MEET:
Tim Owen KC
"an intellectual lawyer and a great jury advocate" "one of the best appellate advocates of his generation" "brave, fearless, relentless with excellent judgment" "a star of the bar"
Chambers and Partners/Legal 500, 2020-24
Tim is a highly regarded specialist in a wide range of practice areas that span the fields of fraud/regulatory, criminal, public, human rights, sanctions, media and information, extradition/MLA, sports, asset recovery, police and civil fraud law. He has been consistently listed by the main Legal Directories as a leading Silk in 6 or more practice areas as well as being identified as one of the Stars at the Bar by Chambers and Partners. A comprehensive list of his most significant current and past cases across the range of his practice areas is to be found on his case list.
His practice embraces pre-litigation advice, trial and appellate work and he is valued as an advocate with specialist knowledge of the criminal, regulatory and civil law aspects of complex investigations who can provide strategic advice to companies, regulators, multi-national corporations, professional bodies, governments and individuals from the earliest stages of an investigation through to trial and appeal.
The Legal Directories (see quotations below) have consistently marked him out as an exceptional advocate who impresses both as a jury and an appellate advocate and who commands huge respect from the Bench at all levels. He is universally praised for his ability to absorb a mass of complex information, his judgment, his outstanding cross-examination skills, his fearlessness, his team working skills, his ability to communicate with and to gain the trust of clients of every kind and the quality of his written advocacy.
Tim acts both in the UK and Hong Kong in a wide range of financial crime cases (at both trial and appellate level) involving bribery/corruption, corporate criminal liability, money laundering, market abuse, sanctions offences, cartel offences, frauds of all kinds, insider dealing and other regulatory offences. His clients include FTSE 100 and 250 companies, foreign governments and corporations, individual clients and the DPP (in the UK, Mauritius and in Hong Kong). Throughout 2023 he defended Mainland Chinese businessman Jack Chen before the Hong Kong High Court on charges of conspiracy to defraud the Hong Kong Stock Exchange and a Hong Kong ListCo. In 2024 he is acting for former Barclays trader, Carlo Palombo, in his appeal to the CACD following a reference by the CCRC in relation to his 2019 conviction for EURIBOR rate rigging (conspiracy to defraud). He also acts for four other former bankers convicted of LIBOR rate rigging with a view to securing CCRC references in their cases. He is currently instructed in two live SFO investigations.
Directory Recommendations 2024:
Business and Regulatory Crime (including Global Investigations): “He is an outstanding KC – commercial and practical with the required gravitas to deal with complex issues” “He is fantastic and does a lot of very complex, high profile work” “Tim is really fun to work with and is a great all-round advocate and strategist” “He is strategic, knowledgeable and a team player. He has a great legal mind and is a fearless advocate.”
Financial crime (Corporates): “He is fantastic and does a lot of very complex and high profile work. Tim is really fun to work with and is a great all round advocate and strategist”
Financial crime: High Net Worth Individuals: “He was absolutely superb, bright and fantastic with clients. Tim has a wonderful strategic mind in addition to legal skills. He is a great advocate.”
Tim is a renowned specialist in the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 and has appeared in many of the most significant POCA cases over the past two decades in criminal confiscation, money laundering and civil recovery litigation including – R v Rezvi; R v May & Stapleton; R v Barnham; R v GH; R v Ahmad; R v Briggs-Price; R v Paulet; R v Green; Director of Asset Recovery Agency v Singh; McKinsley v CPS; R v Glatt; HMT v Ahmed; NCA v Leahy. He is currently advising numerous companies and individual investors in the POCA implications of investment/involvement in lawful overseas cannabis cultivation and supply and his Opinion is regularly sought by clients seeking to list their companies on AIM and the Main Exchange. Tim is co-editor of one of the leading texts on confiscation and asset recovery – “Asset Recovery: criminal confiscation and civil recovery” (OUP, new edition pending in 2024).
Directory Recommendations 2024:
POCA Work and Asset Forfeiture: “He is an outstanding KC – commercial and practical with the required gravitas to deal with complex issues. A star of the Bar.” “Tim’s advocacy is outstanding. He destroys his opponents’ arguments due to the clarity and precision of his own submissions.”
