James Walker
Profile
Experienced as both a Junior and Leader in his four principle practice areas:
- Organised crime
- Homicide and serious violence
- Terrorism
- Fraud and financial crime.
James has developed extensive experience as both leading and junior counsel.
Highly regarded criminal defence specialist: approachable, dependable and fearless in his desire to seek the best interests of his clients.
James is a specialist in criminal defence, including fraud and regulatory work. James is regularly instructed to act in heavyweight criminal cases with a busy and successful practice in all areas of criminal law, both publicly and privately funded, particularly murder and manslaughter, complex fraud, major drugs cases, and organised crime.
Having been instructed as sole junior or led junior for many years, he is now increasingly instructed as leading or sole junior counsel, often in multi-handed cases of complexity or sensitivity.
He is a modern advocate: effective in Court, concerned to deliver down-to-earth client care and attentive to crucial case management issues such as securing full disclosure and identifying the right experts ahead of trial.
He has been instructed as a leading junior in a wide range of serious crime, particularly in relation to young defendants. As a junior, his detailed analytical approach is considered invaluable. He has a calm relaxed disposition, which makes him good with difficult clients, and in particular he puts clients at ease and instils confidence.
Renowned for his engaging court style, both as an attractive and natural jury advocate, James has established a strong track record, both as a leading junior, a led junior and acting alone, in matters of great weight and complexity.
He is highly committed to the defence of those he represents, combining an approachable, thorough and dependable style, which has resulted in a number of successful appearances at all levels including in the Criminal Court of Appeal.
Expertise
Operation Enola / Reconcile – R v Andrew Baker (Bristol CC): Two consecutive trials involving multi handed defendants and OCG related conspiracies.
Operation Dreadnought – R v Lewis Johnson (Liverpool Crown Court). OCG large scale drug conspiracy.
Operation Anvil – R v Carl Daniels (Liverpool Crown court). OCG large scale drug conspiracy.
Operation Major – R v Dennis Smith (Guildford Crown court). Large scale fraud.
Operation Appletree – R v Deividas Jankys (Southwark Crown court). Large scale cigarette importation.
Operation Unsafe – R v Stuart Davidson (Chelmsford Crown court). NCA 3 months as leading junior in large scale drug conspiracy.
Operation Emerald, R v McGarvey – (Newcastle Crown Court)(2017): 6 week trial in respect of large scale drug conspiracies. This trial was linked to Operation Santuary, recently sentenced in respect of sex grooming gang. Defendant was partner of Jahingar Zaman who was sentenced to 29 years. 5 defendants faced trial in respect of drugs allegations. McGarvey only defendant acquitted. Instructed by Robin Ford.
Operation Alex, R v Beckwith – (Central Criminal Court)(2016). Conspiracy to murder allegation transferred to CCC from Newcastle Crown Court re jury issues. Trial preceded Operation Scopus which was a 15 handed drug conspiracy. The murder allegation stemmed from a connected turf war. Instructed by Robin Ford of Hodgson Coulthard.
R v Iqbal – (Manchester Minshull Street) 2016. 6 week trial involving allegations of modern slavery in respect of Slovakian nationals working at defendants factory. Defendant acquitted. Instructed by Ben Jones of Opus Law.
R v Oduro – (Woolwich Crown Court) 2016. 3 week trial involving firearms. Trial included C4 documentary “gangland turf wars’ and YouTube footage of defendants with firearms.
Operation Missouri, R v Issah – (Maidstone Crown Court) 2017. 6 week trial involving armed robbery of a travellers site.
R v Cash (Birmingham Crown Court) – Multi- agency operation regarding West Midlands drug trafficking.
R v Cash (Lincoln Crown Court) – Multi-agency drug operation.
R v Mustafa (Reading Crown Court): Eight handed conspiracy to distribute heroin in excess of £20million.
Operation Malina – Modern slavery/Trafficking case involving fraud. First case of its kind to involve MSA and fraud. This matter involved a task master who recruited young girls and involved them in a country wide against Boots in respect of several hundred thousand pounds.
James represented Eva Dambrauskaite, who the crown acknowledged was trafficked and therefore a victim of modern slavery. However, the Crown alleged that she was no longer a victim on her 18th birthday.
Operation Settlement – An Encrochat conspiracy alleging conspiracy to murder, involving firearms, drugs.
James was leading counsel for Frankie Sinclair, who was engaged in a feud with a rival gang in Cardiff. Hi friend was shot, his mother housed was blasted with a shotgun and crossbow. The defendant sourced several different firearms and ammunition using the Encrochat platform.
CACD R v Matthew Walsh – The applicant was said to have conspired with four other individuals to commit the offence: John Simpson, Owen Watson, William Edwards and Mark Crane.
