Hal Watson joins Exchange Chambers

March 3, 2025

Exchange Chambers has welcomed Hal Watson as a new member in Leeds.

Hal, who was called to the Bar in 2003, is ranked in Band 1 by Chambers UK for financial crime. He is a highly-adept advocate, instructed as leading or led junior to prosecute and defend complex criminal and quasi-criminal cases, specialising in fraud and other financial misconduct in both criminal and civil jurisdictions; including very complex asset freezing, forfeiture, and confiscation proceedings.

The focus of Hal’s practice is substantial and or complicated fraud, tax fraud, and corruption type offences where quantum is significantly in excess of £100M, allied money laundering, and subsequent confiscation proceedings. He is currently instructed in a number of international/cross-border investigations involving multinational corporates and allied bribery allegations, including section 7 Bribery Act 2010 (the corporate failure to prevent).

Hal is a CPS Grade 4 prosecutor on the CPS Specialist Fraud and Proceeds of Crime panels. In this context, he acted in the first Deferred Prosecution Agreement to be concluded by the CPS, a £615 million deferred prosecution of the FTSE listed gaming company, Entain plc.

Hal has advised on internal investigations relating to financial misconduct by major financial institutions, deferred prosecution agreements, and breaches of domestic money laundering regulations.

Hal’s experience encompasses cases alleging conspiracy to cheat, conspiracy to defraud (including unlawful via means), all other serious fraud type offences, money laundering (often with an international element), false accounting and Company Act offences, and large-scale benefit offences. He also conducts cases involving misconduct by directors and company officers. He is equally proficient prosecuting or defending in such cases.

Hal has particular expertise in complex VAT fraud, criminal tax avoidance and MTIC fraud, related money laundering, and in the recovery of the proceeds of crime under both pre, and post Proceeds of Crime Act legislation. He is regularly instructed in confiscation hearings where benefit figures are in excess of £10m, allied enforcement proceedings, and on applications pursuant to section 22 and 23 PoCA 2002. Hal has relevant experience at first instance and in the appellate and High Courts in relation to asset freezing and forfeiture under both criminal and civil regimes.

Chambers UK 2025 ranks Hal in Band 1 for financial crime saying that “when you see Hal Watson’s name you know you have a formidable operator and someone who knows the case inside and out”.

Welcoming Hal to Exchange Chambers, Chief Executive Jonathan I’Anson said:

“Hal has an outstanding reputation in complex financial crime and is recognised as a leader in his field.  We are delighted to welcome him to Exchange.”