Tim has appeared in many of the most significant human rights law cases over the past four decades covering the fields of criminal law, national security, prisons, terrorism (control orders, TPIMS, SIAC) policing, fair trial rights, freedom of expression/political protest, data protection and privacy, mental health, inquests, regulatory/disciplinary. His list of cases include: the two landmark English law cases on the principle of legality (Ex parte Pierson and Ex parte Simms & O’Brien); countless prison law cases (R v Deputy Governor of Parkhust Prison ex parte Hague; R (Hindawi) v Parole Board; R (Harry Roberts) v Parole Board; R (Myra Hindley) v Home Secretary; R (Stafford) v Home Secretary): policing ( R (W80) v Director of the IOPC; R(Saunders) v IPCC; R(Ellis) v Chief Constable of Essex); R (Redknapp v Commissioner of City of London Police; R (AB) v Chief Constable of North Wales); numerous landmark cases under the HRA (R (Daly) v Home Secretary; SSHD v AF (3); SSHD v MB; R (G) v SSHD; R(Catt) v Association of Chief Police Officers; In re A (Conjoined Twins); ZXC v Bloomberg LLP; Sheldrake v DPP); criminal justice related public law challenges (R (Adams) v Secretary of State for Justice; R (Farnell) v CCRC; (R (AL) v Serious Fraud Office). Tim has vast experience in cases involving the Closed Material Procedure under the Justice and Security Act 2013 and has been regularly instructed over the past 5 years in cases arising from public law challenges brought by former employees of British Armed Forces in Afghanistan (KAB v Secretary of State for Defence; R (ALO) v Home Secretary; BAL & ors v Secretary of State for Defence & anr).
Directory Recommendations 2024:
Public law and Human Rights: “Tim is especially strong in cases where criminal justice crosses over to public law.” “Tim produces lovely advocacy; he is straightforward, clear and powerful.” “Tim is a solid legal rock. He is formidable barrister who is respected by the court. His ability to cut through and identify the key issues to focus on is outstanding.” “A heavyweight in the courts” and “extremely knowledgeable about prison law.”
Throughout his practice both as a Junior and in Silk, Tim has appeared in countless cases concerning police powers, false imprisonment, malicious prosecution, misfeasance in public office, surveillance, investigatory powers, search warrants and production/disclosure orders. He is on the list of Counsel instructed by the Independent Office for Police Conduct, and in 2023 appeared for the Director General before the Supreme Court in R (W80) v Director General of the IOPC which clarified the test for disciplinary proceedings against an officer for the excessive use of force. Other significant cases include – R (Catt) v ACPO (compatibility with A8 ECHR of domestic extremism database);R (Mackaill) v IPCC (determination of mode of investigation by IPCC into police misconduct – apparent bias); Van Colle v Chief Constable of Hertfordshire (duty of care to protect an individual from harm caused by a third party); R (Saunders) v IPCC (legality of IPCC practice of permitting police officers to confer prior to questioning in context of an A2 ECHR investigation into a shooting by armed police); Raissi v Met Police Commissioner (test for lawful arrest – inferring reasonable suspicion from superior officer’s belief); Orange v Chief Constable of West Yorkshire (duty of care – prisoner suicide in custody); R (AB) v Chief Constable of North Wales (child protection – disclosure obligations when aware of risk posed by sex offender); R (Ellis) v Chief Constable of Essex; R (Redknapp) v Commissioner of the City of London Police (legality of search warrant granted to search the home of Harry Redknapp); Henderson v Chief Constable of Cleveland (search warrant – legality/timing); R (Mills) v Chief Constable of Sussex (legality of search and seizure warrant).
Throughout his career both as a Junior and in Silk Tim has appeared in countless serious criminal cases both at first instance and on appeal including: HKSAR v Rurik Jutting (British banker accused of sadistic murder of two sex workers in Hong Kong- diminished responsibility); R v David Norris (appeal against conviction for murder of Stephen Lawrence); R v Bani & others (appeal against conviction by persons wrongly prosecuted for conspiracy to enable illegal entry – small boats – asylum seekers); R v Knaggs (appeal against conviction for large conspiracy to import cocaine – PII – non-disclosure); R v Dennis Slade (appeal against conviction for conspiracy to murder); Daniel v Trinidad and Tobago (capital appeal – fresh evidence – diminished responsibility); R v Herbert Austin (appeal against conviction – drugs conspiracy – PII/Special Advocate – CACD jurisdiction); R v Horncastle (House of Lords – compatibility of hearsay provisions of CJA 2003 with A6 ECHR); R v Hendy-Freegard (appeal against conviction for kidnapping by notorious fake MI5 conman – leading authority on elements of kidnapping); R v Billy Dunlop (first case raising re-trial provisions in CJA 2003 concerning prosecution of previously acquitted defendant); R v Shickle (appeal against conviction for murder – fresh evidence – coercive control/diminished responsibility); R v Michael O’Brien & others (appeal against conviction of the Cardiff Three convicted of murder of newspaper seller); R v Winston Silcott (appeal against conviction for the murder of PC Keith Blakelock, Tottenham Riot); R v Raghip (appeal against murder conviction for murder of PC Blakelock).
