Introduction
Callum is a criminal practitioner with a practice well ahead of his year of call and has been ranked as a Tier 1 Rising Star for Crime (General & Fraud) in the Legal 500 UK Bar Rankings for 2024 and 2025. He is instructed as junior alone, and led junior, for matters across the Country.
His combination of in-depth research, persuasive manner before juries, and personable nature with all manner of clients makes him a sought-after advocate. When defending, Callum is often instructed for clients seen by others as ‘difficult’, and is able to put them at ease.
Callum’s Proceeds of Crime practice has grown exponentially since its inception, giving him among the most advanced practice profiles of anyone his level of call. He deals in heavyweight, complex, and often multi-handed Confiscations for both the prosecution and defence.
As well as taking charge of his own Confiscation work, following instruction in large-scale drug and fraud investigations, Callum is regularly instructed to take over cases at the post-sentence stage.
His particular expertise allows him to advise and represent parties at all stages of the Confiscation process, including representing those against whom enforcement proceedings have begun.
Callum gained significant experience of Motoring and Road Traffic Law during his pupillage, and this interest has been maintained throughout his practice. He is instructed to Defend in both the Magistrates and Crown Court, often on a private-paying basis.
Recent cases - Prosecution
Operation Lockspur (Current) – Led by Rebecca Wade KC – Instructed as prosecution Junior for a 7-handed indictment alleging s.18, Kidnap & Aggravated Burglary
Operation Fulltime (Current) – Led by Rebecca Wade KC – Instructed as Prosecution Junior for an 8-handed indictment alleging a Class A drug conspiracy
Operation Venogram (Current) Junior Alone – Instructed as trial counsel in relation to a 5-handed Class A drug conspiracy.
Operation Sothell (Current) – Junior Alone – Instructed to prosecute a multi-handed conspiracy to burgle, comprising 64 events.
Operation Consistency (2024) – Junior Alone – Instructed to prosecute a 4-handed Class A drug conspiracy
Operation Briquette (2024) – Led by Kevin Hegarty KC – instructed as led junior to prosecute a case arising out of the “Encrochat” hack.
Press coverage: https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/black-country/cocaine-dealer-named-trendybuster-who-28944072
R v XX (Current) – Junior Alone – Instructed to prosecute a case relating to firearms recovered in the course of a National Crime Agency surveillance operation.
Recent cases - Defence
Operation Iago (2024) – Led by Michael Gomulka – Initially instructed as trial advocate alone 9 working days before trial for a Defendant accused of assisting offenders after a homicide, following a transfer of legal aid. The case was the subject of the Channel 4 documentary “Catching a Killer: A Stab in the Dark”.
BBC News case coverage: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c1k72mjlzvko
R v SMT (2024) – Junior Alone – Instructed as trial counsel to represent a man alleged to have taken part in a County Lines Class A drug conspiracy.
R v LH – (2023) – Led by Jonathan Rees KC – Instructed as Led Junior to represent a man accused of multiple rapes, assaults, and controlling and coercive behaviour. The Defendant was acquitted at trial of all rapes and assaults.
Operation Jamb (Current) – Led by Kevin Saunders – Instructed as Led Junior to represent a woman accused of taking part in a £12million money laundering operation.
R v AA (Current) – Junior Alone – Instructed as trial counsel to represent a man accused of fraud and theft from a company over a 6-year period.
R v ES (Current) – Junior Alone – Instructed as trial counsel to represent a man accused of defrauding John Lewis of over £700,000
Recent cases - Motoring and Road Traffic
R v DD (2024) – Instructed as trial counsel on a late return, Callum successfully devised and deployed a special reasons argument for a man in relation to causing serious injury by dangerous driving. As a result, the Defendant received 5 points for an offence carrying otherwise mandatory disqualification.
Recent cases - Restraint and Confiscation
Operation Olly (Current) – Leading Annabel Hale – Instructed at the confiscation stage to prosecute a matter spanning multiple indictments, where the three Defendants are members of the same family. Complex issues of layering transactions, equitable interests of third parties, and particularisation of particular criminal benefit arises. An application under s.10A by a third party intervenor was successfully resisted in relation to full equitable ownership in four properties.<
The contested benefit figure totals over £1.5million.
Operation Gondola (Current) – Junior Alone – Instructed to prosecute at the confiscation stage, in a case with issues of bankruptcy and concurrent civil proceedings.
Operation Venogram – Junior Alone – Instructed to prosecute the confiscation following successful prosecution of a drugs conspiracy.
Operation Consistency [2025] – Junior Alone – Prosecuted the confiscation following a successful prosecution of a 4-handed drugs conspiracy
Operation Kenn – Junior Alone – Instructed at the post-conviction stage for a Defendant involved in a Conspiracy to convey prohibited articles into custody. The case involves issues of the quantification of their particular benefit, and the long passage of time since conviction.<
R v Malik [2023] – Defended as Junior Alone on enforcement of a confiscation order valued at £1.6million. Issues of abuse of process due to lost/stolen assets.
Testimonials
“Callum is an energetic and positive advocate who always demonstrates commitment to his cases with admirable enthusiasm.” Legal 500 2025
“Callum is thorough, patient and extremely well-prepared. He is unflappable in difficult situations.” – Legal 500, 2024.
Education
Downing College, University of Cambridge (Law BA)
BPTC – London Holborn (Very Competent)
LLM Legal Barrister (Distinction)
CPS Panel Advocate – Grade 2
Appointments & Memberships
Middle Temple
Midlands Circuit
