Kennedy Talbot
KC
Call
Call
1984
New York
New York
1993
Silk
Silk
2016
Expertise
POCA & Asset Recovery
Money Laundering Advisory
Civil Fraud, Asset Recovery & Enforcement
Corporate Crime
Criminal Fraud
Commercial Litigation
Cryptocurrency & Digital Assets
Caribbean and the Americas
Kennedy Talbot KC’s practice areas are Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 civil recovery, bank account and crypto asset freezing and forfeiture, money laundering advisory and reporting, criminal confiscation, restraint and enforcement, government and police investigations and civil fraud, tracing and proprietary claims.
He regularly advises businesses, financial institutions and solicitors on money laundering obligations, particularly in M&A, overseas cannabis and supply chains. He has appeared in 10 cases in the Supreme Court or House of Lords since 2000.
He is a joint author of Confiscation and the Proceeds of Crime (Sweet and Maxwell 3rd Ed. looseleaf), Administrative Court: Practice and Procedure (Sweet and Maxwell) and a contributing editor of The White Book 2025.
He is the chairman of the Proceeds of Crime Lawyers’ Association and has regularly lectured at home and abroad for (amongst others) the United Nations, IMF, and the Council of Europe.
Other Language(s)
Other Language(s)
"Kennedy’s reputation in respect of all matters relating to POCA is entirely deserved. He advises with a complete and justified confidence that arises from his incredible knowledge of all aspects of the law in this area."
"He makes other excellent barristers look pedestrian and is a real titan in the world of proceeds of crime."
"Kennedy is amazing, particularly on complex stuff - he's commercial and straight to the point. He gives the client great comfort and explains complex stuff very clearly."
"Kennedy is an excellent advocate. He is able to explain complex areas of law simply and is convincing in the courtroom. "
”He’s an exceptional lawyer who gets the right result. He’s absolutely first-class.”
”..described by some as “Mr POCA”
"Kennedy Talbot KC is very pragmatic and puts people at ease. He knows the law and can looks at all the points to find the solutions. He is very available and easy to work with."
“He has become the go-to barrister for AML issues.“
“Kennedy has a brilliant, brilliant mind and fantastic drafting skills.”
“He is extremely knowledgeable and one of the longest-established practitioners in this area, so he really knows his stuff.”
"Kennedy Talbot is probably the leading practitioner in the area. He's very bright and gets to the nub of the issue before anyone else."
"Kennedy Talbot is recognised as the leading authority in proceeds of crime. He's always direct in his advice."
“Extremely impressive”
"Kennedy’s reputation in respect of all matters relating to POCA is entirely deserved. He advises with a complete and justified confidence that arises from his incredible knowledge of all aspects of the law in this area."
"He makes other excellent barristers look pedestrian and is a real titan in the world of proceeds of crime."
"Kennedy is amazing, particularly on complex stuff - he's commercial and straight to the point. He gives the client great comfort and explains complex stuff very clearly."
"Kennedy is an excellent advocate. He is able to explain complex areas of law simply and is convincing in the courtroom. "
”He’s an exceptional lawyer who gets the right result. He’s absolutely first-class.”
”..described by some as “Mr POCA”
"Kennedy Talbot KC is very pragmatic and puts people at ease. He knows the law and can looks at all the points to find the solutions. He is very available and easy to work with."
“He has become the go-to barrister for AML issues.“
“Kennedy has a brilliant, brilliant mind and fantastic drafting skills.”
“He is extremely knowledgeable and one of the longest-established practitioners in this area, so he really knows his stuff.”
"Kennedy Talbot is probably the leading practitioner in the area. He's very bright and gets to the nub of the issue before anyone else."
"Kennedy Talbot is recognised as the leading authority in proceeds of crime. He's always direct in his advice."
“Extremely impressive”
"Kennedy’s reputation in respect of all matters relating to POCA is entirely deserved. He advises with a complete and justified confidence that arises from his incredible knowledge of all aspects of the law in this area."
"He makes other excellent barristers look pedestrian and is a real titan in the world of proceeds of crime."
"Kennedy is amazing, particularly on complex stuff - he's commercial and straight to the point. He gives the client great comfort and explains complex stuff very clearly."
"Kennedy is an excellent advocate. He is able to explain complex areas of law simply and is convincing in the courtroom. "
”He’s an exceptional lawyer who gets the right result. He’s absolutely first-class.”
