Thirty Nine Essex Street silk Rohan Pershad QC has been charged over VAT fraud totalling £600,000.

Pershad is accused of charging and receiving VAT payments on services he provided while practising as a barrister, which he then failed to declare or pay to HM Revenue.

He faces prosecution for a single offence of cheating the public revenue, with the fraud alleged to have taken place between 1 June 1999 and 24 September 2011.

He will appear before Highbury Corner Magistrates' Court on 2 August 2012.

Crown Prosecution Service central fraud division prosecutor Keri Ashworth-Beaumont said: "This decision to prosecute was taken in accordance with the Code for Crown Prosecutors. After careful consideration of all the evidence, I am satisfied there is sufficient evidence for a realistic prospect of conviction and it is in the public interest to prosecute this case."

Pershad was called to the Bar in 1991 and awarded silk in 2011. His practice focuses on clinical negligence cases.

In a statement, Pershad said: "The CPS has announced today that it has issued a summons in relation to an allegation stemming from my personal tax affairs. The CPS has issued this summons while I am still providing HMRC and the CPS with further information and representations setting out why I am not guilty of any offence.

"I am extremely disappointed that the CPS has seen fit to issue a press release whilst discussions are on-going. For the avoidance of doubt, I deny any dishonest activity in relation to my tax affairs and if a decision is made to pursue this matter in court, I will defend myself vigorously."

The news comes after Hogan Lovells litigation partner Christopher Grierson was sentenced to three years in prison for defrauding the firm of £1.3m in false travel expenses in May this year.

Grierson, who pleaded guilty in March 2012 after being charged by the City of London Police with four counts of false accounting, is expected to serve a total of 18 months in jail.