Joint Head of ChambersRanked in Crime Band 1 by Chambers and Partners 2013: 'When the "absolutely superb" Henry Blaxland QC is delivering a speech he "completely dominates the courtroom," and judges "utterly trust" him. Sources say he combines "intelligence and experience" Chambers 2012: 'when defending in high-profile criminal cases he 'is applauded for his "ability to get to grips with complicated issues." The success of his practice, which involves a significant amount of appellate work, emanates from the fact that he is "understated but very effective," according to sources'.
Ranked in the Legal 500. PracticeHenry has practised in criminal defence work for his entire career at the Bar. His principal areas of work now comprise fraud, with a specialism in confiscation, and terrorist cases with an international dimension. He is widely known for his appellate practice, acting in cases referred by the Criminal Cases Review Commission. He also appears for appellants in extradition cases.
He has developed a specialism in serious fraud and money laundering cases. He has appeared in cases in which accountants and solicitors have been prosecuted, including the attempted fraudulent take-over of Sheffield United FC. He has also appeared in large scale VAT carousel fraud cases, including Operation Emersed, in which he represented the principal defendant, and Operation Euripus, the largest such fraud to be prosecuted. He recently successfully argued against a claim for a £5m confiscation order (R v Bhabdeep Chahal).
He has been instructed in a number of high profile terrorism cases. He successfully defended Mohammed Gulzar, alleged to be one of the master-minds behind the transatlantic airline plot, and Waheed Ali, one of only three people prosecuted for involvement in the 7 July London tube bombing. He represents those made the subject of control orders under the Prevention of Terrorism Act.
A significant part of his practice has involved representing appellants in cases referred to the Court of Appeal by the CCRC. He has been instructed in some of the most celebrated miscarriage of justice cases in the last 20 years, including Sam Hallam, Suzanne Holdsworth, the Carl Bridgewater murder case, Derek Bentley, James Hanratty and the M25 three. He has an almost unrivalled experience of this type of work and has been centrally involved in the development of the Court of Appeal's jurisprudence.
He acted for Mohammed Amir, the young Pakistani fast bowler accused of involvement in match fixing.
Henry has always concentrated on civil liberties and human rights work. In the 1980s and 1990s he represented defendants in major criminal trials arising from the miners' strike, the protest against the Poll Tax and the riot at Campsfield House immigration detention centre. In 2010 he was involved in the much publicised successful defence of political activists charged with causing £180,000 worth of damage to an arms factory at the time of the Israeli invasion of Gaza.
His work also covers the entire gamut of criminal defence from homicide to offences against children. He successfully represented the principal of a therapeutic community for disturbed children in a five-month trial at Bristol Crown Court and appeared for a defendant charged with conspiracy to rape and murder based entirely on the content of internet chat-room discussions (R v Hedgcock). He has appeared for appellants in the Privy Council facing the death penalty. He represented a witness appearing before the Bloody Sunday tribunal, chaired by Lord Saville.
Henry also specialises in extradition and has appeared in the Divisional Court for appellants resisting their extradition to the U.S.A. and to Albania
Notable CasesSam Hallam - widely publicised miscarriage of justice appeal. For press coverage, click here.
R v Mohammed Chowdhury - terrorist plot to plant a bomb in the London stock exchange. For press coverage, click here.
R v James and Miranda Sanders - highest value insider dealer prosecution brought by the FSA. For press coverage, click here.
Mucelli v Sec of State for the Home Dept - extradition judicial review concerning an Albanian national
R v Mohammed Amir - Pakistani cricket match fixing case Hayes v Chief Constable of Liverpool (2011) EWCA Civ 911 - Court of Appeal Civil Division - leading case on ambit of power of arrest in Police and Criminal Evidence Act R v M, B and G (2011) 1 Cr.App.R 12 - leading case on abuse of process in context of human trafficking. R v Bhabdeep Chahal - Operation Duma carousel fraud. Michael Burridge - appeal for defendant convicted of the murder of his own infant son. R v Hashib Apabhai - Operation Euripus carousel fraud. Reported case in Court of Appeal on application of bad charachter provisions. R v Craig Johnson - principal defendant in Operation Emersed - major carousel fraud which lasted over a year. R v AY - Court of Appeal - decision on ambit of 'reasonable excuse' for possession of terrorist material. R v Waheed Ali - defendant alleged to have been involved with the 7/7 London tube bombers. R v Hyrbyair Marri - defendant alleged to be involved with a terrorist organisation in Pakistani Baluchistan. R v Al-Daour - so-called 'cyber terrorism' incitement case. R v Abdul Saleem - first defendant in trial of Omar Brooks and others for inciting terrorist murder in speeches at Regents Park Mosque. R v Gulzar - the acquitted defendant in the terrorist conspiracy to detonate bombs on transatlantic airlines. R v Attilla Ahmet - terrorist incitement case. Suzanne Holdsworth - successful appeal of woman convicted of the murder of a child she was babysitting.
Click here to read the news story Whomes and Steele C.A. (2006) - CCRC reference appeal for the defendants convicted of the 'Essex Boys' Rettendon Range Rover murders. R v Kemi Adeyoola (2006) - much-publicised trial at Central Criminal Court acting for 17 year-old girl charged with the murder of an 84 year-old woman, who had written a "blue-print for murder" diary. R v Don Pendleton H.L. (2002) 1 WLR - successful appeal in CCRC reference. The leading case on the test in cases involving fresh evidence. James Hanratty - the A6 murder, one of the most celebrated cases in English criminal law. Dudley and Maynard - the 'torso murders' - notorious 1970s gang-land murder case referred to Court of Appeal by CCRC. Derek Bentley (2001) 1 Cr App R 21 - the Craig and Bentley murder case and now the leading authority on the Court of Appeal's approach to developments in the law since conviction Danny McNamee - appeal of the man alleged to be an IRA master bomber, said to have made the notorious Hyde Park bomb R v Johnson, Rowe and Davis (2001) 1 Cr App R 115 - the appeal of the M25 three and the leading authority on the relationship between the Court of Appeal's jurisdiction to quash convictions and the determination of a breach of Article 6 by the European Court of Human Rights R v Craven (2001) 2 Cr App R 12 - CCRC reference of conviction for murder, in which fresh DNA evidence became available following the referral to the court R v Cole 90 Cr App R 478 - the leading case on the interpretation of the provisions of the Criminal Justice Act 1988 re the reading of witness statements Goswell v The Commissioner of Police - appeal against record award of damages against the Police R v Colin Wallace - appeal against conviction for manslaughter by former army information officer in Northern Ireland who alleged dirty tricks by MI5 R v Hickey & Ors - the Carl Bridgewater murder appeal R v Georgiades 89 Cr App R 206 - mens rea in the offence of possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life
Publications
Regular contributor to Archbold News.
Professional Memberships
- Amnesty International
- Criminal Bar Association
- International Bar Association
- Criminal Appeal Lawyers Association
Profile updated November 2012
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