Catherine Collins
2010
Catherine is a specialist advocate whose practice encompasses all aspects of financial wrongdoing.
She is featured as a Leading Junior in the Proceeds of Crime & Asset Forfeiture section of the 2024 edition of The Legal 500, where they comment “Straight-talking, thoughtful, diligent: a dependable team player and an absolute pleasure to deal with.” Previously The Legal 500 has stated “Catherine fights incredibly hard at each and every stage of her client's case. She always ensures that every conceivable positive point is explored and she prepares for every eventuality.” “Catherine immerses herself in cases she is instructed on and can recall information accurately at will. She does not leave anything to chance and will have considered all options and all eventualities to ensure that her client has the best chance of prevailing unscathed. From company directors to those with limited means, expect Catherine to give her all to your case. You would definitely want Catherine in your corner.” Catherine is also recommended in Chambers and Partners 2024 for both Financial Crime and for POCA Work and Asset Forfeiture where they comment that she is "Exceptionally bright, she has great judgement and is really good at dealing with clients. She is somebody whose opinion you can value." "Catherine is probably one of the most diligent barristers around. She's a master of the detail, and her knowledge of the law is insane as well."
Financial Crime
Catherine acts for the prosecution and defence in fraud matters. Experience in these matters has enabled Catherine to develop an incisive and thorough approach to substantial and complex fraud cases.
Her defence experience includes being instructed in money laundering (including international laundering and cases where there are Hawala banking defences), through to the first SFO prosecution for offences related to “rigging” LIBOR, and as a led junior in the successful defence of a Company Secretary charged with fraud and corruption.
She has also been instructed by the SFO to advise on charge in relation to an international investment fraud and is currently advising the SFO on charge in relation to a suspected Ponzi scheme. Catherine also has acted for the Specialist Fraud division of the CPS in various matters, including the successful prosecution of an NHS accountant for fraud to the value of £2.2 million.
Asset Recovery
Catherine has experience in dealing with CJA, DTA and POCA confiscation matters, including ancillary issues such as restraint, contempt and cash forfeiture. She has acted for the prosecution, defence and third parties at all stages of asset recovery proceedings, from contested confiscation through to enforcement and receivership. She regularly advises on, and assists in, the preparation of written statements for the purposes of asset recovery proceedings (whether in the Magistrates’ or Crown Court). Her Restraint practice encompasses cases including international assets, and applications for Orders at all stages of proceedings, including post-conviction.
Confiscation
FCA v Choucair & Abdel-Malek (led). Confiscation arising from convictions for insider trading.
R v Caplan. Confiscation arising from conviction for romance fraud.
R v Dunn. Confiscation arising from involvement in drug-dealing (Encrochat case).
R v AK. Successfully intervening for a bank, the victim of a fraud, in confiscation proceedings; defeated a proprietary claim made by the liquidator of AK’s former company to the bank’s misappropriated funds.
R v F. Successfully intervening for a company, the victim of fraud, in confiscation proceedings; application contested by the company director’s wife.
R v G. PoCA discontinued by the Crown following legal argument.
Account Freezing and Forfeiture
X (led). Successfully challenging seizure and detention applications under POCA 2002, related to high value Listed Assets and cash, on behalf of an UHNWI subject of politically charged allegations of criminal conduct.
Operation B (led). Successful forfeiture of an account balance, part of a wider investigation concerning the laundering of criminal cash and its eventual transfer to cryptoassets.
Re A and Re W. Freezing and Forfeiture cases concerning the suspicious movement of monies internationally via suspected Trade Based Money Laundering.
Other
Al Hajjeh v MPS (led). Acted for the MPS in relation to the seizure and repatriation of an historical artefact, stolen overseas.
A v ACC (led). Successfully resisted an application under s.72 PoCA.
Re: K. Successful variation of CJA 1988 Restraint Order for a Third Party in the context of enforcement proceedings against the defendant.
Civil
Catherine’s civil practice encompasses fraud, receivership and civil recovery. She has undertaken work in cases with an international aspect, and has appeared in the First Tier Tribunal in tax matters. Relevant cases include:
Re X. Advising a professional executor on POCA implications arising in connection with the distribution of an estate.
(A Charity) v PP (led). Fraud, conversion, personal and proprietary claims on behalf of an international charity; victim of a large-scale misappropriation by a corrupt employee.
NCA v (A Bank) (led). Representing a bank in civil recovery proceedings; negotiated settlement.
NCA v TD and others. Representing the Management Receiver in CJA receivership proceedings.
NCA v KH and SH. Acting for the Official Solicitor, intervening on behalf of a child in civil recovery proceedings.
Re: FX247. Representing a Third Party in Insolvency Act proceedings; negotiated settlement.
Investigations, Inquests and Inquiry Work
Catherine has appeared, both led and alone, in various high-profile cases on behalf of the Metropolitan Police, and other forces, advising in relation to warrants, disclosure orders, production orders and judicial review matters connected thereto. She has acted in investigations with an international element, and in those concerning terrorism, murder, and sex offences in addition to financial crime. Relevant cases include:
Op S. Advised on initial applications for co-ordinated seizures, over multiple locations, and subsequently acted in detention proceedings in large-scale money laundering investigation.
Op O (led). Advised and acted in s.59 proceedings, and subsequently in further applications pre-charge.
Instructed on behalf of the Designated Lawyers in the Undercover Policing Inquiry, which is investigating and reporting on undercover police operations in England from 1968-2008.
Catherine has experience representing interested parties in inquests (Article 2 and non-jury), and worked on the preparatory stages of the Hillsborough inquest.
General Crime
Catherine is an experienced, careful and thorough advocate with a background in criminal litigation. In addition to conventional criminal work in the Crown, Magistrates’ and Youth Courts, Catherine has represented the interests of individuals affected by criminal proceedings, including those who are subject to witness summonses. She has appeared in the Court of Appeal, led and alone, in relation to fraud, general crime and POCA. She has considerable experience representing clients in relation to offences under the Computer Misuse Act as well as ancillary proceedings (including financial applications) arising from online crimes. She has also advised clients in relation to the potential commission of cybercrime offences.
Other
Catherine has advised and represented individuals facing disciplinary proceedings brought by the FCA.
Catherine is registered with the Bar Council Public Access Directory and regularly accepts instructions on a direct access basis.
Prior to her career at the Bar, Catherine spent two years working at a law firm specialising in complex fraud, serious crime, civil recovery and tax litigation/compliance. She represented defendants prosecuted by the SFO (in particular R v Asil Nadir), the CPS, HMRC, BIS, the Environment Agency and local authorities.
Appointments
SFO B Panel; SFO POCA B Panel; CPS Proceeds of Crime Panel Level 3; CPS Fraud Panel Level 2; CPS Level 2; Metropolitan Police DLS Panel; Elected Member of the Bar Council (2018-2020 inclusive).
Publications
Contributing editor; ‘Mitchell, Taylor & Talbot: Confiscation and the Proceeds of Crime’.