Hugo Keith KC – lead counsel to the Covid inquiry
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Hugo Keith KC
Former prime minister Boris Johnson yesterday lost his temper in the hot seat at the public inquiry examining the UK government’s handling of the Covid-19 pandemic, where he was grilled by lead counsel to the inquiry, Hugo Keith KC – but who is this distinguished barrister?
The joint head of chambers at Three Raymond Buildings, Mr Keith has been instructed in some of the most high-profile cases of recent years. He represented Princess Anne when she was prosecuted, and represented The Queen in the inquest into the death of Diana, Princess of Wales.
Educated at Magdalen College, Oxford (MA hons jurisprudence), he took silk in 2009 and was appointed a bencher of Gray’s Inn in 2013.
He was a member of the ‘A’ Panel of civil Treasury Counsel for eight years, during which time he regularly appeared on matters of public and criminal law in the High Court, Court of Appeal and House of Lords, including many leading extradition and white-collar crime cases.
He appeared on behalf of Malcolm Calvert in the Cazenove inside dealing case and was appointed leading counsel to the inquests into the London bombings of 7 July 2005 and, subsequently, appeared in the Leveson inquiry on behalf of Rebekah Brooks.
He appeared in the Mark Duggan, Alexander Litvinenko and Westminster inquests, and represented the Home Secretary in the El-Gizouli judicial review (concerning one of the ‘Jihadi Beatles’) and the Electoral Commission in its proceedings against Leave.EU. He appeared on behalf of Airbus in the largest deferred prosecution agreement yet concluded, and advised Chelsea FC in relation to aspects of its sale in May 2022.
Mr Keith is instructed by companies, high net-worth individuals, and politically exposed persons relating to all aspects of extradition (including advising on Interpol and on international restraint), international criminal/corporate liability, and criminal judicial review.
His extradition and MLA cases include the leading cases of Berezovsky, US v Bermingham (the Natwest Three), Abu Hamza, Gary McKinnon, Shrien Dewani and Hamdi Ipek. He has successfully defended clients in every extradition case in which he has been instructed against the Russian state.
The Legal 500 says of him: “Hugo is fiercely bright and extremely hard working. His advice focuses on the nub of the issue. Impressive in the court room.”
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