Karl Volz

Karl’s first degree was in History and Politics at Newcastle University. He then undertook the CPE at City University, and has been a busy and well-respected criminal practitioner since 1993.

Karl is a hugely experienced advocate, and is instructed – often as leading counsel – in a wide range of serious criminal cases, from complex fraud to sexual offences to substantial drug conspiracies to murder. He also represents defendants in court martial hearings.

He connects with judges, juries and even the most difficult of clients. A shrewd tactician who unerringly makes astute judgment calls, he is also a renowned fighter, who has acquired a reputation for the fearlessness with which he represents the best interests of his clients.

Karl practises in Crown Courts across the country, but primarily in London and the South East. He also appears regularly in the Court of Appeal.

His recent CV has involved several cases of alleged gang-related criminality, including homicide, firearms and large-scale county lines drugs supply. He also specialises in representing those charged with rape and other serious sexual offences.

He is quick to assimilate voluminous evidence and identify the key issues between Defence and Prosecution, and is able intuitively to isolate and expose any evidential deficiencies to the advantage of his client.

He hates losing.

Murder

R v D - Birmingham Crown Court

Defending alone in a 5-handed attempted murder.

R v S - Central Criminal Court

Defending as Junior counsel in a 3-handed murder.

R v F - Maidstone Crown Court

Defending alone in a 10 week multi-handed Afghan gang murder trial.

R v B - Chelmsford Crown Court

Defending in Domestic murder trial.

R v B - Basildon Crown Court

Defending alone in a juvenile 3-handed attempted murder trial.

R v A - Central Criminal Court

Defending alone in Fulham gang murder case.

 

Sexual Offences

R v C - Inner London Crown Court

Defending in dual rape allegations on 13 year old complainants.

R v B - Snaresbrook Crown Court

Defending in sexual abuse of children by imam trial, involving cross-examination of 8 year old complainant.

R v M - Blackfriars Crown Court

Prosecuting in child sexual abuse trial, one of the first cases involving use of intermediary.

R v E - Blackfriars Crown Court

Prosecuting in trial involving sexual abuse of severely mentally-disabled child complainant.

R v M - Blackfriars Crown Court

Defending in trial involving allegation of historic rape.

R v M - Southend Crown Court (2nd case)

Defending in trial involving allegation of historic rape.

R v A - Snaresbrook Crown Court

Prosecuting 2 week sexual abuse trial of very young child.

R v D - Basildon Crown Court

Defending in trial involving alleged rape of 6 year old child.

R v K - Basildon Crown Court

Defending in two cases (severance ordered) of rape/sexual abuse of children.

R v M - Southend Crown Court

Defending in rape trial.

R v W - Basildon Crown Court

Defending in rape trial.

R v B - Basildon Crown Court

Defending in rape trial (6 counts - 3 complainants).

R v P - Central Criminal Court

Prosecuting historic child abuse case from 1960’s and 1970’s.

R v A - Woolwich Crown Court

Defending mentally impaired defendant charged with rape.

R v D - Norwich Crown Court

Defending in student rape trial.

R v E - Woolwich Crown Court

Defending in marital rape trial.

R v B - Chelmsford Crown Court

Defending in sexual abuse father upon son trial.

R v F - Inner London Crown Court

Prosecuting rape trial.

R v C - Basildon Crown Court

Prosecuting multi-complainant rape trial.

R v O - Ipswich Crown Court

Prosecuting dual rape trial.

R v P - Snaresbrook Crown Court

Prosecuting lengthy child sexual abuse trial.

R v S - Wood Green Crown Court

Defending in dual rape trial in which defendant had initially confessed while of unsound mind.

R v T - Woolwich Crown Court

Defending in trial for rape of 16 year old girl.

R v T - Basildon Crown Court

Prosecuting rape trial involving mentally impaired defendant.

R v W - Ipswich Crown Court

Prosecuting child abuse case involving prolonged sexual abuse of step daughter and biological daughter.

R v W - Snaresbrook Crown Court

Defending child abuse/rape accusations made by step-sister.

R v M - Basildon Crown Court

Prosecuting trial with multiple counts of sexually abusing niece from age of 7 upwards. 

R v C - Snaresbrook Crown Court

Prosecuting sexual assault by mentally disordered D, insanity defence run.

R v G - Basildon Crown Court

Prosecuting D accused of multiple counts of rape on 14yo girl.

R v A - Isleworth Crown Court

Defending trial in which D accused of sexually assaulting three 15yo girls.

R v A - Kingston Crown Court

Defending in male-on-male violent rape in prison, to which D confessed while of unsound mind.

R v M - Basildon Crown Court

Defending sleeping rape allegation vs work colleague.

R v P - Ipswich Crown Court

Defending in trial involving indecent images of D’s own daughter.

 

Drug Importation/Conspiracy

R v M - Cambridge Crown Court

Defending in 13-handed class A drug conspiracy (the largest ever in Cambridgeshire).

R v J - Canterbury Crown Court

Defending in large-scale cocaine importation by air drop, representing the pilot.

R v M - Canterbury Crown Court

Defending in £30 million cocaine importation.

R v C - Maidstone Crown Court

Defending haulier accused of multiple large-scale fraudulent cigarette importations.

R v H - Canterbury Crown Court

Defending lead defendant in substantial multi-handed class A drug conspiracy.

R v T - Basildon Crown Court

Defending in substantial multi-handed class A drugs conspiracy.

R v P - Southwark Crown Court

Prosecuting widely-reported drug conspiracy trial in which one of the people to whom drugs supplied died as a result.

R v B - St Albans Crown Court

Defending in substantial cannabis conspiracy case.

