Robert Newcombe

Robert Newcombe is a highly experienced barrister having built a multi-disciplinary practice over nearly three decades, as a leader in criminal advocacy, financial regulatory law, and financial crime.

Called to the Bar in 1996 at Lincoln’s Inn, he has established a formidable reputation for handling complex, high-stakes cases involving multiple homicides, large-scale fraud conspiracies, cybercrime, and regulatory matters, as leading junior counsel.

His meticulous attention to detail and down-to-earth manner mean that he is in constant demand for the most challenging of cases.

Robert Newcombe has extensive experience in the cross examination of a wide array of expert witnesses including DNA, accountancy, computer forensics, financial services experts, pathology, firearms and ballistics, telephony and neuroradiology. He enjoys the challenge of understanding the expert’s discipline, challenging the opponent’s assumptions and communicating complex material in a straightforward manner to the jury.

Robert recently achieved an acquittal in a nine month, nine-handed pension investment ‘conspiracy to defraud’ trial as leading junior counsel. His cross-examination of the officer in charge of the investigation was described by co-defending counsel as “a masterclass in advocacy”.

He has extensive experience of financial regulation, corporate fiduciary duties, and corporate governance.

Robert is also experienced in the laws and safeguards surrounding covert policing. He was involved in a complex abuse of process hearing where CHIS “XY” made allegations of criminal conduct against his police handler. He was successful in persuading the judge to make an order for the disclosure of the CHIS’s identity and cross-examined him on the voir dire.

He holds the CFA UK Society’s Investment Management Certificate (IMC – 2022) and serves as a Non-Executive Director and Chairman on several company boards, including over 10 years on FCA-authorised advisory and fund management firms. His board experience encompasses Supervisory Boards, Investment Committees, Remuneration Committees, and Audit Committees. Mr Newcombe also chairs a small charity with a wide objects clause.

He is regularly quoted in the press on wide-ranging financial-legal topics. His recent articles have been published in Fraud Intelligence, Regulatory Intelligence and the Quarterly Journal of Forestry. In 2023 Mr Newcombe was admitted to the Freedom of The City of London.