Barristers

Saul Herman

Call 2007

"Saul proved to be of the highest calibre as my defence barrister... I would recommend him to any person in difficult circumstances in the future."

Saul Herman is a highly experienced barrister with approaching twenty years of practice in criminal cases.

He has a focus on financial crime for both defence and prosecution. He has appeared as leading counsel in multi-handed cases and as a junior in many complex cases.

His practice has spanned matters from major international bribery investigations to complex domestic fraud, organised crime, and serious sexual offences. His depth and range of experience means that he is a strong choice for any difficult case.

Saul has been repeatedly instructed by the Serious Fraud Office, appearing as junior counsel in proceedings leading to one of the largest Deferred Prosecution Agreement settlements with a payment of over £500 million and in complex investigations of individuals. Saul is included on the SFO’s “B” Panel List for Fraud.

He is also a Level 3 prosecutor for the CPS where he has dealt with a range of cases covering homicide, firearms, multiple-complainant rapes and multi-handed drugs supply conspiracies. He has been instructed pre-charge to advise the CPS and the Home Office on multi-defendant cases.

On the defence side he has undertaken equally serious cases, defending in multi-million-pound fraud allegations brought by HMRC and the Environment Agency, as well as successfully meeting allegations of rape, firearms, kidnap and conspiracies to supply. Along with an ability to master paper-heavy cases, Saul is known for his calm manner and tenacious approach to his cases.

Those skills are put to good use outside the court room as Saul is a recognised legal trainer as well as a practitioner. He is an Advocacy Trainer at the Inner Temple — where he was elected as a Governing Bencher in 2024 – and regularly teaches other advocates how to do everything from the basics of advocacy to handling expert witnesses. Internationally he has taught for the Inns of Court College of Advocacy, delivering lessons in advocacy to Police Prosecutors in Belize, law students in Kenya and Prosecutors at the International Criminal Court in the Hague.

Expertise

Saul spent three years instructed for the SFO on the landmark case of SFO v Rolls-Royce Plc and the subsequent investigation of individuals. Saul is able to draw on that experience in advising companies and individuals in respect of the application of the Bribery Act 2010 and receives work for the defence and prosecution.

Featured Bribery & Corruption cases


SFO v Rolls-Royce Plc [2017] 1 WLUK 189

He appeared for the SFO as a second junior. He was led by Sir Edward Garnier KC, Richard Whitham KC and Chris Foulkes.

The allegations of bribery and corruption resolved spanned six different jurisdictions and allegations of offences under both the Prevention of Corruption Act 1906 and the Bribery Act 2010.

The Deferred Prosecution Agreement and costs entailed the payment by Rolls-Royce of over £500 million and the DPA was concluded alongside resolutions of similar allegations by the US Department of Justice and the Brazilian Ministério Público Federal.

The approval of the DPA by the President of the Queen’s Bench Division was then only the third DPA to have concluded since the passage of the Crime and Courts Act 2013 and remains one of the most significant settlements of this kind.




Saul has considerable experience in fraud and money laundering, with a proven ability to quickly master paper-heavy cases. His extensive experience for the SFO proves invaluable in advising individuals facing serious allegations of dishonesty.

Featured Fraud & Money Laundering cases


SFO investigations

As well as his work on SFO v Rolls-Royce, Saul also spent over four years instructed by the SFO as a second junior, to advise on charge and with responsibility for disclosure, in relation to an investigation of individuals on allegations of financial crime. The case has a national media profile and is factually and legally complex.


R v M (Southwark Crown Court)

Junior representing the second defendant in a £30m mortgage fraud case lasting six months.


K v G

instructed to advise and resolve a private prosecution commenced between former business partners in relation to allegations of fraud.

Saul has been instructed in a range of cases alleging the involvement of organised crime groups and requiring a range of technical and expert evidence to be challenged, such as cell-site, covert recordings, firearms and DNA evidence.

Featured Organised Crime cases


R v RD – Operation Habigras

lead junior defending a firearms allegation.


R v MNA – Operation Consus

lead junior defending a double kidnapping case involving a SOCPA witness.


R v X – Operation Glenlivet

instructed for the defence in respect of a county lines drugs conspiracy. Defendant said to control the drugs line.


R v Y – Operation Dot

instructed for the first defendant in respect of a double machete attack.

Saul is acknowledged as a skilful and sensitive advocate in the handling of these difficult cases.

Featured Serious Sexual Offences cases


R v A (Southwark Crown Court)

Operation Petunia – lead junior for the first of ten defendants charged with a series of rapes on a single teenage complainant. The case involved extensive challenge to the Crown’s conduct of the disclosure exercise. Saul advanced submissions on behalf of all defendants which lead on to the Crown offering no evidence.


