The areas of work in which we have particular expertise, experience and excellence
The areas of work in which we have particular expertise, experience and excellence
Barristers
Call 1994 Silk 2025
"Tim has an ability to absorb vast quantities of information, including evidence of a technical nature, and translate that information into simple format to enable clients to fully understand the nature of the evidence in the case. This approach builds trust between client and counsel. His presentation at court is both extremely professional but also personable, sitting well with judges, opposing counsel and juries alike".
Tim Forte KC is a criminal defence silk specialising in the most serious and complex cases, including murder, organised crime, terrorism, firearms, drugs conspiracies, and technology-driven prosecutions, as well as high profile fraud and business crime. He is particularly recognised for his expertise in digital and telecommunications evidence, including EncroChat and large-scale data-led investigations.
Tim is a highly experienced criminal silk with a formidable practice in complex and serious crime. He is instructed nationwide in homicide and high-end organised crime, frequently appearing in multi-handed, evidence-heavy trials and cases attracting significant media attention. He brings a calm, incisive style to the most demanding proceedings and is known for strategic case leadership, clear jury advocacy, and command of both legal and technical detail.
Regularly instructed in homicide cases across England and Wales, these have included some of the country’s most complex and high-profile trials, spanning murder and manslaughter with issues such as serving police and prison officers as victims, gang-related killings and OCG violence, transferred malice, egg-shell skull, diminished responsibility, and complex causation. Recent and notable trials include Operation Blandway at the Central Criminal Court (2026), an 11-week multi-handed gang shooting in which his client, successful rapper LilShak, was unanimously acquitted before Mrs Justice Maura McGowan. In his first trial in Silk, Operation Privilege (Preston, 2025), he secured unanimous acquittals for a defendant charged with the execution-style murder of a prison officer after a 10-week cut-throat trial, a case that received significant national press coverage and led directly to s.11 Sentencing Act 2026 extending Whole Life Order criteria to killings of ex-prison officers. He is instructed in the forthcoming Operation Eastville at Guildford Crown Court, a trial arising from the fatal stabbing of a 15-year-old school pupil.
His homicide practice predominantly involves leading in major multi-defendant cases, including Operation Perth (Liverpool, 2023), a two-month murder and linked conspiracy to murder trial before Mr Justice Goose in which, though led, he conducted the majority of the trial in leading counsel’s absence; Operation Tennyson (Chelmsford, 2025), where successful causation arguments led to acquittal on murder and the abandonment of all remaining counts; and historic large-scale prosecutions such as Operation Mirato (Preston), involving multiple murders, attempted murders and explosives offences, including the murders of two WPCs by co-defendant Dale Cregan. Further representative matters include Operation Voyage (Wolverhampton), a double crossbow homicide connected to cannabis factories and aggravated burglary and featured in the BBC’s Forensics: The Real CSI; Operation Acetabulum (Central Criminal Court), securing acquittal on an attempted murder in North London gang shooting conspiracies; R v ED (Liverpool), the acquittal of a university student and trained boxer on murder and manslaughter; R v CW (Liverpool), the unanimous acquittal of a burglar accused of murdering serving police officer PC David Phillips; and Operation Haiku (Wolverhampton), a murder trial turning on complex medical causation following a delayed death.
Tim has particular expertise in cases driven by technological and scientific evidence. He is a preeminent in the encrypted evidence field – Encrochat, Sky ECC, Anom etc – and has lectured senior European prosecutors on the topic. He is adept with digital forensics, telecoms and cell-site analysis, encrypted and open-source messaging, social media and drill-music material, ANPR, CCTV enhancement, firearms discharge analytics, and complex medical causation, and he deploys this expertise to rigorous case theory testing, effective cross-examination of experts, and crisp, comprehensible presentations for juries. His trials frequently engage gang evidence, drill-music context and multi-source digital material, exemplified by Operation Blandway and other organised-crime prosecutions.
Recommendations frequently highlight Tim’s judgement under pressure, meticulous preparation, and persuasive advocacy. He is valued by professional and lay clients alike for strategic clarity from the earliest advisory stages through to trial and appeal. He welcomes instructions in complex homicide, organised crime, and cases where cutting-edge technological evidence is central to the issues.
Alongside trial advocacy, Tim undertakes appellate and advisory work, including appeals against conviction and sentence, complex bail applications, CTL litigation, and judicial review. He is often instructed at an early stage to shape defence strategy in the most serious cases.