 

Frauds

R v A - Southwark Crown Court

Defending as leading counsel in substantial long firm fraud.

R v N - Kingston Crown Court

Defending in large credit card fraud conspiracy.

R v S - Basildon Crown Court

Defending as leading counsel in 3-month money laundering conspiracy trial (& 3-month retrial).

R v M - Basildon Crown Court

Defending in substantial advance fee fraud.

R v V - Southwark Crown Court

Defending in substantial fraud upon military charities (SSAFA).

R v R - Basildon Crown Court

Defending lead defendant in substantial Betfair Ponzi fraud.

R v M - St Albans Crown Court

Defending in multi-handed fraud trial, heavily dependent on attribution of phones & cell site evidence.

 

Other notable cases

R v D - Central Criminal Court

Defending in prison van breakout trial (arson with intent and escape).

R v T - Basildon Crown Court

Defending in multi-handed firearms / drugs conspiracy case.

R v W - Wood Green Crown Court

Prosecuting multiple armed robbery indictment.

R v Private M - Colchester Barracks

Defending in 2 Para “Red Eye” allegation in Camp Bastion, Iraq.

R v F - Basildon Crown Court

Defending in death by dangerous driving case.

R v D - Woolwich Crown Court

Defending in 5-week multi-handed kidnap & torture trial.

R v W - Basildon Crown Court

Prosecuting multiple armed robbery indictment.

R v C - Lewes Crown Court

Defending in high profile perverting trial.

R v B - Chelmsford Crown Court

Defending in arson with intent to endanger life trial.

R v W - Chelmsford Crown Court

Prosecuting armed bank robbery trial.

R v W - St Albans Crown Court

Defending in kidnap trial.

R v L - Chelmsford Crown Court

Defending in multiple armed robberies of betting shops case.

R v K - Wood Green Crown Court

Prosecuting kidnap trial.

R v P - Chelmsford Crown Court

Prosecuting firearms / false imprisonment trial.

R v R - Croydon Crown Court

Defending in baby shaking / child cruelty / GBH with intent on 1-year-old child.

R v P - Chelmsford Crown Court

Prosecuting trial of student for causing death by dangerous driving.

R v P - Birmingham Crown Court

Defending in 7-week multi-handed, multi-million-pound conspiracy to steal Chinese artefacts from museums across the UK. 

R v K - Blackfriars Crown Court

Prosecuting perverting course of justice case involving solicitor’s rep “getting at” complainant.

R v W - Norwich Crown Court

Defending in trial in which D said to have driven car deliberately at complainant causing GBH injuries (initially charged as attempted murder).

R v A - Wood Green Crown Court

Prosecuting 4-week drugs, firearms & gangs trial, and re-trial.

 

Reported cases

R v Welland (James) [2018] EWCA Crim 2036

Re unfit defendant being denied opportunity to give evidence

R v Patel (Amit) [2016] EWCA Crim 2295

Re uncertainty in basis of sentencing

R v Finch (Stephen) [2016] EWCA Crim 288

R v Lawrence (Neil Lee) [2012] EWCA Crim 2144

Re cross-examining on complainant’s previous convictions

R v C [2011] EWCA Crim 939, 175 JP 281, [2011] Crim LR 642

Re admissibility of previous convictions for armed robberies in child abuse case

R v Mokelu (Chinaenye) [2010] EWCA Crim 288, [2010] 2 Cr App R (S) 87

Re appropriateness of consecutive sentences in fraud case

R v Evans (Kane), R v Evans (Kieron) [2010] EWCA Crim 190, 2010 WL 516951

Re unlawful sentences passed & totality

R v Natheeswaran (Shanmuganathan) [2009] EWCA Crim 295, 2009 WL 6537

Re absent co-defendant’s admissions

R v Wilson (Jamie) [2008] EWCA Crim 1754, [2009] Crim LR 193

Re use of evidence of cessation of serial robberies upon arrest of defendant

R v McNeill (Tracey) [2007] EWCA Crim 2927, (2008) 172 JP 50

Re evidence adduced under ss98/101 CJA 2003

R v Warden (Barry John) [2006] EWCA Crim 304, 2006 WL 901047

Re sentencing in large drug conspiracies

R v Hennes (Ivar) [2005] EWCA Crim 694

Re sentencing in sophisticated drug importations

R v Fullerton (William) [2004] EWCA Crim 3474

R v Radford (Robert) [2004] EWCA Crim 1833

Re inappropriate judicial interventions

R v Porceddu (Stefano) [2004] EWCA Crim 1043

Re alcohol & intent

R v Trotman (Jermaine) [2003] EWCA Crim 2456

Re financial orders upon conviction

R v McQueeny (Michael) [2003] EWCA Crim 898

R v Day (John) [2002] EWCA Crim 761

Re appropriateness of consecutive sentences & totality

R v Adekunle (Olawale) [2002] EWCA Crim 322

R v Fish (Keith) [2001] EWCA Crim 2432

Re abuse of process / severance

R v Taylor (Richard) [1996] EWCA Crim 1518, [1996] CLY 1518

Re robbery complainant fearing for safety of another

 

 

• Newcastle University BA Hons History & Politics 
• City University Dip Law

Karl Volz is a member of:

• Middle Temple
• CBA
• SE Circuit
• Essex Bar Mess

‘Karl's cross-examination is very incisive, and his closing speeches are extremely persuasive. He always remains calm under pressure even in the most stressful situations and when dealing with the most difficult clients. He is a fighter who hates losing and gains the respect of clients very quickly for this reason.'

Legal 500 2024 edition