About
Rakesh Bhasin is a Partner, and a senior solicitor within the criminal department. He qualified as a solicitor in 1996, joining Steel & Shamash in 2004, and becoming a Partner in the firm prior to the successful merger with Edwards Duthie.
Areas of Expertise
Rakesh has considerable experience representing clients facing allegations involving complex frauds and/or serious violence such as murder and manslaughter, especially when there are issues concerning mental health. Rakesh also deals with many other serious and complex allegations, including terrorism, and large-scale conspiracies whether to commit offences such as armed robbery, kidnapping, or the supply of drugs.
Rakesh has Higher Rights of Audience (Criminal) enabling him to represent clients both as a solicitor and advocate at all levels of the criminal courts. He has extensive experience of trial advocacy in the Crown Court.
Rakesh also advises and represents clients in respect of extradition matters both into and out of England and Wales. He has acted for individuals at Inquests and advised and represented a Councillor in respect of the Grenfell Tower Public Inquiry.
Rakesh has been recommended in both Chambers and Partners and the Legal 500 for over 10 years.
Commendation for Rakesh
- ‘He has a lovely manner in court and really drills down into the detail of his cases’ Legal 500 2025
- ‘Bright, hardworking and tactically very astute’ and ‘…a superb lawyer…’ Legal 500 2023
- ‘…fantastic as a solicitor advocate’ and ‘…very experienced, calm and makes for strong representation in serious criminal cases’ Chambers and Partners 2023
- ‘…a first-rate lawyer. He works diligently on all his cases whether as a litigator or an advocate. His client care has been exemplary. A standout solicitor.’ Legal 500 2022
- ‘one of the best and most versatile criminal solicitors I know, whose ability with both client care and case management is first class.’ Legal 500 2022
- ’Highly sought-after criminal practitioner Rakesh Bhasin has “the confidence and common sense that give assurance to a client,” as well as “superb judgement in relation to case strategy.” Chambers and Partners 2014
- ‘Rakesh Bhasin…offers perfect judgement, assiduous preparation and a high level of client commitment’. Chambers and Partners 2013
Find out more about our Criminal Law services including police station pre-charge advice to Magistrates’ and Crown Court defence. Our experienced team handles serious offences including fraud, assault, sexual offences, murder, terrorism, drug crimes, modern slavery and financial crime. 24/7 advice and legal aid guidance available.
Memberships
- Member of the London Criminal Courts Solicitors Association (LCCSA)
- Member of the Solicitors Association of Higher Court Advocates (SAHCA)
Recent Notable Cases
- R v A (2025) – Represented as junior advocate a Defendant accused of stabbing and killing his friend at a hostel where they both lived.
- R v DJ (2025) – Represented as solicitor and junior advocate a Defendant charged with conspiracy to import and supply cocaine. The allegation involved lorries bringing in vast amounts of cocaine with 70 kilos being seized on one occasion.
- R v US (2024) – Represented as junior advocate a father charged with the murder of his 10-year-old daughter in this high-profile trial. Read more about this case here.
- R v D (2024) – Represented as junior advocate a Defendant charged with theft and conspiracy to defraud a bank in the amount of 2.4 million Euros.
- R v A (2023) – Represented as junior advocate one of 5 Defendants charged with murder and attempted murder in what was described as a gangland execution. Read more about this case here.
R v MS (2023) – Advised and represented MS in an appeal against conviction for murder based on new psychiatric evidence suggesting he was mentally ill at the time of the incident (and should properly have been convicted of manslaughter).
R v K (2023) – Represented as advocate one of ten Defendants charged with conspiracy to supply class A drugs. The Defendant was one of two to go to trial where he was acquitted.
R v G (2019 and 2023) – Represented as solicitor and advocate this Defendant charged with conspiracy to supply drugs following a year long undercover officer operation in the City of London.
R v O (2023) – Represented as solicitor and advocate one of seven Defendants charged in a large-scale conspiracy to defraud mobile telephone companies. The Defendant was acquitted at trial.
R v C (2022) – Represented as junior advocate one of seven charged with murder and attempted murder following a shooting in Haringey. Notable because during the trial the first Defendant made a full confession to the shooting and subsequently pleaded guilty.
R v A (2021) – This Defendant was one of eight charged with murder following a stabbing, said to be in retribution for an earlier attempted murder. He was the only one found not guilty following the trial.
R v B (2021) – Represented as advocate at trial a Defendant charged with the production of cannabis involving a large-scale factory with industrial equipment set up behind false walls. The Defendant was acquitted at trial.
R v K (2021) – Represented as junior advocate a Defendant accused of murder following a stabbing.
R v P (2020) – Represented as junior advocate a Defendant accused of murder following a stabbing. The case involved accusing the main prosecution witness of the killing.
R v M (2017-2019) – Represented a solicitor charged in connection with a fraudulent land banking investment scheme.