Tim’s criminal and public law practice extends to extradition law. Recent cases include: Thailand v David McMillan; Norris v USA; Adamescu v Romania; Mihaylov v Bulgaria.
He is an Advisory Editor of Blackstone’s Criminal Practice 2024, co-author of Prison Law (5th Ed, OUP), co-editor of Asset Recovery: criminal confiscation and civil recovery (OUP), contributing author (chapter on individual criminal liability/cartel offence) to UK Competition Law: the New Framework (OUP, 2016), contributing author (chapter on owners and directors test) to Football and the Law (Bloomsbury, 2023)
In addition to his practice at the Bar, Tim sits as a Deputy High Court Judge in the Administrative Court, is an Acting Judge to the Grand Court of the Cayman Islands and a Member of the Sports Resolutions Panel of Mediators and Arbitrators. In 2025, he was admitted as a fellow of the Hong Kong Institute of Arbitrators (HKIArb). He co-hosts (with Ken Macdonald KC) “Double Jeopardy: The Law and Politics Podcast”.
Constitutional and Administrative Law Bar Association (ALBA)
Criminal Bar Association (CBA)
The Fraud Lawyers Association (FLA)
Member of the Bar of Antigua and Barbuda
Tim is committed to protecting and respecting your privacy. In order to provide legal services to their clients, including advice and representation services, Tim needs to collect and hold personal data. This includes their client’s personal data and the personal data of others who feature in the matter upon which they are instructed. To read Tim’s privacy notice in full, please see here.
"A very well-respected and experienced man who brings great clarity of vision to a case." "Tim Owen KC is a key figure for confiscation and asset recovery matters who is also well regarded for his advice on money laundering cases. He co-edits one of the main texts in the POCA area and has developed a specialism in the lawful cannabis market."
"He is very good and lovely to work with." "Tim Owen KC has an impressively broad practice ‒ of which financial crime is just one strand. He is particularly good at advising listed companies on potential bribery charges and is also valued for his AML expertise. His practice has a notable global reach, as evidenced by his experience in fraud and extradition matters in jurisdictions including Hong Kong and the Turks & Caicos Islands." "His advocacy is very strong. He is simply the best."
"His advocacy is very strong. He is simply the best." "His advocacy is very strong. He is simply the best."
"Tim Owen is force of nature." "Tim Owen KC is a hugely respected advocate with a wide-ranging practice covering the gamut of human rights issues. He is particularly well known for his aptitude in complex judicial review proceedings and for his expert grasp of criminal and police law. He also has expertise in cases concerning data retention, disclosure and national security matters." "I love working with Tim, he is my silk of choice." "Tim Owen is a tremendous leader and advocate." "Tim Owen's skill in strategic decision-making is matched by his eloquence in court." "Tim Owen's passion to help vulnerable clients is palpable."
"Tim is a tremendous leader and advocate. His passion to help vulnerable clients is palpable. His skill in strategic decision-making is matched by his eloquence in court. He is a force of nature."
"Tim is outstanding with a deep knowledge of the issues and a pragmatic approach to solutions."
"Tim is an excellent advocate. He is hard-working and user-friendly."
"Tim is outstanding, with a deep knowledge of the issues and a pragmatic approach to solutions."
"He is an expert cross-examiner and instinctively gets to the heart of a case."
"Tim Owen KC is a real powerhouse who delivers clear and precise arguments." "Tim is very good with clients and extremely hard-working."
"He is well prepared and the most relaxed, engaging and natural advocate. Tim is very bright and wears it lightly." "He is forward-thinking with innovative solutions and just very user-friendly, easy to get on with and responsive." "Tim Owen KC is a big hitter in the Supreme Court and appellate courts and I would highly recommend him."
"Tim is a fantastic advocate, with a very attractive style." "Tim is a capable and persuasive advocate. He's highly experienced in the Supreme Court."
"Tim is extremely good on the law and a very persuasive advocate." "Tim is a very impressive advocate. He is very good in court and a very clever lawyer." "Tim is a very powerful advocate. He is quite forward-leaning in his approach and he is very forensic in submissions."