In the summer of 2018 Crane was under police surveillance during which on two occasions he was seen to meet with Watson and an unidentified drug dealer in Liverpool. In July of that year Crane was arrested and found in possession of two packages, each comprising approximately one kilogram of cocaine, which were exhibited under references DW1A and DW1B. Subsequent forensic analysis on both exhibits revealed what was accepted to be the applicant’s DNA on the packaging in which the cocaine was wrapped.
Conviction quashed upon appeal.
Operation Latecoming – Defendant part of the operation Venetic arrests. This is a case about drugs and guns. The prosecution say that each of these defendants has played a role in the distribution of large quantities of class A drugs. Each of them was also involved in the handling of firearms and ammunition, either seeking to obtain firearms/ammo or making attempts to supply them.
https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/black-country/walsall-drug-dealer-who-plotted-27815052.
Operation Ovuru – James Walker’s defendant acquitted in Operation Uvrou, the “Gray’s Inn bomb” counter terrorism command prosecution at the Central Criminal court that ran for 14 weeks. Instructed by Sarah Housley of Cunninghams Lythgoe Caplin Ltd.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-66544098.
https://www.itv.com/news/london/2023-08-18/businessman-guilty-of-london-bomb-plot-over-14m-legal-row.
https://www.mylondon.news/news/zone-1-news/businessman-planned-bomb-london-offices-27548763.
https://www.dailyecho.co.uk/news/23732820.romsey-businessman-jonathan-nuttall-found-guilty-bomb-plot.
Operation Supermarine – James Walker lead Dr Anthony Richardson in a 10 week multi-handed human trafficking trial at Winchester Crown Court.
Their client was acquitted of conspiracy to facilitate travel with a view to exploitation under s2 Modern Slavery Act 2015.
The prosecution case centred around prostitutes working in the Swindon area who had come from Romania.
The Crown alleged that the client controlled the prostitution work for an organised crime group.
Operation Nightjar 2 – Tamar, Ali and Hayder Sheblan are brothers, they are also convicted drug dealers2. They conspired with others to supply cocaine. They benefitted from their drug dealing, that was the whole point. This case is not directly about their drug dealing, but is instead about their efforts to launder the proceeds of their drug dealing, that is, to launder the benefit of their drug dealing.
Quazar Mays-Wilson is a friend of theirs, he is a particularly close to Ali Sheblan. QMW is someone that the Sheblan brothers turned to to launder some of the proceeds of their criminal conduct.
The drug dealing by Tamar, Ali and Hayder Sheblan, when successful, generated cash. The cash was the benefit of their criminal conduct.
General Crime
Operation Penshurst (Manchester CC) June / July 2015 – A large scale class A drug importation involving 9 defendants which involved multiple cut throats.
R v Clarke (Liverpool CC) December 2013 – A burglary involving the theft of £300,000 jewellery where the householders were tied up and tortured. The raiders utilised counter surveillance equipment such as mobile signal jammers and vehicle trackers.
R v Bushell (Liverpool CC) June 2014 – The was the first case of its type on the UK mainland where the raiders used gases to effect explosions attacking ATMs. they then utilised high performance vehicles to effect their escape. The conspiracy lasted 14 months with losses in excess of £1 million.
R v White – Large scale drug conspiracy with both drugs and street suppliers being transported from the north-west to the south-west.
R v Aiken – Attempted murder where complainant shot in face from point blank range and blinded. Dispute was a long standing feud involving Jamaican gangs. [reported]
R v Clarke (Croydon CC) (2010) – Leading counsel in attempted murder and conspiracy to rob relating to the robbery of a Costco store where £70,000 worth of jewellery was stolen and the security guard was shot.
R v Ndugwa (2010) – Leading counsel in multi-handed conspiracy to rob betting shops in South London.
R v Frezgi and others (Central Criminal Court) – Leading junior in eight handed gang related attempted murder. Defendant acquitted.
R v Henry (Central Criminal Court) – Leading junior in nightclub shooting where allegation involved use of ‘James Bond’ style key fob firearm. Defendant acquitted of attempted murder.
R v Oliver (Isleworth Crown Court) – Large scale conspiracy involving baggage handlers, where one of principal losers was Victoria Beckham.
R v Harris, R v Palma (Inner London Crown Court) – Possession of firearms. Young defendants in gang related circumstances in possession of Mach 10 type weapons.
R v Walczak (Kingston Crown Court) – Large scale bootlegging operation – £25million.
Military Law
Instructed in several court martials, both in the UK and abroad.
R v HH (Central Criminal Court) (2016) – 6 week trial in respect of drug related turf war murder described as a “gangland execution”. Instructed by Alan McGrath of Ewings.
Operation Felco. R v HH (Central Criminal Court) – April/May 2015: Trial involved the murder of a teenage carpentry student who had been dealing drugs in Greenwich. This was a revenge attack for moving onto a rival drugs gangs turf, the victim was shot in the head.
R v O’Callaghan (Central Criminal Court) (2011) – Junior counsel in murder allegation related to gangland style shooting in Brixton.
R v Bell (Central Criminal Court) (2011) – Junior Counsel in 4 handed murder trial on joint enterprise basis.
R v Williams and others – (Central Criminal Court) (2010) – Junior counsel in six-handed murder trial put on a joint venture basis and involving further firearms offences.
R v Billa (Snaresbrook Crown Court) (2009) – Albanian mafia style feud, leading to hitman style shooting at a public restaurant. Effectively a turf war over the rights to steal from London Parking meters.
R v Fantie and others (Central Criminal Court) – Defendant acquitted after 4 month trial involving South London gangs.
R v Maitland (Central Criminal Court) – Jamaican feud leading to execution of drug gang rival. Defendant acquitted.
R v Ketchen (Central Criminal Court) – Junior counsel in murder and torture case.
R v Mason Perkins – Mason Perkins, aged 25, attacked the officer in the early hours of Saturday 11 March last year after he and his colleagues responded to a disturbance at a pub in Mansfield Woodhouse.
Perkins, who had previously been barred, was joined by a group of men as he confronted the landlady and threatened to burn the venue down.
The victim, PC Chris Duffy, was in the process of detaining one of the men in Bullock Close when Perkins approached him and lulled him into a false sense of security by asking him if he could get by.
Believing Perkins posed no threat, the officer let him pass behind him, and was struck to the back of the head with an unknown object.
As his victim fell to the ground, Perkins then rained down a succession of kicks and punches on him, leaving him with a severe wound to the back of his head.
https://www.nottinghampost.com/news/nottingham-news/man-due-stand-trial-over-8669817.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-nottinghamshire-67962927.
R v Wolska – This case concerns the attempted murder of a man called Daniel Walicki, who was brutally stabbed at least four times to the back, shoulder, and head on a sunny Wednesday afternoon in July last year.
Defendant acquitted of attempted murder. Convicted s18.
R v Wheatley – The Houghton Festival murder refers to the killing of Jack Woodley, an 18-year-old, who was fatally stabbed after being attacked by a group of ten teenagers at the Houghton Feast in Houghton-le-Spring. The attack occurred in October 2021, and all ten youths were convicted of murder. The youths had been at the funfair and Woodley was targeted for a “trivial reason”.
Details of the attack:
- Jack Woodley was chased, surrounded, and attacked by the group.
- One of the teenagers stabbed him with a “Rambo-style” knife.
- Woodley suffered multiple injuries, including a fatal stab wound to the back.
- The attack was described as brutal, with witnesses comparing it to animals attacking.
- The group prevented Woodley from escaping and from receiving help.
Convictions and appeals:
- All ten youths were convicted of murder at Newcastle Crown Court.
- They were sentenced to life imprisonment with minimum terms ranging from eight to seventeen years.
- The teenagers attempted to appeal their convictions, but the appeals were dismissed by the BBC.
R v Daniel Harris – Defendant charged with 6 counts of encouragement of terrorism. One count of an article with intent. The defendant Mr Harris, who identifies as a National Socialist, acting as an influential online propogandist for a violent and deeply racist ideology. He used the pseudonym “Bookanon” and the online platforms Worldtruthvideos and Bitchute, to disseminate videos of his own making. Those videos encouraged and gave instructions for carrying out acts of terror against those deemed not to be part of the “white European” race. The videos gloried in past mass killings, such as that carried out by Brenton Tarrant in New Zealand. They were tantamount to a “call to arms” to those who shared, or who could be persuaded to share Mr Harris’ world view. His video content also included detailed advice and instruction to others on how to make videos of a similar kind to his own.
After the conclusion of this trial, James was interviewed by producer Helen Clifton and contributed to Radio 4 programme “The boys are not alright.” Where Jo Meek investigates the frightening rise of boys being radicalised online, and looks for the solutions to stop her own young sons spiralling.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m001yqr8
James was furthered interviewed by Helen Warrell from the Financial Times in exploring trends on radicalisation on British teens.
James also assisted with the case preparation over video-link conferences with the Public Defender’s office assigned to Lee Anderson Aldrich, The PD David Kraut was obviously aware that Aldrich was one of the US mass shooters inspired by Harris.
