Christopher van Hagen

Call: Middle Temple, 1980

Chris has been Head of Chambers since January 2007 and continues the development of Chambers, ensuring that Chambers offers a focused, dedicated and professional service to our clients.

Principle Areas of Practice
 

Chris specialises exclusively in criminal defence advocacy, he frequently defends in cases prosecuted by the CPS Customs & Excise, the SFO and the FIG and the Department of Work and Pensions. Chris is often instructed as the Lead Advocate in the most serious criminal cases including Murders and complex frauds but also acts as junior counsel alone.

Most recent cases as Lead Advocate.

R v K     Attempted murder Leading junior. Acquitted.

R v R     Conspiracy to supply class A drugs, Leading junior. Acquitted.

R v P     Conspiracy to evade duty (£80 million cigarettes and spirits) Leading Junior. Acquitted.      

R v C     Murder - leading junior. Acquitted.

R v K     Murder - Leading junior. Acquitted.

R v L     Murder - Leading Junior. Acquitted.

Most recent cases as Junior Alone

R v H     Leading junior. Carousel fraud/money laundering. Plea.

R v B     Leading junior .Government contracts fraud. Plea.

R v M    Leading junior. Government contracts fraud. 

R v Y .   Social security fraud.

R v M    GBH and Supply class A .

R v M    Money laundering.

R v L     Company fraud /Disqualification of directors. Acquitted.

Re: D    City Investment fraud.

R v W    Data protection

R v S     Conspiracy to supply class A drugs. (ongoing)

R v C     Money laundering (ongoing)

R v M     Burglary commercial burglary (ongoing)

R v G     Money laundering (ongoing)

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.


Other 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