MEET:
Vedrana Pehar
"Vedrana is a razor-sharp advocate who works exceptionally hard to deliver results for her clients. She is what you need in a time of crisis."
Legal 500, 2025, Fraud: Crime
Vedrana Pehar is consistently ranked and recognised for excellence in financial, corporate and serious crime. She is commended in Chambers UK Bar and The Legal 500 for being “a razor-sharp advocate”, “devastating in cross-examination”, “utterly unflappable” and “the go-to leading junior for complex matters”. Recently shortlisted for the UK Bar Awards Financial Crime Junior of the Year, she is noted for her meticulous preparation, client-focused approach and ability to deliver results in cases with the highest stakes and reputational sensitivities.
Vedrana is regularly instructed in complex fraud, money laundering, bribery and sanctions matters and also appears in some of the most serious criminal cases, including EncroChat prosecutions, large-scale drugs and firearms conspiracies, terrorism and sexual offences. Vedrana combines the qualities of a modern criminal advocate: technically adept, strategically minded and courtroom-ready.
Vedrana’s dual practice in financial crime and sanctions alongside serious criminal litigation positions her uniquely among her peers. Whether advising pre-charge in internal investigations, representing executives and corporates in Companies House matters, defending ultra-high net worth individuals in multi-handed fraud trials, or representing interested parties in Article 2 inquests, she is consistently recognised for her judgement, resilience and advocacy. This breadth ensures she is as effective advising at the pre-charge stage of complex financial investigations as she is contesting the most serious criminal cases at trial, bringing a rare combination of strategic foresight and advocacy skill.
Vedrana also has experience in health and safety and environmental law, including prosecutions brought by the Environment Agency and local authorities. Her experience of environmental investigations and enforcement, includes advising at the pre-charge stage and regarding the extent of the Environment Agency’s investigative powers.
Vedrana is authorised to accept instructions directly from clients under the Bar Council’s Public Access Scheme.
Vedrana regularly contributes to publications and presents to law firms and corporates on financial crime matters. She is a Middle Temple advocacy trainer, regularly judges moot competitions and is a qualified pupil supervisor.
Vedrana is also called to the Bar in Gibraltar.
Specialist in serious fraud, corruption, money laundering and financial regulation. Frequently instructed on behalf of individuals and corporates in cases investigated by the SFO, FCA, NCA, HMRC, Companies House and the CPS Specialist Fraud Division. As well as criminal investigations, Vedrana is experienced in dealing with SFO and DOJ internal investigations. Increasingly sought after for advice and representation in sanctions-related proceedings, multi-jurisdictional investigations and parallel restraint/confiscation issues, Vedrana has been instructed in some of the largest and most high-profile business crime cases before the UK courts involving senior executives and global institutions, including LIBOR rate–fixing, Weavering Capital Fund fraud and Dahdaleh. She is also experienced in private prosecution cases where she defends and prosecutes.
- Currently representing the main defendant in the SFO’s high-profile fraud prosecution arising from the collapse of the City law firm, Axiom Ince.
- Currently representing one of the main defendants in a £10.25 million fraud (Operation Tuckhill).
- Represented the main defendant and a former investment banker in litigation relating to an alleged fraud by abuse of position of the Gaddafi-controlled Libyan Sovereign Wealth Fund.
- Represented James Stunt in one of the UK’s largest money-laundering prosecutions involving more than £266 million. The case addressed failures of anti-money-laundering controls at NatWest and large-scale unexplained cash flows through a joint venture with a precious metals dealer. The trial resulted in a hung jury, paving the way for subsequent acquittals.
- Represented a director charged with a multi-million-pound VAT fraud in an evasion case (Operation Barbados).
- Representing a business consultant charged with conspiracy to commit fraud by false representation (Operation Portable).
- Represented the main director (and first defendant) of a multi-million-dollar global company (with nearly 2,000 locations worldwide) in a defence of a private prosecution in respect of charges relating to fraud by misrepresentation.
- Representing the managing director of a Swiss-registered commodities trading company in a private prosecution of a conspiracy to commit fraud and transfer criminal property.
- Represented a director charged with multiple offences under the Companies Act 2006. All matters were discontinued following legal representations.
- Representing corporates and designated persons in relation to sanctions compliance and matters before the Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation (OFSI).
Experienced in EncroChat trials, large-scale drugs and firearms conspiracies, terrorism and sexual offences. Regularly instructed in cases that carry the gravest criminal allegations, where her incisive advocacy and calm authority are at a premium.
- Representing Jamie Rothwell in a high-profile EncroChat prosecution involving large-scale drug trafficking and firearms.
