Satya Chotalia
Satya has been described by a Crown Court Judge as “a fine advocate and an asset to the bar”.
Satya’s broad criminal practice includes cases of serious violence, sexual offences, armed robbery, burglary, drug offences, dangerous driving, money laundering, fraud and confiscation. He has conducted appeals before the Court of Appeal and High Court.
Satya served in the Officer Training Corps and Air Training Corps. He has a particular interest in military, courts martial and international criminal law cases. Satya has travelled to various military bases throughout the world.
Practice Areas
Satya is instructed in a wide variety of criminal cases defending and prosecuting. Satya is a Level 3 CPS panel advocate and also instructed to prosecute on behalf of the Department for Work and Pensions. Satya has appeared in trials prosecuted by the Security Industry Authority and the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
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Asset Forfeiture & Confiscation
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Multiple POCA applications and contested POCA hearings following conviction.
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Criminal Defence
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R v SG – Lead junior in multi-handed gang rivalry case. Defendant’s accused of shooting, kidnap and stabbing.
R v P – D acquitted of kidnap and assault despite alleged confession during interview.
R v GC – Multi-handed armed robbery for the first defendant accused of gang membership.
R v RO – Possession of firearm and 300 rounds of live ammunition. Suspended sentence following plea in mitigation.
R v KR – Dangerous driving. Key defence witness passed away during trial. Hearsay application resulting in acquittal.
R v AM – Man of good character accused of sexual assault allegedly witness by 2 police officers. Acquitted.
R v KW – University student of good character. Burglary. Successful s.8 application for disclosure resulting in prosecution offering no evidence.
R v H – Student riots. Defendant accused of assaulting a police constable by throwing a missile. Allegedly witnessed by 5 officers. Acquitted following trial.
R v R – Prosecution application to rescind bail for a defendant charged with possession with intent to supply case. Represented the only defendant of 17 to be granted bail.
R v H – Defendant acquitted of possession of offensive weapon following successful submission of no case to answer.
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Criminal Prosecution
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R v S and others – Multi handed possession with intent to supply Class A.
R v ND – possession of a false identity document with intent.
R v G – causing grievous bodily harm with intent.
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Fraud & Financial Crime
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Secondment at the Serious Fraud Office – gained experience in complex fraud investigations including the “LIBOR” prosecutions.
Disclosure junior – processed and analysed large volumes of digital evidence and dealt with issues of legal professional privilege on documents seized during the course of investigations.
Lead junior on a multi-handed money laundering trial.
R v DW – Instructed in conspiracy to defraud trial involving multiple defendants.
Professional Memberships
Criminal Bar Association
Association of Military Court Advocates
International Bar Association
Grade 3 CPS Counsel
Awards, Qualifications & Other
During pupillage Satya was awarded the Leonard Woodley Scholarship by the Inner Temple. Whilst studying he won a national mooting competition set in the Royal Courts of Justice and was invited to Kenya to represent the UK in the Commonwealth mooting competition.
- Bar Vocational Course (Very Competent)
- LL.B. with Honours (2:1)
- Leonard Woodley Scholarship (Inner Temple)