Rubin Italia

I am a Director in the Criminal Law department at Duncan Lewis Solicitors. I have been a Director at Duncan Lewis for over 9 years and have over 20 years criminal defence experience. I have been recognised as a Leading Lawyer in my field by Chambers UK and the Legal 500.

I currently have over 16 years post qualification experience of extensive criminal law and procedural experience ranging from minor road traffic offences to murder, rape, extradition and all serious complex crime including large-scale drug conspiracies. A notable case includes that of Eva Nowakoska whom I represented at the police station - an au pair who was accused of shaking her baby to death - found not guilty of murder and manslaughter.

I am well versed in all matters dealing with bribery and corruption investigations and prosecutions conducted by the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) and I am used to dealing with such matters on a regular basis. I was also part of a team that worked on one of the largest frauds in UK history involving allegations of a price fixing cartel by various drug companies supplying the NHS. Thanks to my eye for detail, the trial eventually collapsed.

I have also been requested for advice from companies seeking comprehensive advice on the Bribery and Corruption Act and have represented individuals at all levels including CEOs and directors with investigations from the SFO. Notably individuals from Boeing as well as companies being investigated for billion dollar contracts in Iraq, the UAE as well as north African countries including Morocco.

I am predominantly a criminal practitioner however I have an extensive knowledge of other practise areas such as public law and immigration. My experience has included contested extradition cases involving class 1 and 2 countries. I am one of very few criminal practitioners with a history working in immigration as a supervisor, which has assisted in trying to identify the issues within public law that are identifiable for judicial review.

I have undertaken numerous high-profile cases during my career, many of which received extensive media coverage, for example, during the London riots in August 2011, I represented a number of the defendants arrested as part of Operation Withern. I also took part in Operation Overt, one of the longest running and largest terrorist trials in the UK, involving a conspiracy to detonate bombs on transatlantic planes.

I qualified as a solicitor in 2001 after training at a niche firm. I then practised for a further five years at a specialist criminal firm. Having perfected my advocacy I became a Higher Court Advocate in early 2007 able to practice in all criminal courts.

I am always prepared to go the extra mile; I travelled to Jamaica on a cannabis importation case of 25 kg. The evidence gained was put before the jury. The jury returned a unanimous not guilty plea within minutes. I continue to represent those who feel the odds are against them. I am also an advocate and conduct my own trials. I advocated in 2004 in what was at the time the largest application for an Anti-Social Behaviour Order (ASBO), with six other respondents. My client was the only one not to receive an order against him.

I regularly give lectures to members of the firm and write articles for the local media. I am also a mentor as part of the National Mentoring Scheme and have assisted and supported a number of people over the last 4 years.

I am an approachable and reliable solicitor with over 20 years of experience and I am often called upon for advice, help and assistance which I am always willing to give.

• LPC - (London University)

• Duncan Lewis Solicitors: 2008 - present

• "I just wanted to say a massive thank you for your hard work. Me and my family are so grateful for what you've done for me and I really cant thank you enough. I'm so happy my brother did his research and found you. You've given me the second chance I need to get my life back on track. Thank you so much." - Client, 2020


• "Just wanted to say a massive thank you for supporting me through the hard times I was in. You saw me at my darkest and lowest. No one has seen me that upset. Not even my dad or my mum. If it wasn't for you I'd probably not be here texting you I'd probably be dead. Even though you put up with my annoying personality I appreciate all of your support. You are a very patient and very sympathetic man and a very good lawyer. You should be very proud of yourself as I am. Thank you Rubin, I'll never forget you for the rest of my life. - Client 2020


• "My first thought was to impose an immediate custodial sentence. However, I have been persuaded by your advocate [Mr Italia] that you can be rehabilitated." - District Judge at Hatfield MC.


• "I can say that Rubin and his team really helped me out and am completely indebted to him" - Sunita, 2016

• Ranked Band 4 - Chambers and Partners UK 2021 - 2022 editions - Crime, London
• Recommended Lawyer - The Legal 500, 2022 – 2017 editions
• Leading Individual - Chambers and Partners UK, 2020 - 2018 editions

Court of Appeal

• Johnson and Others - Dealing with the issue of the new Joint Enterprise ruling from the Supreme Court.


• Khan - was approached after conviction and appealing the sentence for a solicitor convicted of fraud. the sentence was halved.


• R v WB - appeal against conviction for the largest college fraud.


• R v P - an appeal against conviction for a large money laundering matter involving Bonded Warehouses, which deal in alcohol and tobacco.


• R v Popat - issue as to whether a witness was in contempt if he failed to answer a witness summons.

High Court

• R v RK - judicially reviewed the SFO regarding withholding a clients passport during an investigation.


• R v WZ - a bail application for a terror suspect.

Criminal Court

• R v PM - was an advocate in one of the first trials for modern slavery at Newcastle CC.


• R v RS - Advocate for a patient at Broadmoor who became mentally unwell during his trial at Reading CC.


• R v I - Gang warfare in Bedford where firearms were discharged. Jury were undecided.


• R v IS - a member of the armed forces accused of fraud in conspiring with others to sell and distribute accredited certificates.