R v F (2018) – Represented as solicitor this Defendant charged with preparation for an act of terrorism.
R v M (2016/2017) – Rakesh was junior advocate in a 4-month trial involving allegations of serious fraud and corruption. The fraud allegation involved over £150 million taken from 2 banks.
R v A (2012/2013) – Represented a Defendant charged in connection with an advanced fee fraud, involving complainants in Australia and America.
R v R (2012/13) – Rakesh represented as Led Junior advocate the first of five Defendants charged with conspiracies to kidnap, false imprisonment, and blackmail. http://www.standard.co.uk/news/crime/waterboard-ordeal-of-30000-kidnap-victim-8461513.html
R v G (2012) – Rakesh represented one of ten Defendants charged with a conspiracy to steal gold bullion worth £1 million pounds. G was arrested in Belgium, where the theft took place, and had to be extradited to the UK to face trial. The case was investigated by the Special Projects Unit for Serious and Organised Crime, in conjunction with the Belgian Authorities, and prosecuted by the Special Casework Unit. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2244548/Sam-Billie-Faiers-plead-judge-stepfather-sentenced-4-years-prison-1-1m-bullion-heist.html
R v AS (2012) – Rakesh represented one of two boys charged with Murder following a random stabbing. The case involved the marshalling of a number of different experts including CCTV, cell site analysis, pathology, blood splatter analysis, and a cardiovascular surgeon. The expert evidence obtained by the Defence and submitted to the Prosecution led to the Crown offering no evidence. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-14351285
R v F (2012) – Rakesh successfully represented this Defendant who was acquitted of a number of historic allegations of Rape and Sexual assault. The allegations dated back to the 1960s.
R v M (2011-2013), R v C, R v M, R v D (2010/2011) – Rakesh represented four of the MPs charged with false accounting arising out the MP’s expenses scandal. The case involved an appeal to the Supreme Court over whether the actions were covered by Parliamentary Privilege. They also included M who was notorious for having claimed expenses for repairing dry rot to her home in Southampton, whilst an MP for Luton South. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2247967/Margaret-Moran-spared-jail-fiddling-53-000-expenses-faces-supervision-order-instead.html – http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2011/may/20/mps-expenses-elliot-morley-sentenced
R -v- H (2011) – Rakesh successfully represented this Defendant who was extradited to England to face an allegation of perverting the course of Justice. The case related to a DVD entitled ‘7/7 the Ripple effect’ sent to both the Judge and Jury during a trial of three Defendants alleged to have been involved in the 7/7 bombing in London. The Defendant was acquitted following trial.
R -v- J (2010/11) – Represented a Defendant nicknamed ‘The Tome Raider’ in connection with the Theft of rare/antique books from the RHS Library, and thereafter in confiscation proceedings. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-10696907
R -v- M (2010) – Rakesh represented a 14-year-old charged with murder and attempted murder. The allegation was of a jilted schoolboy who set fire to his girlfriend’s house killing her and her sister. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1293357/Schoolboy-15-jailed-murdering-ex-girlfriend-older-sister-house-fire
R -v- O (2010) – Rakesh successfully represented a Defendant charged alongside 2 others with Conspiracy to Supply Class A drugs. The case involved a lengthy police surveillance operation into a suspected drug factory in Brixton, South London.
R -v- T (2010) – Represented a Defendant alleged to have engaged in sexual activity with a mentally disordered person (impeding choice). Rarely prosecuted and very specific offence in the Sexual Offences Act 2003. The case raised issues concerning nature of consent, the human rights of the alleged victim, and abuse of process.
R -v- A (2010) – Allegations of Kidnapping and False Imprisonment. The Prosecution alleged this was a drug deal gone wrong leading to the victim being kidnapped held against his will and tortured over a two-day period.
R -v- O (2010) – Rakesh represented a Defendant alleged to have funded Terrorism overseas. The allegation involved sending money on four occasions to individuals in Azerbaijan, who were said to be involved in terrorist activities connected to the Chechen Rebels. The case involved questions over the admissibility and reliability of Court proceedings and Judgements from another jurisdiction – Azerbaijan, and insight into the plight of Chechens in the Caucasus. The Defendant was acquitted following trial.
R -v- O (2009) – Rakesh represented (as both solicitor and junior advocate) a Defendant charged in a large-scale conspiracy to supply drugs operating out of a tyre shop in Brixton. Investigation by SOCA (Middle Market Team) involved lengthy surveillance operation including probe evidence – http://cms.met.police.uk/news/convictions/tyre_shop_drug_dealers_jailed
R -v- N (2008/9) – Rakesh represented (as solicitor and junior advocate) a Defendant charged with conspiracy to supply drugs. The case involved a lengthy surveillance operation leading to the arrest of four Defendants said to be the hub of a large drug trafficking enterprise in South London.