Chris acted for the former Wales captain and Manchester United winger, Ryan Giggs (the Premier League’s most decorated player), in a 2-week trial for alleged assault and coercive behaviour. 

Mr Giggs was cleared of all charges, shortly before a retrial was due to begin, after the prosecution offered no further evidence.  Not Guilty verdicts were entered on all counts by the Crown Court Judge, HHJ Manley.

Chris acted for the former England and Chelsea captain, John Terry, in his high profile trial for alleged racial abuse of another player, Anton Ferdinand, during a televised Premier League match. 

Mr Terry was found not guilty of all charges by the Chief Magistrate of England and Wales. Chris also acted for Mr Terry in related proceedings before the Football Association Regulatory Commission.

Chris was leading counsel for John West Foods, an iconic British food supplier, now part of a Thai multinational.  The client company was charged with Illegal and Unlicensed fishing off the coast of West Africa, with a value of several hundred million pounds.  John West was completely cleared of all charges, after a 6 year legal battle in the UK courts, and received an exceptional multi-million pound costs award and civil compensation.

Chris acted for two retired Chief Superintendents who oversaw key elements of the South Yorkshire Police investigation into the Hillsborough stadium disaster in 1989, widely portrayed in the media as a "cover up". 

The inquests, which continued over two years before a jury, were heard by Sir John Goldring, a retired Lord Justice of Appeal.  In the subsequent criminal trial, Chris' client was cleared of all charges on the direction of the trial judge, (now) Lord Justice Sir William Davis.

In recent years, Chris has advised members of the House of Lords in separate criminal investigations:

Lord X - acting for peer accused of sexual assault.  Client was cleared of all charges.

Lord Y - advising peer on appeal against conviction for offences related to parliamentary expenses.

Lady Mone - advising peer on a major fraud investigation by the National Crime Agency, arising from government procurement of PPE supplies during the acute phase of the COVID pandemic.

Chris Daw KC acted for a retired Chief Constable, Mick Creedon, who was formerly a detective in the investigation of the late Lord Janner for alleged historic sex offences (which Janner always denied).  The Inquiry found no fault in the actions of Chris' client in the Janner investigation and his reputation was restored in the public domain.

Acted for the Chief Constable of a large police force, who originally faced 16 misconduct charges relating to inappropriate behaviour towards women and data protection breaches. The client was cleared of all 10 allegations of gross misconduct by an independent panel, which recommended that he return to the office. 

The client subsequently reached a compromise agreement and resigned from office, following initiation of separate proceedings, under s.38 of the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011, by the Police and Crime Commissioner.

Briefed on behalf of the ten most dangerous men in Britain, including "road rage killer", Kenneth Noye, in a Judicial Review action over conditions of detention at the notorious Special Secure Unit at Whitemoor Prison. 

All clients were transferred elsewhere and the unit was closed.

Counsel for the main defendant in a case of a spree shooting in the North of England using an AK-47 assault rifle and a Smith & Wesson handgun. This nationally publicised high-security trial concerned the shooting of five innocent people in the course of a single incident.

Acting in a criminal appeal to the Court of Appeal (Criminal Division), for a doctor, convicted (with a different legal team) in the Crown Court at trial of fraud and perverting the course of justice. The case involved a successful application to adduce fresh expert medical evidence, relating to the mental capacity of the Appellant at the time of the crimes.