Robin Leach
Year of Call: 1979
Email Address: [email protected]
CJSM: [email protected]
Telephone: 01202 292 102
Clerk Details
- Clerk Name: Stuart Pringle
- Clerk Telephone: 01962 868 884
- Clerk Email: [email protected]
Public and Regulatory
Robin Leach has a wide range of experience in public and regulatory work and is a member of 3PB's Asset Forfeiture team.
Notable cases include:
Legal Services Commission
R v Zahoor Iqbal. Recently instructed by the LSC in respect of the recovery of defence costs from a convicted terrorist, obtaining an order from the judge for the defence to pay over in excess of £90,000. This involved having to successfully arguing that the equity in a property in the defendant's wife's name could be treated as assessable capital belonging to the defendant.
Horse racing disciplinary hearings
Has a wealth of experience in representing jockeys and trainers in connection with disciplinary matters at the Jockey Club, HRA and BHA. Cases have ranged from alleged corruption to safety matters and various types of riding offences.
Most of these have been high profile, beginning with the 'Haydock 21' - a group of flat jockeys who refused to ride because of the dangerous state of the ground. The disciplinary panel concluded that mistakes were made by the race officials and that the jockeys' protest was justified.
Represented Graham Bradley at the main hearing and on appeal in what was described by officials at the then Jockey Club as the most complex and difficult case they had ever dealt with. It was set against the background of a damaging Panorama programme. Inter alia it was alleged that Graham Bradley had attempted to have the 1987 Cheltenham Gold Cup abandoned following a snowstorm immediately before the race (because the change in going didn't suit Bradley's horse). The allegation was proved to be false after other jockeys gave evidence. (Graham Bradley was found in breach on other charges and was warned off for eight years, which was successfully reduced to five years on Appeal).
Hillside Girl Enquiry. Represented Paul Bradley, the jockey who rode Hillside Girl, who was charged with others with corruption. Large sums were laid on this horse to lose because, it was alleged, the conspirators knew at the time of the race that the horse was lame - in the event, the hose broke down after a furlong. The disciplinary panel found that Bradley didn't know that the horse was lame and all charges against him were dismissed.
David Nolan. Represented him in one of a number of corruption enquiries. He was alleged to have been involved with fellow jockeys in stopping horses at the behest of a big-time punter. The case involved detailed analysis of Betfair betting patterns, telephone billings and charts. Following the two-week enquiry, allegations against him of stopping horses were dismissed, although he was found to have provided inside information to the corrupt punter.
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Recommendations Recognised as a leading junior in horse racing disputes who gets frequent appointments from the Jockey Club, BHA and HRA. He is adept at representing jockeys in cases concerning alleged corruption, safety matters and riding offences.
"He's solid and reliable and has great understanding of the sport of racing."
Recent work: Represented a professional gambler and a flat trainer who were charged with corruption in an allegation that they had told a jockey to stop a horse from being placed or winning.
Chambers UK 2019/Sport - The Regions (Bar) - Band 2Strengths: "He is very good, very experienced and he knows the sport."
Chambers UK 2018/Sport - The Regions (Bar) - Band 2'Has recently represented jockeys in high-profile matters involving accusations of corruption.'
Chambers UK 2017/Sport - The Regions (Bar) - Band 1'One of the country's foremost experts on horse-racing cases. He has amassed considerable depth of knowledge on the full range of corruption, disciplinary and regulatory issues that jockeys, trainers and others face in the sport.'
Chambers UK 2016/Sport - The Regions (Bar) - Band 1'Noted for his expertise in horse racing, frequently defending jockeys and trainers against a wide range of disciplinary matters, including safety and riding offences, as well as against allegations of corruption.'
Chambers UK 2015/Sports Law – The Regions'has a strong reputation in the equestrian world, and represents both jockeys and trainers in disciplinary actions and licensing cases.'
Chambers UK 2014/Sports Law – The Regions – Band 1'Recommended for representing jockeys and trainers in disciplinary matters.'
Legal 500 2015/London Bar - Sport – Leading juniors'His passion for horse racing supports his determination to do a proper job.'
Legal 500 2014‘seasoned, accessible’
Legal 500 2013/14/Leading Junior - London Bar - Media, Entertainment and Sport expertise.
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Related Articles
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3PB criminal barristers Robin Leach and Thomas Evans (pictured here left to right) prosecuted a 45-year-old dock worker on a charge of co-conspiring to import 1.5 tons of cocaine valued at £118m into the UK. The man’s 21-year sentence follows his retrial at Portsmouth Crown Court, after a previous jury had been unable to reach a verdict. Two of the docker’s co-conspirators were previously jailed for 14 and 13 years respectively, having admitted their guilt....
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