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William Baker
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Personal Profile
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William Baker has practised at the criminal bar for 18 years.
The Chambers & Partners Client Guide to the UK Legal Profession has recommended him as a leader in his field since 2003, with the 2009 edition stating that he is "a very hard working and dedicated performer who prosecutes and defends serious crime cases including murder, rape, fraud and the importation and supply of drugs." and the 2010 edition stating that he "is "efficient and tough." and takes on both prosecution and defence work."
The Legal 500 recommends him for high value fraud.
He specializes in serious and complex crime.
He is a Grade 4 prosecutor for the Crown Prosecution Service.
He regularly leads multi-disciplinary teams of counsel, lawyers, caseworkers, police officers, scientific experts, accountants and medical experts as a leading junior prosecuting large police operations with many defendants (see significant cases below). He enjoys the complexity involved in such cases and the opportunity to build a positive team spirit over the months and years that such cases take.
He represented the junior bar and the Northern Circuit on the Bar Council's Carter Response Group, One Case one Fee Group, Best Value Tendering committee, and presently on the Remuneration Committee consulting and responding to the changes in funding and practice being proposed by the government.
He is involved in training and lecturing police officers on the criminal law, procedure and practice. For the past 10 years he has lectured on the Greater Manchester Police National Fraud Course on the presentation of fraud in the Crown Court. He lectures on witness anonymity issues, abuse of process, confiscation, RIPA, the CPIA and the covert obtaining of evidence.
He has recovered assets of over £2 million prosecuting confiscation hearings arising from drug, fraud and theft cases working with the Financial Investigation Unit and CPS Headquarters (see significant cases).
As a pupil supervisor he has trained a criminal advocate in advocacy, court etiquette, drafting documents for court and ethics.
He is computer literate preferring to communicate where possible by e-mail.
Areas of Expertise:
Email: clerk@stjohnsbuildings.co.uk
Telephone: 0161 214 1500
Crime
Recent Significant Prosecution Cases
In 2009 he prosecuted 35 defendants in Operation Contact 1, 2, 3 and 4. A conspiracy to defraud insurance companies by making fraudulent insurance claims from staged road traffic accidents.
In 2009 he prosecuted 9 defendants in Operation Monza. A conspiracy to supply recently imported cocaine over a period of several months in Manchester.
In 2009 he prosecuted 12 defendants in Operation Favour. A conspiracy to supply amphetamine over a period of three months in Burnley.
In 2009 he prosecuted 14 defendants in Operation Navajo. An undercover police operation to detect the supply of cocaine in Stockport and Cheadle.
In 2009 and 2008 he prosecuted attempted murders to conviction in Preston and Manchester.
In 2008 he prosecuted 10 defendants for a series of 15 robberies in Wythenshawe that had caused widespread public concern in that area.
In 2008 he prosecuted 18 defendants in Operations Topaz 1 and 2. Police operations into the supply of heroin and crack cocaine by gangs from Liverpool to Darwen and Blackburn over a period of 5 years.
In 2008 he prosecuted 3 defendants in a series of armed robberies in south Manchester.
In 2007 he prosecuted 18 defendants in Operation Tobago. A conspiracy to supply heroin over a period of 16 months.
In 2007 he prosecuted 10 defendants in Operation Barton 1, 2 and 3. Conspiracies to import and supply heroin valued at over £1 million.
In 2007 he prosecuted 21 defendants in Operation Crayfish. Conspiracies to supply heroin and crack cocaine to under cover police officers over a period of 5 months.
From 2005 to 2007 he prosecuted 3 defendants in Operation Kite. A conspiracy to handle £1/2 million of stolen cars, obtaining a confiscation order of £200,000.
In 2006 he prosecuted a rape to conviction that other counsel had advised be discontinued.
From 2005 to 2006 he prosecuted a cutting edge debit and credit card fraud that the banking industry were concerned could undermine their security. It was one of the first times debit and credit card details had been intercepted from a cash till by a telephone tap and decoded using a computer program.
In 2003 he prosecuted 9 defendants in Operation Dawn. A conspiracy to supply cocaine, obtaining a confiscation order of £1/2 million.
In 2002 he prosecuted the Burnley riots.
Recent Significant Defence Cases
From 2006 to 2009 he was junior counsel defending a solicitor charged with a £12 million conspiracy to defraud investors throughout the world in a Ponzi fraud prosecuted by the Serious Fraud Office.
In 2008 he defended a Manslaughter by punching.
In 2008 he was junior counsel defending a Murder by stabbing, reduced to Manslaughter on the basis of diminished responsibility.
In 2008 he defended a Manslaughter by lethal injection.
In 2008 he defended an Attempted Murder by stabbing.
In 2008 he defended an historic sexual abuse case involving multiple rapes over many years on multiple victims.
In 2007 he defended a rape on a girl under sixteen.
In 2006 he defended offences of Rape, Robbery, Arson with Intent to Endanger Life, Causing Grievous Bodily Harm With Intent, Supplying Controlled Drugs of Class A.
In 2004 he was junior counsel defendinga Financial Director charged with £48 million of fraud in a Serious Fraud Office prosecution. The case against his client was stayed for abuse of process.
In 2003 he was junior counsel defending a managing director charged with fraud of £21 million after of a travel company he managed went into liquidation.
In 2002 he was junior counsel defending the managing director of a company charged with fraud of over £10 million after a company went into liquidation.