Davinder Virdi Solicitor

Office location

Battersea

261 Lavender Hill, SW11 1JD

Tel: 020 7228 7050

Summary

Before joining EBR Attridge in 2018 Davinder worked in complex crime and serious fraud for the majority of his career and has prepared a substantial number of high cost cases involving government corruption, financial/banking fraud, carousel, MTIC and advance fee fraud. Davinder specialises in contentious fraud involving figures in high authority and politically sensitive positions, many of which have received widespread press attention in recent years. Client base covers a variety of high profile political cases involving corruption, conspiracy and fraud as well as general crime. Davinder also regularly represent private clients in crown court proceedings i.e. career professionals charged with criminal offences. Davinder has represented individuals charged with serious violent crime such as multiple murder, terrorism (involving ISIS) and also those involved in large scale fraud and corruption involving millions of pounds.

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Contact Davinder Virdi

Davinder Virdi can be contacted on 020 8808 0770, or via email davindervirdi@ebrattridge.com to discuss how he together with other team members at EBR Attridge LLP may be of service

Experience

POSSESSION WITH INTENT TO SUPPLY, POSS OF A FIREARM/AMMUNITION

R v Foster (2018) Harrow Crown Court –Widespread sale of class a and b drugs over 2 years and having a modified firearm with ammunition. Lengthy plea bargaining led to a significant reduction of a 9 count indictment to a 6 count including the reduction of the firearms charges following successful argument over firearms classification.

FRAUD BY FALSE REP

R v Matharu & Others (2017) Southwark Crown Court – Represented an individual who was director of a company that claimed to sell Carbon Credits and gold mining partnerships as investment opportunities. https://www.gov.uk/government/news/carbon-credits-and-gold-investment-company-which-targeted-the-elderly-and-vulnerable-is-wound-up-in-the-public-interest

R v Brown & Others (2017) Bristol Crown Court – Represented a defendant whose case was dismissed mid-trial on the basis of no-case to answer. She fell victim to the fraudsters charms who later used her to register as a director for a fictitious company for the purpose of securing fleet vehicles. She was duped by the fraudster claiming to be a high-flying barrister, property developer/entrepreneur who was later convicted of fraudulently fleecing victims of £92,000. https://www.lawgazette.co.uk/law/fake-lawyer-jailed-for-eight-years-after-92000-fraud/5062522.article

R v Rawson & Others (2017) Southwark Crown Court – Represented an individual employed by a boiler house company (JBi Systems/JBi Capital and Netlink Services) responsible for procuring fraudulent mobile phone contracts from all the big providers with a view to dishonestly retaining handsets to be sold on and fraudulently abusing the contracts issued to them for a commercial profit i.e. by placing the numbers in gateways to offer other companies text-marketing services. She was convicted but received a suspended sentence thanks to the efforts of her legal team who put forward detailed mitigation on her behalf. https://metro.co.uk/2017/10/30/gang-duped-hundreds-of-students-in-massive-2000000-mobile-phone-fraud-7039014/

CAUSING DEATH BY DANGEROUS DRIVING

R v Patel (2016) Warwick Crown Court – Represented an individual who was an experienced HGV driver convicted of causing death by dangerous driving on the A46 near Coventry. The case involved significant expert evidence which highlighted the difficulty in dealing with such cases without strong and reliable expert evidence to assist the jury in coming to their decision. https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/midlands-news/lorry-driver-ploughed-hgv-smash-12267751

CONSPIRACY TO SUPPLY, POSSESSION OF CLASS A, MONEY LAUNDERING

R v Abbrey & Others (2017) Bournemouth Crown Court Represented an individual involved in transporting and supplying class a drugs on a commercial scale to the Bridport area between September 2015 and January 2016. https://www.dorsetecho.co.uk/news/15152208.Three_people_jailed_for_running_a_drug_netwrok_in_West_Dorset/

MONEY LAUNDERING

R v Kadurugamuwa (2016) Represented solicitor who held £100k in stolen cash obtained by fraudster who posed as a high-profile broker who received 100 million euros belonging to Swiss shipping company Allseas SA to be put into investments to yield a greater return. She was acquitted after a 6 month trial on one count of money laundering and convicted of another and handed a suspended sentence by HHJ Pitts. Following litigation with the SRA, she was allowed to retain a conditional practicising certificate. https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/gullible-solicitor-who-held-100k-7510086 

MURDER & KIDNAP

R v Porczynski (2016) St Albans Crown Court - Represented a mentally ill Polish national who was convicted of murdering Nicola Cross in her home and kidnapping her two young children. He was committed to a psychiatric unit for an indefinite period under a Hospital Order. There was widespread press of this case following an initial unsuccessful attempt by the press to lift a Restricted Reporting Order imposed by the court owing to the involvement of two young children. https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=porczynski+marcin&oq=porczynski&aqs=chrome.2.69i57j0l5.7295j0j4&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

