Sean Kivdeh (1992)

Team

Criminal cases with particular emphasise on cases of Money laundering and fraud.

Education

LL.B. ; LL.M. (UCL)

Practice

Criminal Fraud - and money laundering.

Sean Kivdeh is a specialist in criminal law with extensive experience in cases of money laundering and fraud and has defended in some of the most serious cases of this type. Sean is regularly instructed as leading junior counsel.

Sean also has an Appellate court practice and deals with cases at the Court of Appeal and has assisted in cases being represented to the CCRC (Criminal Cases Review Commission). Most of these cases relate to offences of money laundering and fraud.

Sean also has an academic interest and researchs in money laundering and confiscation proceedings. 

Since 2003 Sean has been a member of the Bar Council disciplinary tribunal.

Profile

Reported cases

  • R v Sakavickas No.1 [2005] 1 WLR 857
  • R v R (Ramzan & Others) [2007] 1 Cr. App. R 150
  • R v El Kurd & Others [2007] EWCA Crim 1888.
  • R v AA [2007] EWCA Crim 390
  • R v D. [2008] All ER (D) 93 (Mar)

Current cases and up to past 5 years include: 

  • First ever "internet Phishing" case in the world to come to a criminal trial. The charge was conspiracy to defraud and money laundering. 5 Defendants. Instructed as leading (Jnr) Counsel. Southwark Crown Court, R v B.
  • One of the biggest money laundering and drugs importation cases ever in the UK legal system. The street value of drugs was £2.4 Billion. International case involving a ship and 5 other jurisdictions around the world.
  • Arguably the largest bank robbery of all time in the UK. The case concerned removing the sum of £300M from a London based Japanese bank. The fraud was being conducted through interference with the bank's computers. The lost amounts were recovered because of a computer systems failure. The case involved 59 months of investigation, 500 interviews and 1.8 Terabits of paper work and information. Snaresbrook Crown Court, R v Po.
  • Theft of a house and money laundering. This case was about a conspiracy involving 2 conveyancing solicitors and an estate agent. Southwark Crown Court, R v Si.
  • Money laundering and banking fraud involving a conspiracy to divert payments from one set of accounts to other accounts. Snaresbrook Crown Court, R v Ky.
  • Immigration facilitation case involving a conspiracy to obtain UK visas by deception for over 70 people. Snaresbrook Crwon Court, R v P.
  • Theft of a grand piano valued at £63,000. St Albans Crown Court, R v Sh.
  • Banking fraud, involved a conspiracy to remove just over £1M in funds from various bank accounts with the assistance of inside staff of the bank. Winchester Crown Court, R v Ol.
  • The theft of the painting "Women at the fountain", by William Etty from the Victoria and Albert museum.
  • Immigration facilitation case. Conspiracy to facilitate asylum seekers into UK. Inner London Crown Court, R v Pz.
  • Conspiracy - 3 Defendants. International network. At the Central Criminal Court. The charges were, kidnapping, Rape, false imprisonment and living on earnings of prostitution. R v P. & Oths
  • Conspiracy - 2 Defendants. Involving importation of cigarettes and £3 million VAT duty evasion. R v E.
  • Conspiracy - 5 Defendants. Involving importation of cigarettes and £8 million VAT tax evasion. R v B. & Oths
  • Conspiracy - 2 Defendants. Housing benefit fraud over a 7 year period with international links. R v B.
  • Conspiracy - 6 Defendants. Charges were kidnapping, false imprisonment and allegations of torture. R v A.
  • Conspiracy - 6 Defendants. Conspiracy to kidnap, falsely imprison and blackmail. Conducted this case as leading (Jnr) Counsel. R v M. & Oths
  • Conspiracy - 5 Defendants. Money laundering in the sum of £6 M. International links. Conducted this case as leading (Jnr) Counsel. R v S. & Oths
  • Conspiracy - 6 Defendants. Counterfeit currency $22 M. US Dollars. FBI and Secret Services involved in the operation. Allegations involved a conspiracy sponsored by terrorist organisations and former officers of the KGB. Case conducted as leading (Jnr) Counsel. R v C. & Oths
  • Conspiracy - 6 Defendants. Conspiracy to over handle over 1000 stolen cars with an international connection. Conducted case as leading (Jnr) Counsel. R v C. & Oths
  • Case involving theft from an oil company of £130,000 by an employee. R v T.
  • Conspiracy- multi handed. Kidnapping, False imprisonment, Rape, Blackmail and use of Firearms. Conducted this case as leading (Jnr) Counsel
  • Conspiracy to murder. 7 Defendants. Led in this case by leading counsel. R v R.
  • Conspiracy to defraud. £900,000. 5 Defendants. Conducted as leading (Jnr) Counsel. R v M.
  • Conspiracy to launder money £3.5M. 9 Defendants from 3 linked trials. Involving carousel fraud and cheat on Inland Revenue. R v V.
  • Conspiracy to cause acts of terrorism. Case not concluded by counsel. R v R. Central Criminal Court.
  • Conspiracy to import tobacco. Evading VAT tax duty £250,000. 3 Defendants. R v T.
  • Conspiracy to de-fraud clearing banks through mechanical devices from ATMs. & 1.4 M. 6 Defendants. R v C.
  • Conspiracy to import 300 KG of Class A Drugs - 6 Defendants. R v T.
  • Conspiracy to de-fraud banks- Diversion of credit cards.
  • Attempted murder arising from a domestic violence incident.

Background

Sean is a registered pupil supervisor.

His interests include reading and skiing.

Memberships

Criminal Bar Association, South Eastern Circuit.