• R v YF - a murder of a drug dealer by another. we represented a 13 year old defendant who was charged with a fatal stabbing. After giving evidence the defendant was acquitted of murder but was sentenced for manslaughter.


• R v KE - A gangland shooting in Shepherds Bush. We represented the main defendant who was accused of "pulling the trigger". Unanimously acquitted.


• R v CT - large fraud involving extra territorial jurisdictions. total value was over £60,000,000.


• R v GH - Importation of drugs. After a number of Enquiries by us to the prosecution the matter was discontinued.


• R v ER - Importation of 30 kg of Cannabis - Investigation in Jamaica where direct evidence was used to support the defence case. Client was unanimously acquitted in under 10 minutes.


• R v S - A large Ponzi fraud where the wife of a convicted fraudster was tried. The value of the fraud was in the hundreds of millions.


• R v B - a doctor accused of making indecent images. Non custodial sentence awarded.


• R v J - a lecturer accused of taking obscene images of an air stewardess. Matter dismissed.


• R v C - an ex employee of GCHQ making and distributing indecent images. Non custodial sentence awarded.


• R v AB - Extradition to Germany under European Extradition Warrant. Objected on the basis that there was no equivalent law in the UK Objection allowed.


• R v PD - An ex SAS soldier accused of an almost fatal stabbing another in a bar in Harlesden. There were over 20 witnesses that identified the defendant, after a significant defence was launched, the defendant was unanimously acquitted at trial.


• R v GF - a patient at Broadmoor charged with historic multiple murders on different women over a number of years as well as serious sexual offences.


• R v CL - a murder of a drug dealer involving four others in Clapham.


• R v CL - a large conspiracy of 7 who conspired to supply class A drugs in South London area.

Civil Court

• Represented core participants in The Grenfell Tower Inquiry.

• Member of Law Society
• Awarded the Criminal Litigation Accreditation Scheme I and II
• Accredited Supervisor in Criminal Litigation
• Higher Court Advocate
• London Criminal Courts Solicitors Association (LCCSA)
• Society for Asian Lawyers (SAL)
• Mentor and the National Mentoring Scheme
• Fraud Lawyers Association

• I enjoy cycling and have taken part in the London to Brighton Bike Ride several times.

• The prosecution wants a dreaded trial day adjournment, so what is your next move? (9 March 2022)
• HMRC Code of Practice 9 Investigations - What are they and how can Duncan Lewis Solicitors help? (25 October 2021)
• Duncan Lewis Solicitors Chambers and Partners 2022 Rankings (21 October 2021)
• Mini Umbrella Company Fraud – HMRC are watching (20 October 2021)
• The Sarah Everard Inquiry must be an unfettered Public Inquiry into Police Misconduct (15 October 2021)
• Duncan Lewis Solicitors Chambers and Partners 2021 Rankings (22 October 2020)
• Excellent results for Duncan Lewis in the Chambers and Partners 2020 guide (10 October 2019)
• What to do when served with a Noise Abatement Notice? (12 December 2018)
• Duncan Lewis shortlisted for awards at the Society of Asian Lawyers Awards (11 October 2018)
• Failings recorded in report on police disclosure - Just how many are affected? (31 July 2018)
• Civil Liberties Group Launches Legal Challenge Over Police Facial Recognition Technology (26 July 2018)
• Police Facial Recognition Technology Risks Mistaken Identity (12 June 2018)
• Police called to 430 moped enabled crimes a week in 2017 (11 June 2018)
• Man jailed for life after deliberately infecting his lovers with HIV (20 April 2018)
• Disclosure in Criminal Proceedings – Miscarriages in Criminal Justice are real and this is one area that we should have got it right (Asian Voice) (23 January 2018)
• Legal 500 Recommended National Law Firm Duncan Lewis Hires New Crime Director Nicholas De Freitas (8 January 2018)
• Disclosure in Criminal Proceedings – Miscarriages in Criminal justice are real and this is one area where we should have got it right. (20 December 2017)
• Sexual Harassment in the Workplace – Has recent publicity raised concerns in this area? (Asian Voice) (23 November 2017)
• Sexual Harassment in the Workplace – Has recent publicity raised concerns in this area? (2 November 2017)
• Crown Prosecution Service reveals record number of sexual offences prosecuted (16 October 2017)
• Surgeon stabbed in neck outside mosque (26 September 2017)
• Lawyers are being Excluded from representing Clients in Section 2 Interviews (30 September 2016)
• Rubin Italia interviewed on LBC radio discussing the sentence against the Islamist cleric convicted of supporting terrorism Anjem Choudary (8 September 2016)
• Legal 500 2015 rank Duncan Lewis as a leading London Crime Defence Practice. (21 September 2015)
• Duncan Lewis Criminal Defence Solicitors take on 18 Qualified Crime Solicitors and Crime Duty Solicitors (3 July 2014)
• Rubin Italia, Duncan Lewis Crime Solicitor, is recognised by Chambers UK 2014 as a Leader in his Field. (1 October 2013)
• ITS OK TO SWEAR AT THE POLICE – ISN’T IT? (18 January 2012)