Michael Lavery

Call 1990

lavery@exchangechambers.co.uk

"Michael is exceptional and highly sought after; one of the best around. Juries love him and clients are delighted to have him on their side, as he is a fantastic jury advocate, quick on his feet, and quick witted."

The Legal 500 2025
Photo of Michael Lavery

Criminal

Michael has an established, heavyweight and successful criminal practice which involves representing those accused of the most serious of offences including murder, fraud and large scale drug conspiracies.

He is now exclusively instructed for the defence, although in the past has been a Category 4 and specialist rape prosecutor.

He has been instructed in some of the most notorious cases nationally, from the Strangeways riots of the early 90’s, numerous ‘Gunchester’ murder trials, to the infamous serial killer Dale Cregan and he defended Thomas Mair, the killer of the MP, Jo Cox.

In recent years he has become sought after for defending in white collar crime.

He has extensive experience in defending clients charged with fraud and has been instructed in MTIC, eBay, reverse transaction and Ponzi frauds.

Recent instructions include:

  • Defending a corporate financier alleged to be involved in what was alleged to be the largest HMRC prosecution in respect of Tax evasion schemes, trial had been listed for 8 months. The client was discharged after a successful application to dismiss, led by John Charles Rees KC, Tax fraud charges dismissed against Zeus Capital founder (ft.com)

Current instructions include: