James has experience in all areas of criminal law and primarily undertakes instructions in cases involving corporate and individual white-collar crime. He is a determined barrister who provides an outstanding service to both his professional and lay clients. His meticulous case preparation, intelligent advocacy and personable approach make him a popular choice as Junior Counsel.

James regularly accepts instructions in cases involving widespread international business crime. His in-depth knowledge in this area comes from having acted both for and against the Serious Fraud Office (‘SFO’) and the Financial Conduct Authority (‘FCA’), in some of the most complex and challenging allegations of fraud, bribery and corruption in recent years. His breadth of experience combined with his sound judgement on business and client need, makes for a dynamic barrister, well placed to advise on every stage of an investigation into both corporates and individuals alike. James can make the most complex subject seem simple both in consultation and court. Having acted for all sides in this field, James has provided insightful advice in relation to all aspects of white-collar crime, including:

• The initial stages of a criminal or regulatory investigation, including intelligence gathering and pre-charge strategy
• Mutual Legal Assistance requests, European Investigation Orders, and law enforcement in other jurisdictions
• s2 notices, search warrants, and grounds of arrest
• Voluntary, s2 and PACE interviews
• Deferred Prosecution Agreements
• SOCPA agreements
• Disclosure – including ‘big data’ cases involving millions of items of material
• Jurisdiction and extradition
• LPP and PII
• Advising on charge and trial strategy

In addition to business crime, James has dealt with a range of serious and complex cases concerning allegations of violence, dishonesty, drugs and sexual offences. He has also accepted instructions in regulatory matters brought by the Health Care Professions Council and now Social Work England.

Education

BA (Hons) Ancient History, Newcastle University
Graduate Diploma in Law, BPP Law School
Bar Vocational Course, Northumbria University

Further Professional Information

Appointed to the SFO Advocate Panel Scheme (Band B)
Middle Temple JJ Powell Middle Temple Scholarship

Interests

James is a keen sportsman with rugby, football (an ever-hopeful Sunderland fan) and cycling being his personal favourites. James played rugby as a part time professional before moving into coaching following retirement. He is currently Head Coach of Newcastle University.

Crime

• Confiscation
• Confiscation and asset recovery
• Drugs
• Fraud
• Regulatory crime
• Serious fraud
• Sexual Offences
• Violence

BUSINESS CRIME

SFO v A
James is currently instructed as independent LPP counsel in an ongoing SFO fraud investigation into AXIOM INCE Ltd & others.

FCA (Operation Gillingham)
Instructed as counsel as part of the FCA’s criminal prosecution team in their investigation into Worthington Group & others.

SFO v B
James is currently instructed as Junior Counsel for the SFO in a fraud in which the SFO is investigating and prosecuting individuals accused of defrauding major banks for over £100m.

SFO v C
Instructed as independent LPP counsel in an ongoing SFO fraud investigation into LC&F and others.

SFO v D
James was instructed in an advisory capacity for a director at an established UK business.

SFO v Alstom Network UK and others
Instructed as Junior Counsel on behalf Alstom’s country president for the UK and managing director of Alstom Transport UK & Ireland in Phase 3 of the Serious Fraud Office’s investigation into the French transport company Alstom. The trial in Phase 3 related to allegations of corruption in a Budapest Metro rolling stock contract in Hungary.

SFO v Q
James was instructed as Counsel for the SFO in an investigation into a former FTSE 100 multinational natural resources company. The investigation was focused on allegations of fraud, bribery and corruption around the acquisition of substantial mineral assets.

SFO v Rolls Royce PLC and others
Instructed as Deputy Disclosure Counsel and Junior Counsel in the SFO’s investigation into Rolls Royce Plc. The Rolls Royce investigation is one of the highest profile bribery and corruption cases ever to be prosecuted in the UK and resulted in a record fine for a corporate body.

SFO v GlaxoSmithKline & Others
James was instructed as Junior Counsel in the SFO’s investigation into the commercial practices of GlaxoSmithKline PLC and its subsidiaries. The SFO was investigating both corporate and individual offending across multiple jurisdictions.