Tim took silk in 2025, having previously been recognised as a preeminent leading junior. He continues to be instructed both as leading counsel in homicide, OCG drugs and fraud / business crime matters and in cases requiring particular technical or strategic expertise.
Over many years, instructed to lead in complex, high-stakes fraud and business crime, from Welsh Assembly and EU funding allegations to MTiC, Carbon Credit, Legal Aid and counterfeiting conspiracies. Recent instructions include a £25 million investment fraud at Southwark Crown Court, influencer prosecutions for unlawful CFD promotions, and multi-defendant Insolvency Service cases spanning decade-long conduct and multimillion-pound loan schemes.
Operation Sabik (Southwark Crown Court) ongoing
Leading for one of the defendants in the case that concerns an alleged £25 million investment fraud arising from a City of London Police investigation, with proceedings commencing at Westminster Magistrates’ Court. It involves extensive allegations regarding misleading financial promotions, significant investor losses, and complex evidential issues spanning corporate, regulatory and property matters over several years.
Operation Estherville (Southwark Crown Court) 2026
Several Love Island and TOWIE stars, including Jamie Clayton, Lauren Goodger and Rebecca Gormley, indicted with illegally promoting an unauthorized high-risk foreign exchange trading scheme on Instagram. The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) charged them for promoting risky “contracts for difference” (CFDs) to their millions of followers. Negotiated resolution to prosecution against JC, allowing him to return to Dubai and carry on his new business ventures there.
R. v. ZS. et al (Manchester Minshull Street) 2026
Insolvency Service prosecution for Directors’ Disqualification offences. 2nd Defendant out of 6, with 17 count indictment, covering offending between 2013 and 2018. Offending involving commercial property schemes and over £17m in loans. After protracted discussions and negotiations, Crown offered no evidence against my ZS, and NG verdicts entered on all counts.
Operation Sana (Southwark Crown Court) 2025
Leading for Solicitor Defendant acquitted after trial and retrial of Bribery, Corruption and Money Laundering allegations brought by the Insolvency Service against six defendants in relation to Keltbray Construction company activities.
Operation Larkspur (Southwark Crown Court) (Goose J.)
Represented one of the few defendants acquitted in the recent high-profile proceedings concerning alleged fraudulent claims against the Legal Aid Agency. The case was exceptionally complex, spanning extensive financial evidence and voluminous disclosure, and involved close coordination among multiple counsel and solicitors over a sustained period. The client was and therefore can remain a practising solicitor.
Operation Midas (Cardiff Crown Court)
Leading for one of seven defendants in this fraud against the Welsh Assembly, devolved government and the EU, the case was of significant gravity and complexity, involving extensive alleged dishonesty, a substantial evidential record, and a multi-faceted expert landscape. The matter required the review and analysis of a very large volume of digital and documentary material, spanning several years and the management of intricate disclosure and evidential issues throughout. Prolonged but detailed pre-trial preparation led to the directed acquittal of ES our client.
Operation Balaban (Southwark Crown Court)
Carbon Credit and Diamond boiler room frauds, collapsed on discrediting of Crown expert.
Operation Carnival / Chuck (Inner London Crown Court)
Leading Junior in Transport for London ticket fraud.
Operation Aldgate (Southwark Crown Court)
Privately instructed for professional Accountant defendant acquitted in long firm fraud.
Operation Lithium (Sheffield Crown Court)
Unusual scrap metal MTiC fraud, collapsed after disclosure issues pressed with the Crown.
Operation Leviathan (Southwark Crown Court)
Leading Junior in RFU Hospitality ticket frauds.
Operation Casper (Liverpool Crown Court)
Leading Junior in MTiC fraud.
Operation Lantern (Woolwich Crown Court)
Wine/vintner boiler room fraud.
Operation Volt (Woolwich Crown Court)
Leading Junior in multi-million pound Counterfeiting conspiracy, involving Encrochat and conspiracy to pervert the course of justice.
Operations Ana and Nimrod (Southwark and Maidstone Crown Courts)
Medicinal Healthcare and Products Regulatory Agency, pharmaceutical frauds.
Tim is a leading specialist in homicide across England and Wales, trusted in the country’s most complex and high-profile murder and manslaughter trials, from gang shootings and OCG violence to cases involving serving police and prison officers, transferred malice, egg-shell skull, diminished responsibility, and complex questions of causation.
Operation Blandway – Central Criminal Court (2026)
Multi‑handed murder and attempted murder trial arising from a North London gang shooting. Tim represented successful rapper LilShak, who was unanimously acquitted. The 11‑week trial before Mrs Justice Maura McGowan involved extensive gang and drill‑music evidence.