MURDER

R v Langdell (2016) St Albans Crown Court - Represented an individual who murdered a school teacher whom he met online on Plenty of Fish during their first date. He was sentenced to life after a guilty plea. There was a significant psychiatric angle to this case as there was questions as to his state of mind. It was eventually concluded that he was of sound mind and knew what he was doing throughout the incident and would therefore not fall to be considered under the Mental Health Act. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3623493/Plenty-fish-killer-Carl-Langdell-jailed-life-murder-Katie-Locke.html

CONSPIRACY TO DEFRAUD

R v Kadri (2016) Southwark Crown Court – Represented client who was convicted with another of conspiring with the operations manager of the Royal Horticultural Society to defraud them whereby they obtained over £700,000 in payments for fictitious work rendered for the RHS over a 10 year period. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/09/09/ex-rhs-manager-jailed-for-masterminding-700k-scam-to-fund-party/ 

FRAUD BY ABUSE OF POSITION

R v Ali & Others (2015) Central Criminal Court – Halifax bank adviser provided fraudsters with access to a customer’s account and £123,000 in account funds. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2940160/Halifax-bank-adviser-helped-fianc-steal-123-000-wealthy-customer-s-account-fearing-fraudsters-naked-photos-online-court-hears.html

R v Allen (2015) Aylesbury Crown Court – Royal British Legion treasurer stole more than £26,000 of charitable donations whilst in office. https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/british-legion-treasurer-stole-poppy-6399896

CONSPIRACY TO SUPPLY AND MONEY LAUNDERING

R v Hasanaj (2015) Luton Crown Court – Represented an individual who was acquitted after trial of being involved in conspiring to supply drugs and money laundering as part of an Albanian drugs cartel. Davinder travelled to Kristiansand, Norway to collect crucial defence evidence which helped acquit this individual after trial. https://www.lutontoday.co.uk/news/crime/gang-jailed-for-conspiracy-to-supply-drugs-and-money-laundering-1-6781343

MURDER

R v Kolkonovs & another (2015) Northampton Crown Court – Murder involving a vicious attack by two Russians on another killing him in their home address and seriously injuring a second victim.

INCITING TERRORISM

R v Khan (2014) Kingston Crown Court - Represented mother of six jailed for promoting terrorism on Facebook and inciting terrorism in Syria. Davinder later facilitated a full and frank interview with the BBC regarding her beliefs and her reasons for placing radical Islamic propaganda online. It is alleged that she also assisted others plot their route to Syria and in close contact with individuals who had visited and trained in the camps before returning to the Uk. Those individuals were tried separately under the Terrorism Act. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-30439913 

CONSPIRACY TO FACILITATE THE BREACH OF IMMIGRATION LAW

R v Akhtar & Others (2013) Harrow Crown Court – Individuals involved in the set up and running of a college (Middlesex College) in the West London area which assisted visa applications for bogus foreign students. https://www.getwestlondon.co.uk/news/local-news/college-head-jailed-over-visa-5967633

TRADEMARK FRAUD

R v McGovern (2013) Portsmouth Crown Court - Represented an individual who made more than £300,000 from selling counterfeit camera products via Amazon. Travelled to Shen Yang City to conduct defence enquiries. https://www.dailyecho.co.uk/news/10754059.Man_made___300k_from_fake_goods__court_hears

R v Abad & Others (2012) Southwark Crown Court - Represented defendant in multi-million pound counterfeit goods smuggling gang responsible for bringing in one of the largest hauls of counterfeit goods into London. This case was the subject of a BBC documentary entitled “Smugglers” first aired on ITV. https://www.standard.co.uk/news/gang-convicted-over-5m-haul-of-designer-fakes-7305961.html

R v Sharma & others (2011) Southwark Crown Court - Gang involved in operating one of the UK’s largest DVD factory producing and selling counterfeit DVD’s.

BENEFIT FRAUD

R v Putman (2012) St Albans Crown Court – Represented Lotto winner who fraudulently claimed £13,000 in benefits. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-beds-bucks-herts-18689164 

GREIVOUS BODILY HARM WITH INTENT

R v Batten (2011) Luton Crown Court – Represented an individual responsible for inflicting a horrific machete attack on his partner in a drunken rage. https://www.heart.co.uk/fourcounties/news/local/contact-news-team/baldock-man-jailed-machete-attack/

FRAUD BY FALSE REPRESENTATION

R v ABE (2011) Cambridge Crown Court – Individual convicted of fraudulently securing bank loans from bank accounts to the value of £139,481. http://www.thecomet.net/news/fraudsters-told-to-repay-140-000-1-812352