"Tim is especially strong in cases where criminal justice crosses over to public law." "Tim produces lovely advocacy; he is straightforward, clear and powerful."
"Tim is a solid legal rock. He is a formidable barrister who is respected by the court. His ability to cut through and identify the key issues to focus on is outstanding."
"He is an outstanding KC - commercial and practical with the required gravitas to deal with complex issues. A star of the Bar."
"A heavyweight in the courts" and "extremely knowledgeable about prison conditions."
"He is fantastic and does a lot of very complex and high-profile work." "Tim is really fun to work with and is a great all- round advocate and strategist."
"Tim is an excellent barrister. He is strategic, knowledgeable and a team player. He has a great legal mind and is a fearless advocate."
"He is an outstanding KC - commercial and practical with the required gravitas to deal with complex issues. A star of the Bar."
"Tim Owen KC provides exceptional written advice. He articulates his views in a clear and direct way."
"Tim's advocacy is outstanding. He destroys his opponents' arguments due to the clarity and precision of his own submissions."
"He is approachable, amenable and really gets the commercial issues at play. He is always available and provides very helpful advice."
"Tim is a real heavyweight, particularly when it comes to matters of national security. He is a powerhouse with a presence that makes people sit up and listen."
"His advocacy is outstanding." "Tim is clear, concise and decisive."
"Very helpful to solicitors and has an excellent client manner; very persuasive is court, both in terms of his advocacy skills and his written arguments; highly experienced, calm under pressure and international in scope and vision."
"He is a powerhouse of knowledge and experience. Very well respected by judges and opponents. His views rightly carry a lot of weight. A privilege to work with."
"Tim is hard-working, with great judgement."
"Tim is a very bright guy, very accessible and easy to work with. He focuses on issues very quickly."
"Tim is highly regarded for his work on the Proceeds of Crime Act and in particular its application to companies in the emerging cannabis sector, particularly those with complex overseas operations that need to be considered in light of POCA."
"A first-rate lawyer and a devastating cross-examiner."
"He has superb judgement and knows exactly how to distil a case into a written document. The court really listens to him."
"Very helpful to solicitors and has an excellent client manner; very persuasive is court, both in terms of his advocacy skills and his written arguments; highly experienced, calm under pressure and international in scope and vision."
“He is a very good strategist.” “He constantly has the ear of the court.” “He has a lovely court manner.”
"He is extremely efficient and a pleasure to work with."
"He's very well regarded, well prepared, and knows his brief." "At the top of his game and an expert in public law. He's also efficient in his work and a pleasure to work with."
“Very pragmatic and clear in his advice, which is always based on strong legal analysis and logic.”
"Incredibly good manner with the court”. “a brilliant appellate advocate”, commenting that “he’s really easy to listen to, which makes him such a dangerous opponent”. A “wise tactician”.
"A devastating cross examiner, excellent with clients and quickly establishes a relationship of trust and confidence with them." "Always sees the wood for the trees, a first rate lawyer and devastating cross examiner."
"An affable easy-going guy and a dreamy advocate. He is just fabulous in court – it’s like watching Federer in court; it looks easy but it’s not. Articulate and quick thinking but also very brave and robust"
"One of the biggest legal brains at the criminal Bar. He’s very forceful when he has to be and stands up for both professional and lay clients – he will not be intimidated by any judge."
"An utterly tenacious advocate."
"An intellectual lawyer and a great jury advocate."
"He is the consummate advocate and commands tremendous respect from the Bench."