Operation Privilege – Preston Crown Court (2025)
Tim’s first trial in Silk. Two defendants were charged with the execution‑style murder of prison officer Lenny Scott. After a 10‑week cut‑throat trial, Tim’s client was unanimously acquitted of both murder and manslaughter. Significant national press coverage. Led directly to s.11 Sentencing Act 2026, amending the criteria for Whole Life Orders to encompass killing ex-prison officers.
Operation Eastville – Guildford Crown Court ongoing
Trial in October of two teenagers said to have murdered a fellow, 15-year-old school pupil in a park in Guildford.
Operation Perth – Liverpool Crown Court (2023)
Albeit led junior, Tim conducted the majority of the two‑month trial before Mr Justice Goose in the leader’s absence. Six defendants were tried for the murder of Ashley Dale and a linked conspiracy to murder her partner using a Skorpion sub‑machine gun.
Operation Tennyson – Chelmsford Crown Court (2025)
Acted for a defendant unfit to be tried for the alleged murder of his father. Successful legal arguments on causation resulted in his acquittal on the murder charge and ultimately the abandonment of all remaining counts.
Operation Mirato – Preston Crown Court
Trial of ten defendants involving four murders, four attempted murders, and explosives offences, including the murders of two WPCs by co‑defendant Dale Cregan.
Operation Voyage – Wolverhampton Crown Court
Double crossbow killing connected to cannabis factories and aggravated burglary. The case explored transferred malice in the first death. Featured in BBC documentary Forensics: The Real CSI.
Operation Acetabulum – Central Criminal Court
Multiple North London gang‑related attempted murder conspiracies involving two separate shootings a year apart. Tim secured acquittal on one of the attempted murder counts.
R v ED – Liverpool Crown Court
Successfully defended university student, a trained boxer, charged with the murder and manslaughter of another student.
R v CW – Liverpool Crown Court
Unanimous acquittal of a burglar accused of murdering serving police officer PC David Phillips.
Operation Haiku – Wolverhampton Crown Court
Murder trial involving complex medical causation following the delayed death of an alleged paedophile weeks after a sustained assault.
Tim is a leading criminal barrister specialising in high-end organised crime litigation, regularly instructed in the UK’s most complex OCG prosecutions involving multi-tonne drug importations, Encrochat conspiracies, firearms trafficking, people smuggling, large-scale fraud and international criminal networks. His cases span nationwide operations, covert surveillance, international evidence (ILOR), digital forensics, financial investigation and multi-defendant trials, with clients ranging from alleged cartel-level importers to Encrochat resellers and cross-border cyber-offenders.
Operation Rapido – Worcester Crown Court (ongoing)
Multi-billion-pound conspiracy, with the OCG alleged to have imported over 5 tonnes of cocaine into the UK since 2021. Includes major interceptions of 567 kg at Felixstowe and 84 kg linked to Felixstowe/Immingham loads. Features nationwide sites, international enquiries, extensive telecoms, forensic and financial evidence, and significant linked convictions demonstrating the conspiracy’s scale.
Operation Poseidon – Ipswich Crown Court (ongoing)
Large-scale organised excise fraud involving 8.85 million litres of diesel and a £5 million duty loss. Complex use of misdescribed ISO tanks and covert UK-wide distribution. Tim represents the alleged UK leader of the OCG in this high-profile investigation involving extensive surveillance and forensic work.
Operation Westway – Liverpool Crown Court (ongoing)
Alleged core member of the “Monkey Mafia” swatting syndicate responsible for hoax armed-attack reports targeting influencers, US and Canadian universities, and other public institutions. Extensive digital evidence, recordings, and cross-border conspiracies involving bomb hoaxes and attempts to continue offending under new aliases.
Operation Reprefer – Cardiff Crown Court (2026)
Leading for the first defendant in a major people-smuggling case. NCA estimate the conspiracy involved up to 10,000 migrants from Syria, Kurdistan and neighbouring regions. Featured in a dedicated BBC Panorama investigation.
Operation Landrace – Teesside Crown Court (2025)
Leading in a multi-handed Encrochat case involving multi-commodity drug supply, GBH conspiracies, and firearms offences.
Operation Butmir – Manchester Minshull Street (ongoing)
Unique Encrochat conspiracy centred on a reseller providing devices, subscriptions, repairs, and technical support for users involved in drug and firearm conspiracies. Extensive expert evidence. Secured bail via successful CTL submissions. Judicial Review at [2023] EWHC 1187 (Admin).
