Cairns Nelson KC has specialised in financial crime for many years. He was appointed Standing Counsel to HMRC 2006-2010 and prosecuted major tax fraud and arms control/sanctions cases. Since taking silk in 2010 he has defended and prosecuted in the full range of major complex fraud and money laundering cases and ranked in the Legal 500 Band 1 for Financial crime.

He has maintained a practice defending and prosecuting high profile, often organised crime or gang related murder cases.

He is also highly experienced in the fields of regulatory discipline, powers of search and seizure, confiscation /asset recovery and consumer protection legislation in the criminal and civil context.

Mr Nelson KC has also appeared on a number of high profile murder trials including defending in the Manchester A Team case involving the shooting of rival gang members including a young child,