"Hislop possessed calm and charm in great measure, but could strike like a cobra.”– (2015) – Mike White journalist and author of Who Killed Scott Guy.
An extensive career has allowed him to achieve expertise in a number of areas from murder and terrorism to the fine arts of fraud, cross border crime, money laundering and regulatory work.
Popular with clients he is known for his industry and ability to scythe through vast mountains of paper work drilling down to the real issues in the case. His reputation is as a persuasive jury advocate with “…a preparedness to defend the indefensible and win”. He is regularly ranked in the Legal 500 and Chambers & Partners.
Crime
David has an extensive criminal practice. In 2016 he was involved in three high profile murder cases. He represented a man charged for the murder of his mother’s abusive partner and leading a defence attack on an “alleged bent informer” in a sex ring case He also represented a man charged with the murder of a customer in Poundland and represented a man charged with the murder of his “internet date”.
David is currently instructed in one of the first prosecutions of an individual (as opposed to a company or corporation) under the Bribery Act, allegations within the motor racing industry. He is also currently briefed in a significant investment fraud defending a trader charged with creating a false or misleading impression, contrary to section 397(3) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000, carrying on a regulated activity in contravention of the general prohibition imposed by section 19 of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000, contrary to section 23 of the Financial Services Act 2000 and contravening the restrictions on financial promotions imposed by section 21 of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000.
In addition to the above David advises on Judicial Review matters particularly within the context of criminal matters. He has recently advised on the expunging of police cautions and the challenging of the Police Commissioners decisions in respect thereof. He has also recently advised on a variety of regulatory matters including procurement and public tendering.
Regulatory & Financial Crime
David is a recognised specialist in white-collar crime. He has extensive trial experience in cases of Serious Fraud, Money Laundering, MTIC fraud, Insider Trading and Banking Fraud.
He has recently trained officers from the National Crime Agency in aspects of money laundering and expert evidence. He has had notable successes in defending those charged with money laundering offences including most famously one of the Meghrabi brothers in the notorious Operation Aloof.
The author of the Fraud section on West Laws On-Line Encyclopedia for several years. He was a contributing author to The Practitioners Guide to the Law and Regulation of Financial Crime providing specialist chapters on Bribery and Corruption and Search Warrants and Production Orders. He has also authored a number of specialist articles on money laundering, banks, SARs and their customers, restraint orders, consumer protection legislation and insider trading.
