It is understood Adrian Darbishire also spent more than nine hours at Mandelson’s home, on the edge of Regent’s Park, on Friday, while police searched it and another home linked to Mandelson in Wiltshire
Peter Mandelson was today visited at home by a top barrister – a day after two houses linked to him were raided by police.
Adrian Darbishire KC has previously handled a number of high-profile cases and clients, including former Prime Minister Boris Johnson. He was spotted entering the disgraced peer’s London townhouse at 12noon, before leaving at 1.30pm.
Mr Darbishire confirmed his identity to the Mirror while leaving the address, but declined to answer any further questions, repeatedly replying “no comment”. It is understood he also spent more than nine hours at Mandelson’s home, on the edge of Regent’s Park, on Friday, while police searched it and another home linked to Mandelson in Wiltshire.
READ MORE: Police search Peter Mandelson’s homes amid allegations over Jeffrey Epstein
In 2019, Mr Darbishire, of law firm QEB Hollis Whiteman, successfully represented Boris Johnson in a High Court challenge against a private prosecution. It came after he was accused of misconduct in public office over claims he made during the referendum campaign about the UK sending £350 million a week to the EU.
Mr Darbishire was called to the bar in 1993 and became a KC in 2012. He has been described as “an experienced criminal practitioner with a principal focus on the defence of professionals facing serious criminal offences arising from the workplace” His law firm’s website also describes him as “an imaginative and collaborative lawyer with great intellect and forensic insight” and says he “is recognised for being a superb tactician and a powerfully persuasive advocate.”
The online biography also says he “specialises in the defence of professional individuals charged in criminal and disciplinary proceedings arising in connection with their work as well as in advising and defending corporates in relation to allegations of financial crime and health and safety breaches and related criminal offences”. It adds: “He has vast experience of the full gamut of offences in this field and creatively defends against them with apparent ease.”
Mr Darbishire has also received a number of glowing testimonials. One, by Chambers UK Financial Crime: Corporates in 2026, said: “Adrian is a master of his craft. He is a superb communicator and could create a compelling narrative out of a shopping list.”
In 2025, Legal 500 Business and Regulatory Crime said: “Adrian is an absolute star of the Bar. His advocacy is of the very highest quality – engaging, clear and persuasive. His vast experience at the cutting edge of corporate crime puts him top of the list for directors facing prosecution.”
Mandelson’s homes were raided by police on Friday as part of the investigation into claims he leaked government information to convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein. Specialist crime teams carried out searches at two properties linked to the former US ambassador in Wiltshire and Camden, North London. Plain-clothed officers later left his London home carrying two boxes after searching it and his car.
After the release of the latest Epstein files Lord Mandelson is facing allegations he leaked information to the financier after the 2008 economic crash, while in Gordon Brown’s government. Mandelson has previously denied criminal wrongdoing relating to his friendship with sex offender Epstein, who died in a New York prison in 2019.