- Represented the main defendant in a political donations prosecution, securing an acquittal in the first Crown Court trial under the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000 (PPERA).
- Representing the main defendant in a long trial involving a conspiracy to fraudulently evade duty payable on alcohol.
- Represented the main defendant charged with conspiracy to kidnap.
- Represented one of the main defendants in a large drug conspiracy trial involving undercover surveillance evidence.
- Represented the main defendant in a hijacking trial at the Old Bailey.
Vedrana has extensive experience in inquests (both before juries and coroners alone) and police misconduct proceedings. As a result of her vast experience of criminal cases involving alleged gross negligence/corporate manslaughter, she is highly skilled at dealing with complex scientific expert evidence and sensitive issues.
- Currently instructed in a gross negligence manslaughter inquest in Gibraltar relating to a police interceptor vessel involved in a high-speed night-time pursuit of a high-powered vessel suspected of transporting drugs from Morocco into mainland Europe.
- Represented the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) in the high-profile misconduct hearings following the stop-and-search of athletes Bianca Williams and Ricardo dos Santos.
- Represented a family in a fatal police shooting inquest.
- Represented a school in an inquest in relation to a pupil who committed suicide.
Acts both for defendants and private prosecutors. Known for identifying abuse of process and procedural flaws; secured acquittal in a six-week private prosecution alleging money laundering.
Regularly instructed in restraint, account freezing and confiscation proceedings, often alongside serious criminal cases.
Financial Crime Junior of the Year Nominee (UK Bar Awards, 2025).
Consent of Principal: Effect under the Bribery Act 2010 – Fraud Intelligence
Criminal Bar Association
Fraud Lawyers Association
European and Compliance Lawyers
Young Fraud Lawyers Association
Women’s White Collar Defence Association
Female Fraud Forum
Association of Regulatory and Disciplinary Lawyers
Matrix Training Committee
MA (Cantab)
Vedrana is committed to protecting and respecting your privacy. In order to provide legal services to their clients, including advice and representation services, Vedrana 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 Vedrana’s privacy notice in full, please see here.
"Vedrana is super bright, so engaged with clients, very hard-working and committed." "Vedrana Pehar is recognised for her expertise in significant financial crime cases and has a strong track record in fraud, money laundering and corruption cases. She offers particular experience in cases with sanction issues and multi-jurisdictional matters."
"Vedrana is a razor-sharp advocate who works exceptionally hard to deliver results for her clients. She is what you need in a time of crisis."
"Vedrana is destined for great things. She is supremely talented and combines her outstanding intellect with excellent emotional intelligence, both of which are priceless attributes. Vedrana is a superb advocate."
"She is amazingly adaptable with clients and can rapidly gain rapport with them. Her judgement, intelligence and diligence make her the go-to leading junior for complex matters." "Vedrana Pehar is unflappable under pressure and emanates measured control." "She is a tremendously hard worker and the work she produces is very impressive." "Vedrana is devastating in cross-examination."
"She works collaboratively, is responsive at all hours and is great with clients." "Vedrana is very persuasive in oral arguments." "She has good judgement on what makes a strong point." "Vedrana is always ready to go and is very confident in court. Her advocacy is second to none."
"Vedrana is a highly competent lawyer with a flair for dealing with difficult clients. She remains composed under pressure, has excellent judgement when assessing the merits of complex legal arguments, and has an ability to deal with very heavy workloads under serious time constraints. She is also very user-friendly for her instructing solicitors."
"Vedrana is extremely bright and extremely diligent. She has excellent judgement and is unflappable under pressure."
"Vedrana has a fantastic work ethic." "She has gravitas."
"A junior with super instincts. Clients love her."
"An experienced litigator who is analytical and tough." "Very bright, hard-working and a good black letter lawyer."
"A highly capable junior with a keen eye for detail and good client skills."
"She can very quickly gain the confidence of difficult clients."
"A highly capable junior with a keen eye for detail and good client skills.” “She’s extremely clever and she makes good points economically and effectively."
"A very able, hard-working and clever junior.” “She is extremely capable and very talented."
"An extremely hardworking junior with great instincts and the ability to charm even the most grisly of prosecutors, judges or jurors."
"She is bright but can explain complicated concepts very simply."
MAIN AREAS OF PRACTICE:
+44 (0)20 7404 3447
"Vedrana is a razor-sharp advocate who works exceptionally hard to deliver results for her clients. She is what you need in a time of crisis."
