Kings Bench Chambers

Christopher Van Hagen

Call	1980
Memberships	Middle Temple
Practice	Crime, Serious Fraud and Prison Law

Principle Areas of Practice

Specialises exclusively in criminal defence advocacy. Frequently defends clients in cases brought by Customs & Excise, the SFO and FIG. Leading and junior counsel in murder, robbery and all aspects of heavy crime.

Personal Interests

Chris enjoys aviation (private pilot), sailing and power boating. He is also actively involved in the design and manufacturing of very fast offshore RIBS.

Notable Cases

R v Williams
Old Bailey (2002) Leading Junior - Murder

R v Redwood
Birmingham Crown Court (2002) Leading Junior – “Yardies” in over 55 armed robberies throughout the West Midlands totalling some 2 million pounds

R v Dixon
Croydon Crown Court (2002) Leading Junior - Confiscation hearing involving a demand for £850,000.00

R v Elms Leicester
Kingston Crown Court (2002) Leading Junior - Large-scale cocaine importation

R v Ord
Lewes Crown Court (2002) - Very serious Section 18 assault case

R v Hoyles
Grimsby Crown Court (2001) Junior Counsel - This was the biggest excise fraud ever prosecuted in the United Kingdom. It involved the multi-million pound business of duty avoidance on cigarettes

R v Crosby
Canterbury Crown Court (2001) Leading Junior - Large-scale cocaine importation

R v Rosser
Southwark Crown Court (2000-2001) Junior Counsel – Involved allegations of fraudulent trading in the investment market of rare wines and spirits. This was a target case by the DTI and focused on a multi-million pound industry

R v Evans
Guildford Crown Court – Leading Junior – Involved organised crime in major South London ecstasy dealing ring

R v Gwatkin
Bournemouth Crown Court – Nightclub bouncer in serious assault allegation

R v M
Luton Crown Court – Serious allegation of bomb hoax aboard a civil passenger jet

R v Shoukat
Snaresbrook Crown Court – Armed jewel robbery

R v Asamadu
(2002) £150,000 conspiracy to defraud the Department of Works and Pensions

Wellington House, 175 Holdenhurst Road, Bournemouth, Dorset BH8 8DQ