”..described by some as “Mr POCA”
"Kennedy Talbot KC is very pragmatic and puts people at ease. He knows the law and can looks at all the points to find the solutions. He is very available and easy to work with."
“He has become the go-to barrister for AML issues.“
“Kennedy has a brilliant, brilliant mind and fantastic drafting skills.”
“He is extremely knowledgeable and one of the longest-established practitioners in this area, so he really knows his stuff.”
"Kennedy Talbot is probably the leading practitioner in the area. He's very bright and gets to the nub of the issue before anyone else."
"Kennedy Talbot is recognised as the leading authority in proceeds of crime. He's always direct in his advice."
“Extremely impressive”
Kennedy Talbot : Experience & Expertise
Kennedy been recommended in the POCA sections of Legal 500 and Chambers UK every year that the sections have been published.
He is an editor of the White Book and the author of the civil recovery and unexplained wealth order section (White Book, V2, section 3-K) and has advised the UN on the development of its Model Civil Forfeiture Law.
In the last 5 years (2020-2025) Kennedy has acted in numerous confiscation and restraint proceedings including the following reported cases and is currently instructed in multiple PoCA/Criminal Finances Act 2017 bank account freezing or forfeiture applications.
Investigated and reported in 2020 to a foreign regulator in respect of the anti-money laundering policies and conduct of an offshore jurisdiction bank.
View Cases
View Quotes
Project XYZ
For Receivers in a $3bn+ Crypto-asset Civil Recovery order
R (World Uyghur Congress) v NCA (Spotlight on Corruption intervening) [2024] 1 WLR 4532 (Court of Appeal).
Acquisition of criminal property; Supply Chains. Acted for Spotlight in guideline case on laundering in supply chains.
Acting for office holders appointed in 2025 in High Court £5bn crypto civil recovery claim.
CPS v Baroness Mone and another.
Currently acting for the CPS in £65m asset freezing proceedings arising out of a Covid PPE fraud investigation.
Taktouk [2025] EWCA Crim 71; [2025] 1 W.L.R. 4131
£4.5m confiscation order in private prosecution. Reconsideration of confiscation order in light of fresh evidence
Taktouk [2025] EWCA Crim 1473; [2025] 11 WLUK 276
Private Prosecutor’s costs out of central funds.
R v GH (Supreme Court)
Money laundering offences. S.328
Re Smith [2024] EWHC 3154 (Comm), [2024] EWHC 3161 (Comm).
Leading in the Commercial Court for the SFO in the Orb/ Gerald Smith £80m proceedings involving 27 parties, BVI and Jersey liquidators and High Court receivers to recover the proceeds of breach of trust and fraudulently obtained property. Contempt; Restraint Orders
Ahmad & Fields (SC)
Apportionment and enforcement of multi-handed cases
R. (on the application of Mileage Reclaim Ltd (t/a Taxbuddi)) v North Somerset Magistrates Court [2024] EWHC 1531 (Admin)
Acting for company in bank account freezing order judicial review. Now £8m compensation claim.
Hackney v Tia Kansara.
Fraud by breach of trust restraint proceedings.
Hassenfeld v Tierney, Khera and others.
Restraint and contempt of court proceedings.
Has also advised on the risks of an unexplained wealth order being issued against a high-profile individual.
DPP v Binance Holdings Limited and Ors
Civil Recovery proceedings (shāzhūpán) against Binance and Ors. in the Cayman Islands
"When you instruct Kennedy, you know you are going to be given an academic and legal masterclass in confiscation. He is at the top of his game."
Chambers and Partners, 2025 – Star Individual
"Kennedy is excellent. He has encyclopedic knowledge of the law and he always looks to give pragmatic, realistic advice."
Chambers and Partners, 2025 – Star Individual
"He is a very respectful and very sophisticated advocate who can present his arguments in a number of different ways, which is incredibly impressive."
Chambers and Partners, 2025 – Star Individual
"Kennedy is great to work with. He encourages a collegiate approach with his solicitors and lay client alike. His knowledge of POCA is encyclopaedic, and as a result both his written work and advocacy are both top drawer."
Legal 500, 2025 – Tier 1
".. is the ultimate POCA expert. He always gets to the core of the issue no matter how complex the question."