MAIN AREAS OF PRACTICE:
- Civil Liberties and Human Rights
- Commercial Public Law
- Corporate and Business Crime
- Court Orders affecting the Media
- Crime
- Data Protection
- Defamation and Privacy
- Extradition and Mutual Assistance
- Fraud and Financial Crime
- Investigations
- Investigatory Powers
- Media and Information Law
- Police, Inquests and Prison
- Proceeds of Crime and Asset Forfeiture
- Public Law
- Regulatory Offences
- Sanctions
- Serious Crime (including terrorism) and Trial Advocacy
- Sports Law
+44 (0)20 7404 3447
"an intellectual lawyer and a great jury advocate" "one of the best appellate advocates of his generation" "brave, fearless, relentless with excellent judgment" "a star of the bar"
Chambers and Partners/Legal 500, 2020-24
MAIN AREAS OF PRACTICE
- Crime
- Corporate and Business Crime
- Investigatory Powers
- Proceeds of Crime and Asset Forfeiture
- Regulatory Offences
- Serious Crime (including terrorism) and Trial Advocacy
- Prison Law
- Police Law
- Extradition and Mutual Assistance
- Fraud and Financial Crime
- Civil Liberties and Human Rights
- Sanctions
- Inquests and Inquiries
- Investigations
- Media and Information Law
- Court Orders affecting the Media
- Data Protection
- Defamation and Privacy
- Public Law
- Commercial Public Law
- Sports Law
- Police, Inquests and Prison
Tim Owen KC
Contact Tim: timowen@matrixlaw.co.uk | +44 (0)20 7404 3447
Contact Tim's Practice Team (Team T): TeamT@matrixlaw.co.uk
Tim is a highly regarded specialist in a wide range of practice areas that span the fields of fraud/regulatory, criminal, public, human rights, sanctions, media and information, extradition/MLA, sports, asset recovery, police and civil fraud law. He has been consistently listed by the main Legal Directories as a leading Silk in 6 or more practice areas as well as being identified as one of the Stars at the Bar by Chambers and Partners. A comprehensive list of his most significant current and past cases across the range of his practice areas is to be found on his case list.
His practice embraces pre-litigation advice, trial and appellate work and he is valued as an advocate with specialist knowledge of the criminal, regulatory and civil law aspects of complex investigations who can provide strategic advice to companies, regulators, multi-national corporations, professional bodies, governments and individuals from the earliest stages of an investigation through to trial and appeal.
The Legal Directories (see quotations below) have consistently marked him out as an exceptional advocate who impresses both as a jury and an appellate advocate and who commands huge respect from the Bench at all levels. He is universally praised for his ability to absorb a mass of complex information, his judgment, his outstanding cross-examination skills, his fearlessness, his team working skills, his ability to communicate with and to gain the trust of clients of every kind and the quality of his written advocacy.
Fraud and Financial Crime (including Corporates; High Net Worth Individuals)
Tim acts both in the UK and Hong Kong in a wide range of financial crime cases (at both trial and appellate level) involving bribery/corruption, corporate criminal liability, money laundering, market abuse, sanctions offences, cartel offences, frauds of all kinds, insider dealing and other regulatory offences. His clients include FTSE 100 and 250 companies, foreign governments and corporations, individual clients and the DPP (in the UK, Mauritius and in Hong Kong). Throughout 2023 he defended Mainland Chinese businessman Jack Chen before the Hong Kong High Court on charges of conspiracy to defraud the Hong Kong Stock Exchange and a Hong Kong ListCo. In 2024 he is acting for former Barclays trader, Carlo Palombo, in his appeal to the CACD following a reference by the CCRC in relation to his 2019 conviction for EURIBOR rate rigging (conspiracy to defraud). He also acts for four other former bankers convicted of LIBOR rate rigging with a view to securing CCRC references in their cases. He is currently instructed in two live SFO investigations.
Directory Recommendations 2024:
Business and Regulatory Crime (including Global Investigations): “He is an outstanding KC – commercial and practical with the required gravitas to deal with complex issues” “He is fantastic and does a lot of very complex, high profile work” “Tim is really fun to work with and is a great all-round advocate and strategist” “He is strategic, knowledgeable and a team player. He has a great legal mind and is a fearless advocate.”
Financial crime (Corporates): “He is fantastic and does a lot of very complex and high profile work. Tim is really fun to work with and is a great all round advocate and strategist”
Financial crime: High Net Worth Individuals: “He was absolutely superb, bright and fantastic with clients. Tim has a wonderful strategic mind in addition to legal skills. He is a great advocate.”
Proceeds of Crime and Asset Forfeiture
Tim is a renowned specialist in the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 and has appeared in many of the most significant POCA cases over the past two decades in criminal confiscation, money laundering and civil recovery litigation including – R v Rezvi; R v May & Stapleton; R v Barnham; R v GH; R v Ahmad; R v Briggs-Price; R v Paulet; R v Green; Director of Asset Recovery Agency v Singh; McKinsley v CPS; R v Glatt; HMT v Ahmed; NCA v Leahy. He is currently advising numerous companies and individual investors in the POCA implications of investment/involvement in lawful overseas cannabis cultivation and supply and his Opinion is regularly sought by clients seeking to list their companies on AIM and the Main Exchange. Tim is co-editor of one of the leading texts on confiscation and asset recovery – “Asset Recovery: criminal confiscation and civil recovery” (OUP, new edition pending in 2024).