R v B (Central Criminal Court)

Defending the first of two defendants charged with rapes of a complainant said to be groomed during her time in care.

  1. What types of cases does Saul Herman specialise in?
    Saul Herman is a specialist criminal barrister called to the Bar in 2007, with a primary focus on financial crime, serious and organised crime, and sexual offences. He acts for both prosecution and defence, and has been instructed in cases ranging from large-scale fraud and bribery to kidnap, firearms, and rape. He is included on the Serious Fraud Office’s “B” Panel List for Fraud and is a Level 3 CPS prosecutor.
  2. What results has Saul Herman achieved for his clients?
    Saul Herman has a track record of achieving strong outcomes for clients across a range of serious criminal matters. Recent results include a full acquittal for the first defendant in an Environment Agency prosecution for conspiracy to defraud, in which he led junior counsel Matthew Keliris-Thomas. In serious sexual offences proceedings, he secured an acquittal in which the Crown offered no evidence against all ten defendants following successful disclosure submissions. Specific outcomes in ongoing or sensitive matters are not disclosed, but his case history reflects consistent instruction in high-stakes proceedings in Crown Court cases.
  3. Does Saul Herman accept instructions from the defence as well as the prosecution?
    Yes. Saul Herman practises on both sides of the courtroom. This dual experience — prosecuting and defending at the highest level — gives him a distinctive understanding of how cases are built and challenged on both sides.
  4. What is Saul Herman’s standing within the legal profession?
    Saul Herman is a Governing Bencher of the Inner Temple, one of the four Inns of Court, having been elected to that position in July 2024. He is an accredited Advocacy Trainer at the Inner Temple and has taught prosecutors and legal professionals internationally, including at the International Criminal Court in The Hague, in Kenya, and in Belize. He is a member of the Criminal Bar Association, the South Eastern Circuit, and the legal reform charity Justice, and sits on 3TG’s pupillage and tenancy committees.
  5. What qualifications and academic background does Saul Herman hold?
    Saul Herman holds a BA (Hons) in Philosophy, Politics and Economics from the University of Oxford, a Postgraduate Diploma in Law from Leeds Metropolitan University, the Bar Vocational Certificate from BPP Law School London, and an LLM from University College London. He has been called to the Bar since 2007 and [LINK TEXT: holds a current practising certificate regulated by the Bar Standards Board (BSB)
  6. How does Saul Herman approach cases involving complex documentary evidence?
    Saul Herman is specifically recognised for his ability to master paper-heavy cases — a critical skill in financial crime and serious fraud matters, where the volume of documentary and digital evidence can be considerable. His experience includes multi-year SFO investigations involving complex disclosure exercises, a six-month mortgage fraud trial involving £30 million of alleged losses, and organised crime cases requiring expert evidence across cell-site analysis, covert recordings, firearms, and DNA. Solicitors instructing him can expect a barrister who is thoroughly prepared and able to identify the key issues within large and technically demanding cases.
  7. Has Saul Herman worked on significant fraud and bribery cases?
    Yes. Saul Herman spent three years instructed by the Serious Fraud Office as second junior counsel in SFO v Rolls-Royce Plc [2017] 1 WLUK 189 — one of the most significant Deferred Prosecution Agreements in English legal history, resulting in a payment by Rolls-Royce of over £500 million. The case involved allegations of bribery and corruption across six jurisdictions. He subsequently spent a further four years on an SFO investigation of individuals arising from the same matter, with responsibility for disclosure and charging advice.

Recent articles

Saul Herman, leading Matthew Keliris-Thomas, client acquitted in Environment Agency prosecution

Saul Herman leading Matthew Keliris-Thomas, instructed by Caroline Howell of Coomber Rich Solicitors, represented the first defendant in the prosecution of five defendants by the Environment Agency for conspiracy to defraud. The prosecution alleged a…

Saul Herman

Matthew Keliris-Thomas

Saul Herman elected as a Governing Bencher of the Inner Temple

Saul Herman has been elected as a Governing Bencher of The Inner Temple, continuing his involvement with the work of the Inn.

Saul Herman

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Regulated by the Bar Standards Board (BSB)

Regulated by the Bar Standards Board (BSB) and holds a current practising certificate. If you are not satisfied with the service provided, please click here.

"Saul proved to be of the highest calibre as my defence barrister... I would recommend him to any person in difficult circumstances in the future."


Private property developer client

  • BA (hons) (oxon) Philosophy, Politics and Economics
  • PGDL, Leeds Metropolitan University
  • BVC, BPP Law School London
  • LL.M, University College London
  • Advocacy Trainer, Inner Temple

  • Governing Bencher of the Inner Temple
  • Criminal Bar Association
  • South Eastern Circuit
  • Justice
  • 3TG pupillage committee
  • 3TG tenancy committee
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