Legal 500, 2025 – Tier 1
"He is very reactive, very pragmatic and someone who really understands this area of law."
Legal 500, 2025 – Tier 1
"He is very responsive and pragmatic. He is also exceptionally knowledgeable on the law and has confidence in a field where people want confidence because of the risks."
Legal 500, 2025 – Tier 1
"He has excellent judgement and strong advocacy skills. He is very intellectual in his approach."
Legal 500, 2025 – Tier 1
"He really has no equal in terms of his breadth of knowledge and experience in the area"
Legal 500, 2025 – Tier 1
"Hes an exceptional lawyer who gets the right result. Hes absolutely first-class."
Legal 500, 2025 – Tier 1
"..described by some as Mr POCA"
Legal 500, 2025 – Tier 1
White Collar, Crime & Investigations
Money Laundering Advisory
Kennedy is currently instructed in multiple POCA/Criminal Finances Act 2017 High Court civil recovery, bank account and crypto asset freezing or forfeiture applications. Examples cases underneath.
Regularly advises on commercial money laundering issues including:
Acquisition of an estate agency business with historic regulatory non-compliance.
Contracting with a Iranian university which operated in breach of sanctions.
Whether an asset fund manager is caught by the money laundering directives and/or regulations.
Whether payment under a contractual obligation would comprise laundering the proceeds of tax evasion.
Unblocking the bank accounts of a multi-national telecoms company.
Whether an international art dealership is caught by the money laundering directives and regulations.
Advising Jersey bank on transactions a sovereign wealth fund suspected of corruption.
View Cases
View Quotes
Advising 2 different NGOs on liability of financial institutions and supply chain intermediaries for dealing with the proceeds of unlawful Amazonian deforestation.
Advising UK solicitors on accepting client fees in the light of the Uyghur judgment.
Advising UK profession regulator on money laundering responsibilities arising out of the Uyghur judgment.
R (World Uyghur Congress) v NCA (Spotlight on Corruption intervening) [2024] 1 WLR 4532 (Court of Appeal).
Acquisition of criminal property; Supply Chains. Acted for Spotlight in guideline case on laundering in supply chains.
"Kennedy is excellent. He looks to give pragmatic and realistic advice and has an encyclopedic knowledge of the law."
Chambers and Partners, 2025
View Cases
Currently defending the T&T AG in £12m breach of contract claim brought by corruption whistleblower.
Previously acted for stockbrokers in Bilta v Deutsche Bank and SVS (Commercial Court breach of trust proceedings).
Miller [2023] 4 WLR 6 (Court of Appeal – corporate legal personality).
Tierney [2022] EWCA Crim 1042 (Court of Appeal - interlocutory contempt proceedings).
Asplin [2022] Crim LR 9 (Court of Appeal – confiscation of pensions).
R. (on the application of Fresh View Swift Properties Ltd) v Westminster Magistrates' Court [2023] EWHC 605 (Admin) | [2023] 1 W.L.R. 3321
High Court forfeiture of unlicensed money service business proceeds
Dhir v Flutter Entertainment [2021] EWHC EWHC 151 (QB).
Acted in civil action against betting company for recovery of gambled fraud proceeds.
Recovery by the Egyptian government of Mubarak looted funds.
NCA v Persons Unknown and Barclays Bank (2022), 25 November (Business and Property Court - acting for bank in recovery of £51m).
Luckhurst (SC)
Release of legal expenses for civil proceedings from restrained funds.
Green and Ryder [2021] Env LR 6 (Court of Appeal – confiscation in environment cases).
Nelson v Attorney General of Trinidad and Tobago (Trinidad High Court and Court of Appeal).
View Cases
Re Smith [2024] EWHC 3154 (Comm), [2024] EWHC 3161 (Comm).
Leading in the Commercial Court for the SFO in the Orb/ Gerald Smith £80m proceedings involving 27 parties, BVI and Jersey liquidators and High Court receivers to recover the proceeds of breach of trust and fraudulently obtained property. Contempt; Restraint Orders
Kennedy Talbot : Experience & Expertise
Kennedy been recommended in the POCA sections of Legal 500 and Chambers UK every year that the sections have been published.
He is an editor of the White Book and the author of the civil recovery and unexplained wealth order section (White Book, V2, section 3-K) and has advised the UN on the development of its Model Civil Forfeiture Law.
