Oliver has built a considerable reputation both in London and in the Cayman Islands for his expertise in financial crime. His core practice consists of cases of complex fraud, corruption, and money-laundering together with all forms of Proceeds of Crime actions (both pre-charge and post-conviction): confiscation, international restraint and other forms of mutual legal assistance, warrants, civil recovery, and asset and account forfeiture.
Oliver has advised in wide variety of cases, but often those featuring international financial transactions, multifaceted accountancy and banking evidence, and complex paper trails involving cross-jurisdictional asset tracing. This requires the detailed consideration of the laws of multiple jurisdictions, and an appreciation of how these will interact with each other. His clients include UHNW individuals, businesses, and Government employees.
Oliver is one of the youngest Barristers to ever appear before the U.K. Supreme Court. He has been before the Court twice on the now leading confiscation authority of R v Waya [2012] UKSC 51, a case the full 9-man court deemed to be “a matter of great public importance”. This successful appeal provided a wholesale review of the assessment of criminal benefit in confiscation hearings, the effects of re-payment of such benefit prior to final hearing, and whether ‘abuse of process’ principles can apply. A Court now must only make a confiscation order if it is satisfied it is ‘proportionate to the aims of the legislation’ and so compatible with Article 1 of the 1st Protocol of the European Convention on Human Rights. This has given those wishing to challenge confiscation orders significantly greater scope to do so. This landmark judgment has gone a long way to creating a more level playing field for those from whom the State is attempting to take private property.
Oliver was called to the Bar of England and Wales in 2003, and to the Bar of the Cayman Islands in 2017.
Lawyer Monthly Legal Awards: ‘New Lawyer of the Year 2013’
“Oliver has built a reputation for not shying away from cases that involve complicated legal argument or those that require a detailed consideration of large volumes of disclosure. He approaches all cases in the same fashion, that a successful defence is built and fought from the outset” Lawyer Monthly Awards September 2013.
‘WestLaw UK Insight’ invited Oliver as a “market leading lawyer” on the Proceeds of Crime Act to provide the 100,000-subscriber legal database with articles on confiscation and asset forfeiture.