Directory Recommendations 2024:
POCA Work and Asset Forfeiture: “He is an outstanding KC – commercial and practical with the required gravitas to deal with complex issues. A star of the Bar.” “Tim’s advocacy is outstanding. He destroys his opponents’ arguments due to the clarity and precision of his own submissions.”
Public Law and Human Rights
Tim has appeared in many of the most significant human rights law cases over the past four decades covering the fields of criminal law, national security, prisons, terrorism (control orders, TPIMS, SIAC) policing, fair trial rights, freedom of expression/political protest, data protection and privacy, mental health, inquests, regulatory/disciplinary. His list of cases include: the two landmark English law cases on the principle of legality (Ex parte Pierson and Ex parte Simms & O’Brien); countless prison law cases (R v Deputy Governor of Parkhust Prison ex parte Hague; R (Hindawi) v Parole Board; R (Harry Roberts) v Parole Board; R (Myra Hindley) v Home Secretary; R (Stafford) v Home Secretary): policing ( R (W80) v Director of the IOPC; R(Saunders) v IPCC; R(Ellis) v Chief Constable of Essex); R (Redknapp v Commissioner of City of London Police; R (AB) v Chief Constable of North Wales); numerous landmark cases under the HRA (R (Daly) v Home Secretary; SSHD v AF (3); SSHD v MB; R (G) v SSHD; R(Catt) v Association of Chief Police Officers; In re A (Conjoined Twins); ZXC v Bloomberg LLP; Sheldrake v DPP); criminal justice related public law challenges (R (Adams) v Secretary of State for Justice; R (Farnell) v CCRC; (R (AL) v Serious Fraud Office). Tim has vast experience in cases involving the Closed Material Procedure under the Justice and Security Act 2013 and has been regularly instructed over the past 5 years in cases arising from public law challenges brought by former employees of British Armed Forces in Afghanistan (KAB v Secretary of State for Defence; R (ALO) v Home Secretary; BAL & ors v Secretary of State for Defence & anr).
Directory Recommendations 2024:
Public law and Human Rights: “Tim is especially strong in cases where criminal justice crosses over to public law.” “Tim produces lovely advocacy; he is straightforward, clear and powerful.” “Tim is a solid legal rock. He is formidable barrister who is respected by the court. His ability to cut through and identify the key issues to focus on is outstanding.” “A heavyweight in the courts” and “extremely knowledgeable about prison law.”
Police Law
Throughout his practice both as a Junior and in Silk, Tim has appeared in countless cases concerning police powers, false imprisonment, malicious prosecution, misfeasance in public office, surveillance, investigatory powers, search warrants and production/disclosure orders. He is on the list of Counsel instructed by the Independent Office for Police Conduct, and in 2023 appeared for the Director General before the Supreme Court in R (W80) v Director General of the IOPC which clarified the test for disciplinary proceedings against an officer for the excessive use of force. Other significant cases include – R (Catt) v ACPO (compatibility with A8 ECHR of domestic extremism database);R (Mackaill) v IPCC (determination of mode of investigation by IPCC into police misconduct – apparent bias); Van Colle v Chief Constable of Hertfordshire (duty of care to protect an individual from harm caused by a third party); R (Saunders) v IPCC (legality of IPCC practice of permitting police officers to confer prior to questioning in context of an A2 ECHR investigation into a shooting by armed police); Raissi v Met Police Commissioner (test for lawful arrest – inferring reasonable suspicion from superior officer’s belief); Orange v Chief Constable of West Yorkshire (duty of care – prisoner suicide in custody); R (AB) v Chief Constable of North Wales (child protection – disclosure obligations when aware of risk posed by sex offender); R (Ellis) v Chief Constable of Essex; R (Redknapp) v Commissioner of the City of London Police (legality of search warrant granted to search the home of Harry Redknapp); Henderson v Chief Constable of Cleveland (search warrant – legality/timing); R (Mills) v Chief Constable of Sussex (legality of search and seizure warrant).