In the last 5 years (2020-2025) Kennedy has acted in numerous confiscation and restraint proceedings including the following reported cases and is currently instructed in multiple PoCA/Criminal Finances Act 2017 bank account freezing or forfeiture applications.
Investigated and reported in 2020 to a foreign regulator in respect of the anti-money laundering policies and conduct of an offshore jurisdiction bank.
View Cases
Quotes
Project XYZ
For Receivers in a $3bn+ Crypto-asset Civil Recovery order
Re Smith [2024] EWHC 3154 (Comm), [2024] EWHC 3161 (Comm).
Leading in the Commercial Court for the SFO in the Orb/ Gerald Smith £80m proceedings involving 27 parties, BVI and Jersey liquidators and High Court receivers to recover the proceeds of breach of trust and fraudulently obtained property. Contempt; Restraint Orders
R (World Uyghur Congress) v NCA (Spotlight on Corruption intervening) [2024] 1 WLR 4532 (Court of Appeal).
Acquisition of criminal property; Supply Chains. Acted for Spotlight in guideline case on laundering in supply chains.
Ahmad & Fields (SC)
Apportionment and enforcement of multi-handed cases
Acting for office holders appointed in 2025 in High Court £5bn crypto civil recovery claim.
R. (on the application of Mileage Reclaim Ltd (t/a Taxbuddi)) v North Somerset Magistrates Court [2024] EWHC 1531 (Admin)
Acting for company in bank account freezing order judicial review. Now £8m compensation claim.
CPS v Baroness Mone and another.
Currently acting for the CPS in £65m asset freezing proceedings arising out of a Covid PPE fraud investigation.
Hackney v Tia Kansara.
Fraud by breach of trust restraint proceedings.
Taktouk [2025] EWCA Crim 71; [2025] 1 W.L.R. 4131
£4.5m confiscation order in private prosecution. Reconsideration of confiscation order in light of fresh evidence
Hassenfeld v Tierney, Khera and others.
Restraint and contempt of court proceedings.
Taktouk [2025] EWCA Crim 1473; [2025] 11 WLUK 276
Private Prosecutor’s costs out of central funds.
Has also advised on the risks of an unexplained wealth order being issued against a high-profile individual.
R v GH (Supreme Court)
Money laundering offences. S.328
DPP v Binance Holdings Limited and Ors
Civil Recovery proceedings (shāzhūpán) against Binance and Ors. in the Cayman Islands
"When you instruct Kennedy, you know you are going to be given an academic and legal masterclass in confiscation. He is at the top of his game."
Chambers and Partners, 2025 – Star Individual
"Kennedy is excellent. He has encyclopedic knowledge of the law and he always looks to give pragmatic, realistic advice."
Chambers and Partners, 2025 – Star Individual
"He is a very respectful and very sophisticated advocate who can present his arguments in a number of different ways, which is incredibly impressive."
Chambers and Partners, 2025 – Star Individual
"Kennedy is great to work with. He encourages a collegiate approach with his solicitors and lay client alike. His knowledge of POCA is encyclopaedic, and as a result both his written work and advocacy are both top drawer."
Legal 500, 2025 – Tier 1
".. is the ultimate POCA expert. He always gets to the core of the issue no matter how complex the question."
Legal 500, 2025 – Tier 1
"He is very reactive, very pragmatic and someone who really understands this area of law."
Legal 500, 2025 – Tier 1
"He is very responsive and pragmatic. He is also exceptionally knowledgeable on the law and has confidence in a field where people want confidence because of the risks."
Legal 500, 2025 – Tier 1
"He has excellent judgement and strong advocacy skills. He is very intellectual in his approach."
Legal 500, 2025 – Tier 1
"He really has no equal in terms of his breadth of knowledge and experience in the area"
Legal 500, 2025 – Tier 1
"Hes an exceptional lawyer who gets the right result. Hes absolutely first-class."
Legal 500, 2025 – Tier 1
"..described by some as Mr POCA"
Legal 500, 2025 – Tier 1
White Collar, Crime & Investigations
Money Laundering Advisory
Kennedy is currently instructed in multiple POCA/Criminal Finances Act 2017 High Court civil recovery, bank account and crypto asset freezing or forfeiture applications. Examples cases underneath.
Regularly advises on commercial money laundering issues including:
Acquisition of an estate agency business with historic regulatory non-compliance.
