Court, 2020) – Led by Chris Henley in multi-handed murder.

R v DR (Luton Crown Court, 2020) – Successfully defended 18 year old charged with threatening another with a firearm.

R v AK (Aylesbury Crown Court, 2020) – Defended individual charged with two S20 GBH and controlling behaviour.

JG Court of Appeal (Criminal division, 2019) – Successfully argued a sentence for PWITS was manifestly excessive.

R V DJ (Guildford Crown Court, 2019) – Successfully prosecuted multi-handed affray during a pub fight.

R v CP  (Reading Crown Court, 2019) – Successfully defended multi-handed false imprisonment, robbery and possession of firearm.

R v NB (Reading Crown Court, 2019) – Successfully defended multi-handed kidnap and false imprisonment.

R v NB (Maidstone Crown Court, 2018) – Led by James O’Keeffe in S18 GBH.

R v JD (Harrow Crown Court, 2018) – Successfully defended multi-handed conspiracy to defraud white goods company.

R v DG (Isleworth Crown Court, 2017) – Prosecuted by Neil Griffin of youth and three adults charged with false imprisonment and assault.

R v PP (Harrow Crown Court, 2017) – Defended multi-handed conspiracy to launder money.

R v MH (Woolwich Crown Court, 2017) – Defended multi-handed conspiracy to defraud apple using apple pay technology.

R v LD (Isleworth Crown Court, 2017) – Successfully defended multi-handed S20 GBH and robbery that occurred in HMP Wandsworth.

R v NA (Isleworth Crown Court, 2017) – Defended 18 year old charged with S20 GBH.

R v JM (Southwark Crown court, 2017) – Successfully defended multi-handed conspiracy to commit fraud against New Look fashion brand.

R v JG (Harrow Crown Court, 2017) – Successfully defended client charged with knife point robbery.

R v TA (Old Bailey, 2017) – During early stages of murder trial instructed to draft advice of expert witness on gunshot residue and pathology.

R v LB (Woolwich Crown Court, 2017) – Junior alone: defended client charged as part of multi-million pound international conspiracy to commit fraud.

NEWS STORIES