Andrew Mitchell

Andrew is known as the standout leader in the field of POCA and Financial Crime work and earns unanimous praise from clients and fellow barristers.

For much of the last 30 years, Andrew’s practice has involved both civil and criminal matters relating to the proceeds of crime. During this period, he has advised and represented government authorities (seeking restraint and forfeiture of criminal proceeds), private litigants opposing such measures and receivers in the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth nations. He has appeared in 10 of the leading cases in the Supreme Court involving the proceeds of crime.

Andrew is currently acting on behalf of the Crown (leading a team of 3 other lawyers) in a corruption case involving the former Premier, cabinet ministers and Attorneys in the Turks and Caicos Islands.

Andrew has advised and represented the UK Government with regard to the execution of external requests for mutual legal assistance including a request from the USA in forfeiture matters concerning Stanford International Bank as well as other issues relating to multi-jurisdictional matters relating to insolvency and forfeiture law. He has represented the Governments of the United States of America, South Africa and India in the Court of Appeal in England and Wales, and the House of Lords/Supreme Court. He has given expert opinion evidence to the USA Department of Justice on forfeiture matters.

Andrew is admitted to practise in Grenada and the British Virgin Islands. He has appeared in cases in the British Virgin Islands, Grenada, Trinidad and Tobago, Cayman Islands and the Turks and Caicos Islands, and has advised in Antigua and Barbuda for the US DOJ and third parties.

He was the founder Head of Chambers (from 2008-2019) after having been the head of chambers at Furnival Chambers for 10 years before that. Since 1992, Andrew has been a co-author of the legal textbook relating to confiscation law in England and Wales: Mitchell, Taylor and Talbot, Confiscation and the Proceeds of Crime which has been quoted in Court decisions from time to time with approval.

Andrew has lectured extensively on matters relating to the proceeds of crime for the United Nations Drug Control Programme, the Commonwealth Secretariat, the International Monetary Fund, the Australian Anti-Money Laundering Programme, The Caribbean Anti-Money Laundering Programme, the Pacific Anti-Money Laundering Programme, the East African Anti-Money Laundering Group, and the South African National Prosecuting Authority Proceeds of Crime Division.

Andrew was the chair, on behalf of the Commonwealth Secretariat as the lead organisation, of a number of plenary meetings including the UN and the IMF with regard to the redrafting and updating of the model law for common law countries on Proceeds of Crime (including Money Laundering, Criminal and Civil Forfeiture, and the Financing of Terrorism).

Andrew also often Advises multi-nationals on their money laundering reporting obligations in relation to their core-business (including oil exploration and drink manufacturing).

He also successfully represented the first money laundering compliance officer to be prosecuted for failing to report a suspicious transaction.

Advising former Executive Chairman of significant multi-national company during negotiations for government intervention and subsequent issues relating to the company’s business structures.