Serious Crime
Throughout his career both as a Junior and in Silk Tim has appeared in countless serious criminal cases both at first instance and on appeal including: HKSAR v Rurik Jutting (British banker accused of sadistic murder of two sex workers in Hong Kong- diminished responsibility); R v David Norris (appeal against conviction for murder of Stephen Lawrence); R v Bani & others (appeal against conviction by persons wrongly prosecuted for conspiracy to enable illegal entry – small boats – asylum seekers); R v Knaggs (appeal against conviction for large conspiracy to import cocaine – PII – non-disclosure); R v Dennis Slade (appeal against conviction for conspiracy to murder); Daniel v Trinidad and Tobago (capital appeal – fresh evidence – diminished responsibility); R v Herbert Austin (appeal against conviction – drugs conspiracy – PII/Special Advocate – CACD jurisdiction); R v Horncastle (House of Lords – compatibility of hearsay provisions of CJA 2003 with A6 ECHR); R v Hendy-Freegard (appeal against conviction for kidnapping by notorious fake MI5 conman – leading authority on elements of kidnapping); R v Billy Dunlop (first case raising re-trial provisions in CJA 2003 concerning prosecution of previously acquitted defendant); R v Shickle (appeal against conviction for murder – fresh evidence – coercive control/diminished responsibility); R v Michael O’Brien & others (appeal against conviction of the Cardiff Three convicted of murder of newspaper seller); R v Winston Silcott (appeal against conviction for the murder of PC Keith Blakelock, Tottenham Riot); R v Raghip (appeal against murder conviction for murder of PC Blakelock).
Extradition
Tim’s criminal and public law practice extends to extradition law. Recent cases include: Thailand v David McMillan; Norris v USA; Adamescu v Romania; Mihaylov v Bulgaria.
Other Professional Experience
He is an Advisory Editor of Blackstone’s Criminal Practice 2024, co-author of Prison Law (5th Ed, OUP), co-editor of Asset Recovery: criminal confiscation and civil recovery (OUP), contributing author (chapter on individual criminal liability/cartel offence) to UK Competition Law: the New Framework (OUP, 2016), contributing author (chapter on owners and directors test) to Football and the Law (Bloomsbury, 2023)
In addition to his practice at the Bar, Tim sits as a Deputy High Court Judge in the Administrative Court, is an Acting Judge to the Grand Court of the Cayman Islands and a Member of the Sports Resolutions Panel of Mediators and Arbitrators. In 2025, he was admitted as a fellow of the Hong Kong Institute of Arbitrators (HKIArb). He co-hosts (with Ken Macdonald KC) “Double Jeopardy: The Law and Politics Podcast”.
Professional Memberships
Constitutional and Administrative Law Bar Association (ALBA)
Criminal Bar Association (CBA)
The Fraud Lawyers Association (FLA)
Member of the Bar of Antigua and Barbuda
Tim's Privacy Notice
Tim is committed to protecting and respecting your privacy. In order to provide legal services to his clients, including advice and representation services, Tim needs to collect and hold personal data. This includes his client’s personal data and the personal data of others who feature in the matter upon which he is instructed. To read Tim’s privacy notice in full, please see here.
DIRECTORY RECOMMENDATIONS
"A very well-respected and experienced man who brings great clarity of vision to a case." "Tim Owen KC is a key figure for confiscation and asset recovery matters who is also well regarded for his advice on money laundering cases. He co-edits one of the main texts in the POCA area and has developed a specialism in the lawful cannabis market."
"He is very good and lovely to work with." "Tim Owen KC has an impressively broad practice ‒ of which financial crime is just one strand. He is particularly good at advising listed companies on potential bribery charges and is also valued for his AML expertise. His practice has a notable global reach, as evidenced by his experience in fraud and extradition matters in jurisdictions including Hong Kong and the Turks & Caicos Islands." "His advocacy is very strong. He is simply the best."
"His advocacy is very strong. He is simply the best." "His advocacy is very strong. He is simply the best."
"Tim Owen is force of nature." "Tim Owen KC is a hugely respected advocate with a wide-ranging practice covering the gamut of human rights issues. He is particularly well known for his aptitude in complex judicial review proceedings and for his expert grasp of criminal and police law. He also has expertise in cases concerning data retention, disclosure and national security matters." "I love working with Tim, he is my silk of choice." "Tim Owen is a tremendous leader and advocate." "Tim Owen's skill in strategic decision-making is matched by his eloquence in court." "Tim Owen's passion to help vulnerable clients is palpable."
"Tim is a tremendous leader and advocate. His passion to help vulnerable clients is palpable. His skill in strategic decision-making is matched by his eloquence in court. He is a force of nature."
"Tim is outstanding with a deep knowledge of the issues and a pragmatic approach to solutions."
"Tim is an excellent advocate. He is hard-working and user-friendly."
