Profiles

Michael Caplan QC

Partner

Michael Caplan QC is a well-known and highly respected solicitor practising in the areas of domestic and international, criminal and regulatory law.  He is one of the few solicitors to have been appointed QC and has been listed as a leader in his field in the major legal directories.  He has been a partner at Kingsley Napley for  over 25 years.  Michael has been described as one of the most formidable lawyers of his generation. He was recently the only criminal solicitor featured in the Times 100 most powerful lawyers in the UK.

Michael is a former chairman of the Solicitors Association of Higher Court Advocates.  He sits as a part-time judge (Recorder) in the Crown Court and is a chairman of the police disciplinary appeal tribunal.  He advises and represents clients in connection with public inquiries, extradition, mutual legal assistance, international law, business crime and associated matters.  He has been involved in a number of highly publicised cases, including acting for General Pinochet in the proceedings in this country and also acting for one of the prominent witnesses in the Marchioness Inquiry.  He has written and lectured on a number of important topics and is regularly asked to comment on topical legal issues by the media.

Recent quotations from Chambers UK,  A Client's Guide to the Legal Profession, commented that Michael Caplan  is  "the weapon of choice for battleship cases". His silk status is testament to his superior understanding of heavy cases from all perspectives, making him an invaluable asset to any team. He was described by more than one client  as  "the best solicitor I have ever worked with." Other quotations state that Michael Caplan is "a highly polished, intellectual lawyer with a personality that is warm too," "outstanding" and "absolutely brilliant".

Professional Societies

• The Law Society
• City of London Solicitors Company
• Criminal Law Solicitors Associations
• London Criminal Courts Solicitors Association
• Solicitors Association of Higher Court Advocates
• International Bar Association
• International Criminal Law Association
• Association of Regulatory and Disciplinary Lawyers

Publications

Author of numerous articles published in national newspapers and legal journals, including between 2002 and 2006:

• Solicitors Journal, "Is it extraditable or not?" March 2008 
• The Times, "Corporate Manslaughter" January 2006
• The Times, "Money Laundering" March 2005
• Solicitors Journal, "The silk road"  June 2004
• New Law Journal, "Testing the PII template" co-author along with Stephen Parkinson February 2004
• Legal Week, "White Collar Crime - A call to account" June 2003
• Solicitors Journal, "Fugitives from justice - What effect will the Extradition Bill have on proceedings in the UK?"  December 2002
• The Times, "It's OK, keep your wig on - the advance of the solicitor-advocate has not harmed the barrister" November 2002
• Solicitors Journal, "Justice for all" July 2002
• The Times, "ICC hopes to give peace a chance" July 2002
• The Legal Executive Journal, "The Legal Executive: A Pivotal Role" July 2002
• The European Lawyer, "An arresting development" March 2002
• The Times, "The right way to try Milosevic"
• Solicitors Journal, "No Place to Hide"  February 2002

Michael is interviewed regularly in the legal and national press and on television on criminal law matters.

Further information

• Queen's Counsel
• Recorder
• Former Chairman of the Solicitors' Association of Higher Court Advocates
• Higher Courts (Criminal Proceedings) Qualification
• Solicitor to the Health Professionals Council
• Solicitor to General Pinochet in Spanish/UK Extradition Proceedings
• Lecturer and author of several articles on international criminal law, the International Criminal Court, money laundering legislation and corporate criminal liability. (Please click here to download Michael's lecture on "Ten Years After Pinochet.")
• Listed in the Top 100 most powerful lawyers in the UK by the Times Online. Please click here to view the list.