Michael Hubbard QC, Second's 1955-1959 (July 2014)

The following is an excerpt from an obituary published on the One Paper website:

The Members of One Paper Buildings have been saddened to learn that Michael Hubbard QC passed away on 17th July 2014. He will be missed greatly. Michael was a qualified Solicitor for six years before being called to the Bar and joining Chambers over 40 years ago. He was Head of Chambers for over ten years, during which time he presided over a period of change and challenge to both Chambers and the profession with dignity and compassion. He only recently relinquished the role to spend more time with his family. After converting to the Bar Michael practised on the Western Circuit taking silk after just 13 years. As a junior and in silk he was a charismatic jury advocate and thoroughly deserved his description in the Chambers & Partners Directory as being 'extremely able' and possessing 'tremendous flair as a natural advocate.' His prodigious talent was evidenced by the cases he was instructed in. He acted for famous clients and in high profile cases ranging from the late Mary Whitehouse through to the Fallon race fixing trial and the Soham murder trial, where he secured Maxine Carr’s acquittal of murder. In that case, as David Pannick QC reminded us in his recent article in The Times, he famously quoted but sadly did not sing Engelbert Humperdinck’s Please Release Me. Michael was standing counsel for the Inland Revenue on the Western Circuit before taking silk and whilst in silk successfully acted in the first joint prosecution by the Inland Revenue and Serious Fraud Office, following his successful prosecution of the Directors of Swindon Town Football club for tax fraud. After those cases his reputation was such that he was regularly instructed upon serious fraud cases, a recent example of which was the Hackney election fraud trial. His expertise was marked annually in the various Legal Directories, being recognised as a leading criminal advocate who was instructed in high profile cases across the country. His easy manner with so many of us was reflected in his relaxed style of Jury advocacy. This relaxed style lulled many into a false sense of security: it belied what commentators stated was a 'razor sharp intellect', combined with an attitude described recently by the Independent newspaper as that of an advocate 'who would leave no stone unturned' in assisting his client. He leaves behind his colleagues at the Bar and amongst the Higher Judiciary, many of whom became close friends and will long remember his love of laughter, fine wines and sailing. His loss will be felt acutely by all members of Chambers and his family, to whom we join in sending our deepest commiserations.


Karim S Khalil QC Head of Chambers, One Paper Buildings