Contracting with a Iranian university which operated in breach of sanctions.
Whether an asset fund manager is caught by the money laundering directives and/or regulations.
Whether payment under a contractual obligation would comprise laundering the proceeds of tax evasion.
Unblocking the bank accounts of a multi-national telecoms company.
Whether an international art dealership is caught by the money laundering directives and regulations.
Advising Jersey bank on transactions a sovereign wealth fund suspected of corruption.
View Cases
Quotes
Advising 2 different NGOs on liability of financial institutions and supply chain intermediaries for dealing with the proceeds of unlawful Amazonian deforestation.
Advising UK profession regulator on money laundering responsibilities arising out of the Uyghur judgment.
Advising UK solicitors on accepting client fees in the light of the Uyghur judgment.
R (World Uyghur Congress) v NCA (Spotlight on Corruption intervening) [2024] 1 WLR 4532 (Court of Appeal).
Acquisition of criminal property; Supply Chains. Acted for Spotlight in guideline case on laundering in supply chains.
"Kennedy is excellent. He looks to give pragmatic and realistic advice and has an encyclopedic knowledge of the law."
Chambers and Partners, 2025
View Cases
Currently defending the T&T AG in £12m breach of contract claim brought by corruption whistleblower.
Dhir v Flutter Entertainment [2021] EWHC EWHC 151 (QB).
Acted in civil action against betting company for recovery of gambled fraud proceeds.
Previously acted for stockbrokers in Bilta v Deutsche Bank and SVS (Commercial Court breach of trust proceedings).
Recovery by the Egyptian government of Mubarak looted funds.
Miller [2023] 4 WLR 6 (Court of Appeal – corporate legal personality).
NCA v Persons Unknown and Barclays Bank (2022), 25 November (Business and Property Court - acting for bank in recovery of £51m).
Tierney [2022] EWCA Crim 1042 (Court of Appeal - interlocutory contempt proceedings).
Luckhurst (SC)
Release of legal expenses for civil proceedings from restrained funds.
Asplin [2022] Crim LR 9 (Court of Appeal – confiscation of pensions).
Green and Ryder [2021] Env LR 6 (Court of Appeal – confiscation in environment cases).
R. (on the application of Fresh View Swift Properties Ltd) v Westminster Magistrates' Court [2023] EWHC 605 (Admin) | [2023] 1 W.L.R. 3321
High Court forfeiture of unlicensed money service business proceeds
Nelson v Attorney General of Trinidad and Tobago (Trinidad High Court and Court of Appeal).
View Cases
Re Smith [2024] EWHC 3154 (Comm), [2024] EWHC 3161 (Comm).
Leading in the Commercial Court for the SFO in the Orb/ Gerald Smith £80m proceedings involving 27 parties, BVI and Jersey liquidators and High Court receivers to recover the proceeds of breach of trust and fraudulently obtained property. Contempt; Restraint Orders
News from this Barrister
News from this Barrister
News from this Barrister
Kennedy Talbot KC and Peters & Peters - modern slavery and money laundering in global supply chains
Money Laundering Advisory
POCA & Asset Recovery
For a confidential conversation please contact Chief Executive and Director of Clerking, Sam Carter.
“The clerks always go above and beyond to assist. They understand the needs of instructing solicitors, particularly in identifying suitable counsel for cases”
Chambers & Partners
“A friendly and integrated service. The clerks systems and client handling are excellent - with a can-do attitude, enabling easier planning on my side.”
Legal 500
People / Barristers
Address
For a confidential conversation please contact Chief Executive and Director of Clerking, Sam Carter.
“The clerks always go above and beyond to assist. They understand the needs of instructing solicitors, particularly in identifying suitable counsel for cases”
Chambers & Partners
“A friendly and integrated service. The clerks systems and client handling are excellent - with a can-do attitude, enabling easier planning on my side.”
Legal 500
People / Barristers
Address
For a confidential conversation please contact Chief Executive and Director of Clerking, Sam Carter.
“The clerks always go above and beyond to assist. They understand the needs of instructing solicitors, particularly in identifying suitable counsel for cases”
Chambers & Partners
“A friendly and integrated service. The clerks systems and client handling are excellent - with a can-do attitude, enabling easier planning on my side.”
Legal 500
People / Barristers
Address