Legal 500, 2025, Fraud: Crime
MAIN AREAS OF PRACTICE
- Commercial Public Law
- Corporate and Business Crime
- Crime
- Environmental Law and Natural Resources
- ESG
- Fraud and Financial Crime
- Investigatory Powers
- Regulatory Offences
- Sanctions
- Serious Crime (including terrorism) and Trial Advocacy
Vedrana Pehar
Contact Vedrana: vedranapehar@matrixlaw.co.uk | +44 (0)20 7404 3447
Contact Vedrana's Practice Team (Team T): TeamT@matrixlaw.co.uk
Vedrana Pehar is consistently ranked and recognised for excellence in financial, corporate and serious crime. She is commended in Chambers UK Bar and The Legal 500 for being “a razor-sharp advocate”, “devastating in cross-examination”, “utterly unflappable” and “the go-to leading junior for complex matters”. Recently shortlisted for the UK Bar Awards Financial Crime Junior of the Year, she is noted for her meticulous preparation, client-focused approach and ability to deliver results in cases with the highest stakes and reputational sensitivities.
Vedrana is regularly instructed in complex fraud, money laundering, bribery and sanctions matters and also appears in some of the most serious criminal cases, including EncroChat prosecutions, large-scale drugs and firearms conspiracies, terrorism and sexual offences. Vedrana combines the qualities of a modern criminal advocate: technically adept, strategically minded and courtroom-ready.
Vedrana’s dual practice in financial crime and sanctions alongside serious criminal litigation positions her uniquely among her peers. Whether advising pre-charge in internal investigations, representing executives and corporates in Companies House matters, defending ultra-high net worth individuals in multi-handed fraud trials, or representing interested parties in Article 2 inquests, she is consistently recognised for her judgement, resilience and advocacy. This breadth ensures she is as effective advising at the pre-charge stage of complex financial investigations as she is contesting the most serious criminal cases at trial, bringing a rare combination of strategic foresight and advocacy skill.
Vedrana also has experience in health and safety and environmental law, including prosecutions brought by the Environment Agency and local authorities. Her experience of environmental investigations and enforcement, includes advising at the pre-charge stage and regarding the extent of the Environment Agency’s investigative powers.
Vedrana is authorised to accept instructions directly from clients under the Bar Council’s Public Access Scheme.
Vedrana regularly contributes to publications and presents to law firms and corporates on financial crime matters. She is a Middle Temple advocacy trainer, regularly judges moot competitions and is a qualified pupil supervisor.
Vedrana is also called to the Bar in Gibraltar.
Financial Crime & Sanctions
Specialist in serious fraud, corruption, money laundering and financial regulation. Frequently instructed on behalf of individuals and corporates in cases investigated by the SFO, FCA, NCA, HMRC, Companies House and the CPS Specialist Fraud Division. As well as criminal investigations, Vedrana is experienced in dealing with SFO and DOJ internal investigations. Increasingly sought after for advice and representation in sanctions-related proceedings, multi-jurisdictional investigations and parallel restraint/confiscation issues, Vedrana has been instructed in some of the largest and most high-profile business crime cases before the UK courts involving senior executives and global institutions, including LIBOR rate–fixing, Weavering Capital Fund fraud and Dahdaleh. She is also experienced in private prosecution cases where she defends and prosecutes.
- Currently representing the main defendant in the SFO’s high-profile fraud prosecution arising from the collapse of the City law firm, Axiom Ince.
- Currently representing one of the main defendants in a £10.25 million fraud (Operation Tuckhill).
- Represented the main defendant and a former investment banker in litigation relating to an alleged fraud by abuse of position of the Gaddafi-controlled Libyan Sovereign Wealth Fund.
- Represented James Stunt in one of the UK’s largest money-laundering prosecutions involving more than £266 million. The case addressed failures of anti-money-laundering controls at NatWest and large-scale unexplained cash flows through a joint venture with a precious metals dealer. The trial resulted in a hung jury, paving the way for subsequent acquittals.
- Represented a director charged with a multi-million-pound VAT fraud in an evasion case (Operation Barbados).
- Representing a business consultant charged with conspiracy to commit fraud by false representation (Operation Portable).
- Represented the main director (and first defendant) of a multi-million-dollar global company (with nearly 2,000 locations worldwide) in a defence of a private prosecution in respect of charges relating to fraud by misrepresentation.
- Representing the managing director of a Swiss-registered commodities trading company in a private prosecution of a conspiracy to commit fraud and transfer criminal property.
- Represented a director charged with multiple offences under the Companies Act 2006. All matters were discontinued following legal representations.
- Representing corporates and designated persons in relation to sanctions compliance and matters before the Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation (OFSI).
Serious & Organised Crime
Experienced in EncroChat trials, large-scale drugs and firearms conspiracies, terrorism and sexual offences. Regularly instructed in cases that carry the gravest criminal allegations, where her incisive advocacy and calm authority are at a premium.
