Pierre de Garis

Pierre defends and prosecutes across the full range of criminal offences in the Crown and Magistrates’ Court, including offences of violence, drugs, firearms, and sexual offences as well as a particular interest in financial crime.

Pierre has already been promoted to the CPS’ Level 2 panel and, in addition to regular instruction by the CPS, routinely advises on and prosecutes environmental and regulatory offences on behalf of other organisations as part of his rapidly developing regulatory practice.

He has been, and remains, instructed as defence counsel in a number of high-profile Proceeds of Crime Act cases. This builds upon his experience working ‘off-shore’ in the Bailiwick of Guernsey’s Attorney General’s Office’s Economic Crime Unit where he assisted in prosecuting serious economic crime, civil recovery and international mutual legal assistance.

Notable Cases

• R v Z, L, G, L, and B (OPERATION REDCRAB): Represented one of the defendants in confiscation proceedings under the Proceeds of Crime Act following his conviction at trial for his involvement in a ‘smash and grab’ jewellery heist which was itself the subject of an episode of the BBC’s ‘Forensics: The Real CSI’ (Series 3: Episode 2 – Gold Heist).
• R v A, A, A et al (OPERATION NORMA): Defending in Proceeds of Crime Act proceedings relating to a multi-million-pound conspiracy to steal motor vehicles.
• R v KK: Defending in a case involving multiple alleged firearms offences.
• R v JS: Defended a client accused of intentionally causing religiously aggravated harassment, alarm or distress at a Premier League football match over the course of a four-day trial in Leicester Crown Court. Ultimately being acquitted of the religious aggravation and only convicted of the ‘base’ offence by a majority.
• R v LG: Defended a young client at sentence who, following submissions, avoided a period of immediate custody despite ‘horrendous dangerous driving’ (https://www.expressandstar.com/news/crime/2025/08/15/halesowen-man-22-avoids-jail-despite-horrendous-dangerous-driving-during-police-chase-in-rush-hour-on-black-country-route/)

Pierre accepts instructions in housing matters relating to disrepair, anti-social behaviour, possession claims and committal proceedings. The scope of his practice is national in nature and has seen him instructed in matters from Kent to Hull.

Pierre’s experience in a range of possession cases extends across both the private and public rented sector as well as matters involving issues of capacity and the Equality Act 2010.

He recently gave a concise and engaging presentation on succession at St Ives Chambers’ Housing Conference in 2025.

Pierre has experience representing clients at first direction appointments, financial dispute resolution appointments, as well as utilising his experience in criminal practice in committal proceedings following non-compliance through disengagement.

Pierre has been involved in a number of family finance matters, such as cases involving:

• Arguments on conduct (gambling)
• Non-engagement of parties
• Challenges as to the legitimacy of the underlying marriage

Pierre accepts instructions in public law proceedings on behalf of local authorities, parents and children.

Pierre accepts instructions in private law proceedings on behalf of both parents and children (through their rule 16.4 Guardian). This includes instructions for hearings at all stages in proceedings, including final hearings, directions hearings and fact-finding hearings.