Operations Winehouse & Pasadena – Lewes Crown Court (2026)
Major Encrochat conspiracies spanning the South of England.
Operation Sidebones – Birmingham Crown Court (2025)
Encrochat reseller linked to multi-kilo drug importations from continental Europe.
Operation Pasadena – Manchester Crown Square (2025)
Large drugs and firearms conspiracies involving multiple Encrochat handles and devices.
Operation Tartan – Liverpool Crown Court (2023)
Multi-handed police corruption case centred on the North West.
Operations Embossed & Estavan – Manchester Minshull Street (2021)
Encrochat preparatory hearings before Dove J and an interlocutory appeal before Fulford LJ: [2021] EWCA Crim 1447.
Operation Oberon – Cardiff Crown Court (2021)
Encrochat preparatory hearing before Griffiths J.
Operation Hobart – Winchester Crown Court & Court of Appeal
Colombian cocaine pipeline worth approximately £400m every six months. One-year initial trial, followed by success in the Court of Appeal on disclosure issues with Special Counsel. At the retrial, Tim’s argument on the inadmissibility of Colombian telecoms intercept, combined with prior co-defendant acquittals, led to the Crown offering no evidence.
Operation Gobbed – Bristol Crown Court
One-tonne cocaine importation by sea. Featured in Judge Rinder’s Crime Stories (Series 3, Episode 10).
Operation Keyhole – Bournemouth Crown Court
Encrochat Class A conspiracy involving approximately 450 kg of drugs.
Operation Wizard – Swansea Crown Court
Encrochat Class A drug and firearms importation conspiracy.
Northern Circuit – Chester, Liverpool, Manchester, Preston
Operations Florence, Taillight, Illinois, Aquarium, Downey, Malaga, Quebec – Encrochat Class A conspiracies.
Midlands Circuit – Birmingham
Operations Scorch, Surrounding, Hakea, Absorb – Encrochat Class A conspiracies.
South Eastern Circuit – Aylesbury, Ipswich, Luton, Basildon, Kingston, Croydon, Guildford
Operations Eternal, Saco, Orochi, Syncopize, Coadminster, Guava, Mousetrap, Netty, Coast, Costello, Saffire, Shania, Maputo, Creedence, Gem – Encrochat drug conspiracies.
London – Southwark, Inner London, Snaresbrook, Wood Green
Operations Sandstone, Elapse, Cigarfish, Stranraer, Sharpener, Wulfenia, Direen, Solanum, Crinks, Soku, Sopot – Encrochat Class A conspiracies, with additional firearms and kidnap elements.
Tim has a wide-ranging, high-profile, and serious POCA and confiscation practice, frequently called upon to handle complex asset recovery matters and high-stakes appeals. He is regularly instructed in POCA proceedings arising out of major drugs and fraud trials, as well as being brought in at the confiscation stage for cases he did not previously act in, reflecting his specialist expertise and reputation in this demanding field.
Operation Star & Raptor (Basildon Crown Court)
Seven-handed POCA proceedings stemming from OCG Encrochat drugs conspiracy across South East. Successfully reduced POCA claim of over £1/2m down to just over £100k.
Operation Aquarium (Liverpool Crown Court) ongoing
Not instructed at trial, Tim successfully dealt with the POCA proceedings stemming from this OCG Encrochat drugs conspiracy across North West, with issues of constructive and resulting trusts, joint ownership and inheritance implications.
Re AH (Southwark Crown Court) 2023
Instructed privately in relation to 3rd party interests in POCA proceedings.
Operation Beath II (Manchester Crown Court)
Instructed in POCA proceedings only, secured reduction, after two-week litigated hearing, from figure originally sought of £5,140,000 to £340,000. Involved defeating attempts inter alia to pierce corporate veil.
Operation Hobart (Winchester Crown Court)
Confiscation completed before conviction quashed and retrial brought to an end by directed acquittal in massive Colombian cocaine importation pipeline. Successful in restricting Crown’s DTA claim over matrimonial home and parental (mortgaged) home and in defeating AG’s Ref – [2008] EWCA Crim 2953.
Operation Testmatch (Luton Crown Court & Westminster Magistrates Court)
Despite acquittal in fake cigarette importation case, HMRC continued civil POCA seizure at Magistrates Court, until Tim successfully argued for and secured a stay on the ground of Abuse of Process.
Tim commands a leading terrorism practice across England and Wales, representing clients in some of the nation’s most wide-ranging, high-profile, and grave terrorism cases. He regularly acts as Lead Counsel in complex matters involving both Islamic fundamentalist and right-wing extremist allegations, each raising acute national security concerns and attracting intense public scrutiny. He has been instructed in numerous high profile cases across both England and Wales.
R. v. JA et al (Central Criminal Court) 2026
Leading for Defendant said to have been one of those involved in this serious and high-profile prosecution following the deliberate torching of four Hatzola ambulances in the early hours at a synagogue in Golders Green, an attack that prompted a major Counter Terrorism Police investigation and heightened concern within London’s Jewish communities. Three young defendants – two adults and a 17-year-old youth – now face allegations of arson with intent to endanger life, following coordinated arrests across east London.
The case has attracted national attention given the targeting of Jewish community emergency services, the scale of the response from specialist policing units, and the broader climate of community anxiety. Proceedings are active and subject to intense public scrutiny, underscoring the seriousness and sensitivity of the issues at the heart of the indictment.
Operation Borocaine (Winchester Crown Court) 2024
Leading for Far-right extremist terror plotter –said to be encouraging terrorism through posting on several esoteric websites – Omegle and Odysee. Over 8 terrabytes of videos and documents to be considered in wide-ranging computer-based exercise. Video of jihadi bomb-making and executions (albeit somewhat sanitized) shown to the jury during trial. Acquitted of most “intentional encouragement” counts
Operation Lithographical (Central Criminal Court) (Cheema Grubb J.) 2023
High-profile Old Bailey case involving former UK intelligence worker Joshua Bowles, who launched a planned knife attack on a US government employee near GCHQ, pleading guilty to attempted murder. Judge found it to have been a politically motivated, terror-related attack driven by anger at GCHQ and the NSA, with extremist research evidence. The evidence demonstrated the grave national security overtones and targeted selection based on the victim’s workplace.
Operation Loricated (Central Criminal Court) (Hon Recorder of London)
Leading for teenager from Essex involved in conduct preparatory to acts of terror, as well as holding a digital library of terrorist literature. Leader of UK cell of variety of White Supremacist groups, planning murders by 3D-printing guns.
Operation Eelcatcher (Kingston Crown Court) (Hon Recorder of Kingston)
Steven Bishop admitted terrorist offending after stockpiling equipment to bomb the Morden mosque in south London, motivated by “revenge” for the 2017 Manchester Arena attack. He amassed commercial-grade fireworks, fuses, a remote control and igniter, researched explosive detonators and the mosque as a target, used VPN apps to conceal his activity, and hid components for improvised incendiary devices at his mother’s home. He was reported in October 2018 by an addictions counsellor, and police then recovered the materials along with notes detailing explosive recipes and methods
Operation Harplike (Central Criminal Court) (Jay J. and McGowan J.)
Representing alleged member of the banned neo-Nazi group National Action, proscribed after the murder of Jo Cox MP. Trial involved plot to murder sitting Labour MP Rosie Cooper. This high-profile case underscored the grave threat posed by extremist ideologies. The case highlighted the serious national security concerns associated with far-right terrorism in the UK. Tim’s client was one of the few acquitted.
R. v. BA, MP and AA (Westminster Magistrates’ Court) 2025
Leading for Defendant said to have supported Hamas despite it being a Proscribed Organisation, and additionally for funding its terrorist purposes.
Operation Counterinsult (Bristol Crown Court) 2024
Defendant posting Nasheeds and other videos supportive of Islamic Fundamentalist terrorist groups.
Operation Soleus (Cardiff Crown Court and Central Criminal Court)
Islamic fundamentalist promulgating anti-American, pro-alQaeda “nasheeds”.
What types of cases does Tim Forte KC specialise in?
Tim specialises in serious and complex criminal cases, including murder, organised crime, terrorism, firearms, and large-scale drugs conspiracies as well as complex fraud and business crime.
Is Tim Forte KC experienced in EncroChat and other encrypted evidence cases?
Yes. Tim has extensive experience in EncroChat and other data-led prosecutions, including multi-handed conspiracies involving large volumes of digital and telecommunications evidence.
Does Tim Forte KC handle appeals?
Yes. Tim undertakes appellate work including appeals against conviction and sentence including confiscation, as well as related advisory and procedural litigation.
After an investigation starting over a decade ago and case preparation spanning the last four years, no evidence was offered against Tim Forte KC’s client, ZS, on all counts in a major Insolvency Service fraud…
Tim Forte KC and Naeem Karbhari successfully conclude 11-week trial at the Central Criminal Court in Operation Blandway. Tim was instructed to lead for SS, a successful up and coming music artist. SS was the…
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