Ian Whitehurst

Call 1994

whitehurst@exchangechambers.co.uk

“Ian is tenacious, bright, sharp-minded and easy to work with. He is excellent in cross-examination and submits well-crafted legal arguments in court.”

The Legal 500, 2026

Clerks
- Kate Masher 0151 242 8841
- Denise Sheen 0151 242 8874
- Suzanne Dutch 0151 242 8873
- Graeme Hipkiss 0151 242 8868
- Alex Downing 0151 236 7747

Recommendations

Legal Directory Testimonials

The following testimonials have been carefully selected from Chambers and Partners and The Legal 500. They represent the most impactful and consistent praise of Ian Whitehurst’s expertise in financial crime, serious organised crime, confiscation, and complex advocacy. These quotes span nearly a decade, demonstrating sustained excellence and recognition at the highest levels of practice.

“Ian Whitehurst is an excellent, hard-working junior.”

“Ian Whitehurst is easy to work with, responsive, open to discussion and knows his stuff.”
Chambers and Partners 2026

“Ian is tenacious, bright, sharp-minded and easy to work with. He is excellent in cross-examination and submits well-crafted legal arguments in court.”
The Legal 500, 2026

“At the very top of his profession… a tactical and astute thinker, always two steps ahead whilst never losing sight of the bigger picture. Excellent with clients, who are won over by his down-to-earth manner.”
The Legal 500, 2021

“One of the most experienced POCA advocates and a master at drafting effective skeleton arguments.”
Chambers and Partners 2024

“A highly knowledgeable, robust and razor-sharp barrister.”
Chambers and Partners 2022

“Ian has a very strong presence in court and takes no prisoners when it comes to dealing with tricky judges or opponents. His written submissions are of a very high quality.”
The Legal 500, 2024

“An extremely able advocate: strategically tactful, personable, and immediately builds rapport whilst defending his client’s interests robustly.”
The Legal 500, 2025

“Thinks outside the box, is tenacious in court, very experienced, and has a good breadth of knowledge of serious white-collar crime.”
Chambers and Partners 2019

“Combines extensive skill in serious organised crime with knowledge of a wide range of business crime offences… well versed in tax fraud, money laundering, and accounting and banking fraud.”
Chambers and Partners 2016
Beyond the Bar

Committed to access to justice through Advocate (Bar Pro Bono Unit), and mentors aspiring lawyers and international students. Interests include cinema, history, and football.
Education
- Postgraduate Certificate in International Arbitration, University of Aberdeen
- LLB (Hons), University of Hull
- Graduate Student in International Relations (University of Cambridge, current)
- Fellow, Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (FCIArb)
- Member, Criminal Bar Association, Royal United Services Institute, Royal Historical Society, Royal Society of Arts
Appointments
- International Criminal Court – List of Counsel
- Kosovo Specialist Chambers – List of Counsel
- Level 4 CPS Advocate – General Crime, POCA, Serious Crime
- Specialist Regulatory Advocate – Panel A (highest level)
- Listed Arbitrator – Multiple international arbitral institutions
- Disciplinary Chair – The FA and Staffordshire FA
- Member of the National Serious Case Panel, FA
- Disciplinary Commissioner – Basketball England
Arbitrator Appointments:

Listed on the arbitration panels of the following arbitral institutions:
- Stockholm Chamber of Commerce
- Madrid International Arbitration Centre
- Vienna International Arbitral Centre
- Hong Kong Maritime Arbitration Group
- London Arbitration Centre
Academic Appointments and Thought Leadership:

Ian is Honorary Lecturer at Aberdeen University and Assistant Professor at Nottingham. He regularly lectures at Northumbria, Cranfield, and Brooklyn Law School on topics including cybercrime, confiscation, and international arbitration.

Recent speaking engagements include:
- Cybersecurity in Maritime Arbitration – Hong Kong Maritime Arbitration Group
- Regulation of Cyber Warfare – Ukrainian Bar Association
- POCA & Asset Recovery – PSNI
- Private Prosecutions & IP Crime – UK IPO and LexisNexis
Memberships
- Criminal Bar Association
- Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (Fellow)
- Royal United Services Institute
- Royal Historical Society
- Royal Society of Arts (Fellow)
Publications

Ian has written several articles on the issues of financial crime, the criminal justice system and more. Links to the full-text of all of these can be found using the links below:

Better days will return | COUNSEL | The Magazine of the Bar of England and Wales (counselmagazine.co.uk)

Gambling an ‘easy target’ for UK Government after coronavirus pandemic, say barristers (gamblinginsider.com)

Part 6 Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 – the forgotten provision Police Professional | Search Results ian whitehurst

Unexplained Wealth Orders – A lost opportunity or a time to reboot? Police Professional | Search Results ian whitehurst

HMRC’s use of criminal prosecution for fraud or illegal activity

Taking care of business: Private Prosecutions in a digital age

Investigatory Powers Act and the new oversight regime

Pension Liberation Fraud: New Kid on the Block

A Practical Guide to POCA & Unused Material: a defence perspective

Is a cheque book better than a defence statement

Law & Democracy

A Taxing Time Ahead The Reality Behind The Rhetoric
News

Police Law

Ian Whitehurst is a barrister with over 25 years of experience in serious criminal and regulatory work, including disciplinary proceedings. Ian is recognised for his high-level advocacy in serious organised crime, fraud and financial misconduct matters and serious sexual offences. He has been recognised as a Leading Barrister in the legal professional directories for many years and was nominated in the 2023 Legal 500 Awards for Criminal Junior Barrister of the Year.

Ian has experience across a wide spectrum of disciplinary tribunals, including sports (elite athletes and coaches), education (senior teaching staff including head teachers) and legal professions. He also sits as a Chair and Disciplinary Commissioner in football and basketball, bringing a balanced, tribunal-ready perspective to police disciplinary hearings.

He is a recipient of a Chief Constable Commendation (Merseyside Police) for his role in prosecuting a serious organised crime group and is a trusted advocate in sensitive politically charged proceedings, having prosecuted a former Attorney General of an offshore jurisdiction and represented a former Assistant General Secretary of a major Trade Union in the employment tribunal. He brings credibility, insight, and procedural rigour to defending police officers before internal panels and tribunals.

Key Areas of Expertise

Police Discipline & Misconduct
Complex & Serious Organised Crime
Financial Crime & Misconduct
Regulatory Law & Professional Discipline

Current Legal Appointments

Regulatory Panel Advocate (List A – highest level)
CPS Panel Advocate – General Crime, Serious Organised Crime, POCA (Level 4 – highest level) and Fraud (Level 3)
Member of the ICC Panel of Counsel
Called to the Northern Ireland Bar

Disciplinary & Arbitral Appointments

Fellow, Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (FCIArb)
Peer Review Panel Member (Investigations), Chartered Institute of Arbitrators
Disciplinary Commissioner, Basketball England
Appeal Chairman, British BasketBall Federation
Chair of Disciplinary Panels, Staffordshire FA and Regional Panel, FA
Member, National Serious Case Panel, FA

Lectures & Training

Regular lecturer to law enforcement, regulatory bodies, and professional associations.

Download PDF CV

Ian Whitehurst

Clerks

Recommendations

Beyond the Bar

Education

Appointments

Memberships

Publications

News

Police Law

Current Legal Appointments

Disciplinary & Arbitral Appointments

Lectures & Training