CORRUPTION & MONEY LAUNDERING

R v Pogoson and others (2010) Southwark Crown Court – Part of the team that represented Mrs Pogoson, personal assistant to James Ibori (former governor of the Delta State of Nigeria) who was acquitted after trial. She was tried along with Mr Ibori’s sister and friend for corruption, money laundering and fraud, the latter two were convicted after trial. One of Scotland Yard’s highest profile cases operate in conjunction with the Nigeria to help wipe out corruption within the Nigerian political infrastructure. Facilitated numerous trips to Nigeria to undertake field enquiries and obtain witness statements in furtherance of her defence. https://www.ft.com/content/6d2552d8-6e70-11df-ad16-00144feabdc0

CORRUPTION & MONEY LAUNDERING

R v Kent (2010) Birmingham Crown Court – Represented former director of adult learning at the Shropshire Learning Skills council convicted of receiving £300,000 in kickbacks from Learning Skills Council contracts worth over £1.3 million https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/10255192

FRAUD BY FALSE REP

R v Wetherall (2009) Southwark Crown Court - Represented a former KPMG director involved in fraud against his employer in making inflated expense claims exceeding £500,000 to maintain his lifestyle. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/kpmg-director-jailed-for-163500000-fraud-1787965.html

MURDER

R v Ahmed (2009) Luton Crown Court – Represented individual convicted of beating his girlfriend to death and receiving a life sentence. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/beds/bucks/herts/8107316.stm

CONSPIRACY TO DEFRAUD

R v Suleman & Others (2008) Southwark Crown Court – Part of the team that represented an individual charged as one of the directors of Vintage Wines of St Albans responsible for defrauding high-net American investors through offering fraudulent wine investments. Davinder facilitated defence enquiries with a number of witnesses throughout the USA in preparation of the defence case. https://www.decanter.com/wine-news/four-wine-dealers-imprisoned-for-fraud-77500/

ARMED ROBBERY

R v Nolan & others (2005) Kington Crown Court – Part of the team that represented 4 defendants involved in the Heathrow Menzies heist in 2004 involving a plot to steal £33m of gold, cash and diamonds involving an inside man at the Swissport warehouse in Heathrow. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4252406.stm 

Other notable cases

Regularly represents individuals prosecuted with s.111/112 social security act benefit fraud ranging from £30k - £170k in respect of housing, council tax and income support fraud.

Regularly represents individuals charged with historic sexual abuse claims and other sexual offences including stranger/marital rape and grave sexual offences including possession of indecent images.

Regularly represents individuals charged with fraud and money laundering with a significant public interest dimension i.e. stealing/laundering/converting proceeds from charitable causes such as the Red Cross, Royal British Legion and Poppy Appeal

Regularly represents individuals charged and prosecuted by the local authority in conjunction with benefit fraud, multiple occupancy housing and unlawful eviction.

Regularly represents individuals subject to prosecution by Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs for VAT, excise and other forms of tax fraud including missing trader fraud.

Regularly represents individuals subject to prosecution by Trading Standards in respect of trademark, counterfeiting or copyright infringement.

Has represented individuals subject to prosecution by the Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy formerly known as Business and Innovation and skills in relation to

OTHER CASES:

Thomas Arnold – Cambridge Crown Court Rogue Traders con victims out of £64,850 – Thomas Arnold https://www.newsshopper.co.uk/news/11488440.jail-for-trio-of-swanley-and-hextable-rogue-traders-over-64850-scam/

Alban Shackleton – St Albans Crown Court - Convicted of molesting his step-children – historic indecent assault http://www.whtimes.co.uk/news/hatfield-pervert-jailed-for-molesting-children-1-4828369

Stephen Byfield – Large scale possession of indecent images by a prolific sex offender https://www.berkhamstedtoday.co.uk/news/jail-for-child-sex-images-pervert-1-7400479

Perrin Stevens Limited - Prosecution led by the Health & Safety executive against a production firm who built and supplied fairground rides, one of which led to a malfunction causing a passenger to become ejected and suffering serious injuries at the Sonisphere festival. https://www.shponline.co.uk/four-sentenced-following-teenagers-serious-injuries-on-fairground-ride/

Lajvanthi Pidugu & Others – Southwark Crown Court - large scale conspiracy involving solicitors, accountants, immigration advisers and various individuals manufacturing false accounts/qualifications in order to procure working VISA’s as skilled migrants. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3688677/Fraudster-helped-low-paid-migrants-pose-high-powered-professionals-stay-UK-jailed-six-years.html

 

Testimonials

"I can attest to his remarkable work ethic, his unshakeable commitment to standing up for the interests of all his clients, his shrewd tactical approach to preparing the defence case, and his passionate desire to win the best outcome for everyone he represents. He is an exemplary solicitor whom I have no hesitation in recommending to anyone charged with a serious offence”. Jo Sidhu QC

 

I would confidently endorse him as a self-assured and confident solicitor who will fight to represent his client’s corner in the face of all adversity.” Benjamin Aina QC."

 

 

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