Undergraduate degree:
LL.B (Hons) University of Wales. 1997-2000.
Postgraduate Qualification:
Bar Vocational Course. Inns of Court School of Law. 2000-2001.
James had practised exclusively in Criminal law since joining Queen Square Chambers in 2003, though more recently he has started practising in Family Law as well as Crime.
James' criminal practice is split in equal shares between Prosecution and Defence, though since 2007, he has become involved in a number of high profile cases as Junior Counsel for the Crown. He regularly appears throughout the Western Circuit, instructed by a wide range of Criminal Defence firms, and numerous CPS areas. He also has experience of appearing on behalf of other prosecuting authorities, including local Councils, Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs and the Department for Work and Pensions.
His recent caseload has included; Sexual Assaults, multi-handed Supply of Class "A" drugs and associated confiscation hearings, s.18 Wounding, Robbery, Blackmail and other offences of violence and dishonesty.
Since 2007, James has been instructed as Junior Counsel for the Crown on a number of matters including; an 8 week, 6 handed Conspiracy to Burgle, a case involving the periodical defrauding of a vunerable victim of over £300,000 and most recently in a long running operation involving Devon and Cornwall Polce and Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs. This latter case concerned the importation of £4.5 million worth of Cocaine from Spain. As a result of such cases, James has significant experience of highly senstive public interest issues, detailed sensitive police procedures and unusually the extradition of a Brazilian national from Brazil.
The wide ranging nature of his defence practice means that James has experience of difficult cross examination of child and vunerable witnesses, the evidential provisions of the Criminal Justice Act 2003, complex sentencing exercises, including Sexual Offfences Prevention Orders and Confiscation proceedings.
James has also given lectues on behalf of Chambers to large groups of solicitors on various aspects of Criminal law and evidence.
Cases of Note:
R v Mokhtari and others: Conspiracy to obtain a false passport. James defended an Algerian female charged with the above offence arising out of a murder investigation, where evidence was successfully argued inadmissible on grounds of non-disclosure.
R v Jennifer Harris: Perverting the Course of Justice. Defence of a female charged with perverting the course of justice, having ensured the arrest and conviction of her husband for Harrassment by sending herself threatening text messages via an old mobile phone SIM card of his.
R v Soper: Junior Counsel for the Crown in a Prosecution of 6 defendants in a Conspiracy to Burgle lasting over a year with an estimated worth of over £300,000.
R v Akhtary: Prosecution of a man charged with faking his own death. His fingerprints were found to be on the death certificate provided to the Insurance Company.
R v Austin and others: Junior Counsel for the Crown in long running investigation into Importation of large amounts of Cocaine into the UK from Spain. The case involved the successful extradition of a defendant from Brazil to face charges, believed to be the first time in British legal history. The conviction of 5 defendants resulted in sentences ranging from 5-22 years imprisonment.
Hobbies:
Rugby, golf and tennis.
