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Select Committees and your right to silence
David Sleight
Legal 500 UK 2022
David has an extensive criminal litigation background. Regularly acting for individuals and companies in high profile cases, he specialises in providing advice at the crucial early stages of an investigation. This includes representing clients who are arrested and interviewed under caution, challenging the legality of search warrants and other investigatory powers and making pre-charge representations to the police and prosecuting authorities. Case highlights include representing the former CEO of Cambridge Analytica in the Facebook data breach scandal and other high profile matters (see notable cases below).
Astute and practical in his approach, David’s early involvement in the case can make the difference between being charged with an offence or not. Should matters progress to court he is meticulous in his preparation and has a high acquittal rate.
David acts for defendants, witnesses and victims in a broad range of criminal matters, including: serious assaults, sexual offences, internet and cyber crime, serious road traffic offences, theft, drugs offences, harassment and murder.
He has significant experience in representing well known individuals (including sports stars, celebrities and senior executives) who come into contact with the authorities. Whether the client is in the public eye already or wishes to avoid publicity at all costs, David understands the importance of reputation management and adopts a tenacious yet discreet approach, with a view to getting the best possible result for the client.
David’s ‘white collar’ crime practice includes acting for companies and individuals accused of complex financial investigations involving fraud, overseas corruption and mutual legal assistance (MLA). He specialises in defending tax evasion/fraud allegations brought by HMRC and has developed a specialist expertise in advising in cross border tax litigation involving MLA requests between Member States.
David has experience in defending money laundering allegations under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002, as well as the associated proceedings relating to restraint, forfeiture and confiscation.
He acts for individuals in investigations and prosecutions brought by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC), The National Crime Agency (NCA), The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) and the Information Commissioners Office (ICO) – see list of notable cases below.
He is really good with clients, very knowledgeable, user-friendly and approachable. He is very good at handling complex matters, very capable and intelligent."
Chambers and Partners, 2022
He is hard-working and diligent, with an excellent knowledge of the law."
Chambers and Partners, 2022
David Sleight – sharp, astute and caring. David is reassuring and has a fantastic manner with clients, and his talent for straightforward but effective negotiation provides exceptional results time after time.”
Legal 500 2022
He is second to none at avoiding prosecution, but if that’s not possible he has the most impressive ability to spot the points that will win. Bright and canny.”
Legal 500 2022
An excellent lawyer who is at the top of his game."
Chambers UK 2021
He is a talented lawyer that can handle a wide range of different cases."
Chambers High Net Worth Guide 2021
He's really good with clients and very knowledgeable. He's a user-friendly and approachable lawyer. He's an impressive strategist."
Chambers High Net Worth Guide 2021
His client care is exceptional, he is absolutely devoted to his clients and his work and it shows."
Chambers UK 2021
David Sleight pores over every detail, which is exactly what you want in a solicitor. He's hugely reassuring - you just feel better when he is in the room. He is empathetic even with the most difficult and demanding of clients."
Legal 500 UK 2021
He throws his heart and soul into cases and his advice is spot on."
Chambers UK 2021
He is very clear and very straight to the point about things. His client care is exceptional and really impressive."
Chambers UK 2021
David Sleight has established himself as a force to be reckoned with."
Legal 500 UK 2020
A tactically astute and hardworking criminal defence practitioner who commits completely to his clients"
Chambers UK 2020 - A Clients Guide to the UK Legal Profession
..is relentless in his pursuit of his client's case."
Legal 500 UK 2020
David has a confidence-inspiring style in which he clearly demonstrates his considerable knowledge and experience of criminal law but also possesses the rare ability to transfer this confidence to the client."
Chambers and Partners, 2019
Criminal expert David Sleight (is) also active in sports litigation."
Legal 500 UK
Tenacious."
Legal 500 UK 2019
Extremely calm, tactically astute and ferocious in his support of clients."
Chambers and Partners 2018
Distinguished Individual."
Spear's, 2018
"He is wonderful with clients, knowledgeable on the law and a very calming influence. He will immediately put everyone involved in the case at ease."
Chambers and Partners 2017
"...esteemed for his intellectual capacity and ability in both serious sexual offence and motor crime cases..."
Chambers and Partners, 2016
"...He is very relaxed in his manner but his approach to work is incredibly diligent and hard-working. He has superb judgement and a great manner with clients..."
Chambers and Partners, 2016
Thank you for all your help during the interview, it was such a stressful day, and although not something that I enjoyed, so great to have you advising me.”
Client
My son and I were arrested in March 2010 and charged with fraud to the value of £2.1 million in June 2011. It is difficult to express the trauma that we and our families endured over four years until the case against us was dismissed..…. If I had not met David and we had remained with the previous solicitors I believe that we could be serving a prison sentence now as a result of the sheer amount of mud thrown and the unfairness of the investigation. I cannot speak highly enough of David and his team. He undertook the task of defending us with the disadvantage of being at least two years behind the prosecution. The team worked tirelessly to understand and manage the heavy, complex prosecution case against a background of procrastination and a lack of openness by the police.”
Client
From every aspect of the litigation together with all the practical things…..You will never know how much you have helped us get through this period in our lives, but from the bottom of both our hearts thank you.”
Client
David Sleight
David Sleight
David Sleight
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