- Representing Jamie Rothwell in a high-profile EncroChat prosecution involving large-scale drug trafficking and firearms.
- Represented the main defendant in a political donations prosecution, securing an acquittal in the first Crown Court trial under the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000 (PPERA).
- Representing the main defendant in a long trial involving a conspiracy to fraudulently evade duty payable on alcohol.
- Represented the main defendant charged with conspiracy to kidnap.
- Represented one of the main defendants in a large drug conspiracy trial involving undercover surveillance evidence.
- Represented the main defendant in a hijacking trial at the Old Bailey.
Inquest and Police Misconduct
Vedrana has extensive experience in inquests (both before juries and coroners alone) and police misconduct proceedings. As a result of her vast experience of criminal cases involving alleged gross negligence/corporate manslaughter, she is highly skilled at dealing with complex scientific expert evidence and sensitive issues.
- Currently instructed in a gross negligence manslaughter inquest in Gibraltar relating to a police interceptor vessel involved in a high-speed night-time pursuit of a high-powered vessel suspected of transporting drugs from Morocco into mainland Europe.
- Represented the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) in the high-profile misconduct hearings following the stop-and-search of athletes Bianca Williams and Ricardo dos Santos.
- Represented a family in a fatal police shooting inquest.
- Represented a school in an inquest in relation to a pupil who committed suicide.
Private Prosecutions
Acts both for defendants and private prosecutors. Known for identifying abuse of process and procedural flaws; secured acquittal in a six-week private prosecution alleging money laundering.
POCA & Asset Recovery
Regularly instructed in restraint, account freezing and confiscation proceedings, often alongside serious criminal cases.
Accolades
Financial Crime Junior of the Year Nominee (UK Bar Awards, 2025).
Publications
Consent of Principal: Effect under the Bribery Act 2010 – Fraud Intelligence
Memberships and Committees
Criminal Bar Association
Fraud Lawyers Association
European and Compliance Lawyers
Young Fraud Lawyers Association
Women’s White Collar Defence Association
Female Fraud Forum
Association of Regulatory and Disciplinary Lawyers
Matrix Training Committee
Education and Qualifications
MA (Cantab)
Vedrana's Privacy Notice
Vedrana is committed to protecting and respecting your privacy. In order to provide legal services to her clients, including advice and representation services, she needs to collect and hold personal data. This includes her client’s personal data and the personal data of others who feature in the matter upon which she is instructed. To read Vedrana’s privacy notice in full, please see here.
DIRECTORY RECOMMENDATIONS
"Vedrana is super bright, so engaged with clients, very hard-working and committed." "Vedrana Pehar is recognised for her expertise in significant financial crime cases and has a strong track record in fraud, money laundering and corruption cases. She offers particular experience in cases with sanction issues and multi-jurisdictional matters."
"Vedrana is a razor-sharp advocate who works exceptionally hard to deliver results for her clients. She is what you need in a time of crisis."
"Vedrana is destined for great things. She is supremely talented and combines her outstanding intellect with excellent emotional intelligence, both of which are priceless attributes. Vedrana is a superb advocate."
"She is amazingly adaptable with clients and can rapidly gain rapport with them. Her judgement, intelligence and diligence make her the go-to leading junior for complex matters." "Vedrana Pehar is unflappable under pressure and emanates measured control." "She is a tremendously hard worker and the work she produces is very impressive." "Vedrana is devastating in cross-examination."
"She works collaboratively, is responsive at all hours and is great with clients." "Vedrana is very persuasive in oral arguments." "She has good judgement on what makes a strong point." "Vedrana is always ready to go and is very confident in court. Her advocacy is second to none."
"Vedrana is a highly competent lawyer with a flair for dealing with difficult clients. She remains composed under pressure, has excellent judgement when assessing the merits of complex legal arguments, and has an ability to deal with very heavy workloads under serious time constraints. She is also very user-friendly for her instructing solicitors."
"Vedrana is extremely bright and extremely diligent. She has excellent judgement and is unflappable under pressure."
"Vedrana has a fantastic work ethic." "She has gravitas."
"A junior with super instincts. Clients love her."
"An experienced litigator who is analytical and tough." "Very bright, hard-working and a good black letter lawyer."
"A highly capable junior with a keen eye for detail and good client skills."
"She can very quickly gain the confidence of difficult clients."
"A highly capable junior with a keen eye for detail and good client skills.” “She’s extremely clever and she makes good points economically and effectively."
"A very able, hard-working and clever junior.” “She is extremely capable and very talented."
"An extremely hardworking junior with great instincts and the ability to charm even the most grisly of prosecutors, judges or jurors."
"She is bright but can explain complicated concepts very simply."