"Tim is outstanding, with a deep knowledge of the issues and a pragmatic approach to solutions."
"He is an expert cross-examiner and instinctively gets to the heart of a case."
"Tim Owen KC is a real powerhouse who delivers clear and precise arguments." "Tim is very good with clients and extremely hard-working."
"He is well prepared and the most relaxed, engaging and natural advocate. Tim is very bright and wears it lightly." "He is forward-thinking with innovative solutions and just very user-friendly, easy to get on with and responsive." "Tim Owen KC is a big hitter in the Supreme Court and appellate courts and I would highly recommend him."
"Tim is a fantastic advocate, with a very attractive style." "Tim is a capable and persuasive advocate. He's highly experienced in the Supreme Court."
"Tim is extremely good on the law and a very persuasive advocate." "Tim is a very impressive advocate. He is very good in court and a very clever lawyer." "Tim is a very powerful advocate. He is quite forward-leaning in his approach and he is very forensic in submissions."
"Tim is especially strong in cases where criminal justice crosses over to public law." "Tim produces lovely advocacy; he is straightforward, clear and powerful."
"Tim is a solid legal rock. He is a formidable barrister who is respected by the court. His ability to cut through and identify the key issues to focus on is outstanding."
"He is an outstanding KC - commercial and practical with the required gravitas to deal with complex issues. A star of the Bar."
"A heavyweight in the courts" and "extremely knowledgeable about prison conditions."
"He is fantastic and does a lot of very complex and high-profile work." "Tim is really fun to work with and is a great all- round advocate and strategist."
"Tim is an excellent barrister. He is strategic, knowledgeable and a team player. He has a great legal mind and is a fearless advocate."
"He is an outstanding KC - commercial and practical with the required gravitas to deal with complex issues. A star of the Bar."
"Tim Owen KC provides exceptional written advice. He articulates his views in a clear and direct way."
"Tim's advocacy is outstanding. He destroys his opponents' arguments due to the clarity and precision of his own submissions."
"He is approachable, amenable and really gets the commercial issues at play. He is always available and provides very helpful advice."
"Tim is a real heavyweight, particularly when it comes to matters of national security. He is a powerhouse with a presence that makes people sit up and listen."
"His advocacy is outstanding." "Tim is clear, concise and decisive."
"Very helpful to solicitors and has an excellent client manner; very persuasive is court, both in terms of his advocacy skills and his written arguments; highly experienced, calm under pressure and international in scope and vision."
"He is a powerhouse of knowledge and experience. Very well respected by judges and opponents. His views rightly carry a lot of weight. A privilege to work with."
"Tim is hard-working, with great judgement."
"Tim is a very bright guy, very accessible and easy to work with. He focuses on issues very quickly."
"Tim is highly regarded for his work on the Proceeds of Crime Act and in particular its application to companies in the emerging cannabis sector, particularly those with complex overseas operations that need to be considered in light of POCA."
"A first-rate lawyer and a devastating cross-examiner."
"He has superb judgement and knows exactly how to distil a case into a written document. The court really listens to him."
"Very helpful to solicitors and has an excellent client manner; very persuasive is court, both in terms of his advocacy skills and his written arguments; highly experienced, calm under pressure and international in scope and vision."
“He is a very good strategist.” “He constantly has the ear of the court.” “He has a lovely court manner.”
"He is extremely efficient and a pleasure to work with."
"He's very well regarded, well prepared, and knows his brief." "At the top of his game and an expert in public law. He's also efficient in his work and a pleasure to work with."
“Very pragmatic and clear in his advice, which is always based on strong legal analysis and logic.”
"Incredibly good manner with the court”. “a brilliant appellate advocate”, commenting that “he’s really easy to listen to, which makes him such a dangerous opponent”. A “wise tactician”.
"A devastating cross examiner, excellent with clients and quickly establishes a relationship of trust and confidence with them." "Always sees the wood for the trees, a first rate lawyer and devastating cross examiner."
"An affable easy-going guy and a dreamy advocate. He is just fabulous in court – it’s like watching Federer in court; it looks easy but it’s not. Articulate and quick thinking but also very brave and robust"
"One of the biggest legal brains at the criminal Bar. He’s very forceful when he has to be and stands up for both professional and lay clients – he will not be intimidated by any judge."
"An utterly tenacious advocate."
"An intellectual lawyer and a great jury advocate."
"He is the consummate advocate and commands tremendous respect from the Bench."