James was further interviewed and contributed to a research paper by Professor Gina Vale for the project on ‘Counter-Terrorism and Digital Human Trafficking’. The aim was to bring together stakeholders working across sectors on issues concerning human trafficking/modern slavery, counter-terrorism, child and human rights, and digital safety.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-derbyshire-64426075
https://www.lbc.co.uk/news/british-teenager-made-video-inspired-mass-shootings-america/
Operation Naples – FCA V De Aquino –
Redinel Korfuzi took advantage of his position as a research analyst at Janus Henderson. In his role, he had access to confidential information that was likely to have an impact on companies’ share prices. He shared this with his sister Oerta to rig the system and make money.
Mr Korfuzi regularly saw emails from companies gauging investor interest on plans to raise equity in the markets or sell large blocks of shares owned by existing shareholders. Within minutes Mr Korfuzi traded in the shares of those companies across a number of accounts, including those operated by his sister.
The case centred on 13 stocks, traded between 17 December 2019 and 25 March 2021, which generated a profit of more than £960,000. The FCA detected suspicious patterns of trading and analysed large sets of trading data to uncover the crime.
James Walker’s client Rogerio De Aquino acquitted after a 4 month trial.
https://www.cityam.com/former-janus-henderson-analyst-charged-in-1-5m-insider-trading-case/
https://www.ft.com/content/23bc8479-540a-41cb-bca4-a6465646d4ce
https://citywire.com/asia/news/ex-janus-henderson-analyst-charged-with-1-9m-insider-trading/a2407631
https://www.thetimes.com/article/city-insider-dealing-case-held-up-by-court-backlog-wgc8s2cvc
R v Lawrenson – This was a complex TS fraud. Between 1st October 2016 and 15th October 2020, Gary Fredson, Leighton McArdle and Jonathan Walsh were party to the carrying on of the business of ESE Group Limited (“ESE”) for a fraudulent purpose, namely the dishonest sale of solar panel maintenance contracts and green energy equipment using unfair commercial practices.
During that same period, Azis Ghanchi, Shaun Gill, Ian Fredson, William Lowther, Andy Fredson and Jack Lawrenson, acting on behalf of ESE, made a series of false representations to customers which were designed to increase sales and generate revenue for ESE.
The Prosecution says these unfair and dishonest practices were systematic and broad in scope. ESE were warned about the behaviour of its representatives on several occasions during indictment period. Directors personally had knowledge of misleading and unfair conduct and, effectively, sanctioned it. Any changes to behaviour were designed not to ensure compliance with fair commercial practice, but to provide a mask to allow ESE to continue to exploit consumers, using for example new businesses to generate leads but with the money always flowing back to ESE. The dishonest and unfair practices of salesmen continued unabated throughout the indictment period.
James’ client Jack Lawrenson was acquitted.
https://ground.news/article/trio-from-widnes-and-runcorn-on-trial-over-alleged-solar-panel-scam
R v Fulford – James Walker of Libertas Chambers instructed by Daniel Godden of Berkley Square Solicitors secured the acquittal of the second defendant on all counts.
In a trial lasting six weeks at Kingston crown court prosecuted by Kate Bex KC and Michael Bisgrove, the trial involved a multi million pound fraud by false representation concerning residential and commercial mooring rights in the Hampton Riveria part of the Thames, near Hampton Court.
Misrepresentations spanned 5 years and were originally litigated in the High court.
The first defendant Myck Djurberg was the owner of the iconic Swiss Chalet in Hampton.
The Swiss Chalet was imported from Switzerland in 1882 and assembled on the banks of the Thames near Hampton Court Palace and just across the road from Bushy Park.
The first defendant purported to sell mooring rights connected to the boatyard and pontoons connected to the land.
He was convicted of 4 counts and is due to be sentenced on the 27th March.
https://www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/myck-djurberg-houseboat-tycoon-accused-ps3m-fraud-a4478691.html
R v Marbaha – This case is essentially about fraud. The defendants, Rajinder Sandhu and Meenu Marbaha, are husband and wife, and it is the prosecution case that they were involved in cheating the public revenue into paying them money which did not belong to them and then laundering that money. The particulars refer to cheating the Commissioners of His Majesty’s Revenue and Customs: that is basically HMRC, the public body which collects our taxes. It then refers to being concerned in the registration of self-assessment accounts and the preparation/ submission of fraudulent tax returns.
Operation Starling, R v Stanton (Bristol Crown Court) (2015) – 3 month trial in relation to multi million £ fraud in respect of BT. Defendant acquitted after half time submission. Instructed by Scott Ewing of Ewing Law.
R v Mahey (Harrow Crown Court)(2016)-8 week trial in respect of multi-million pound banking fraud. Instructed by Eric Williams of Cobleys.
Operation Walrus, R v Jama (Swindon Crown Court)(2017)- Large scale money laundering connected to massive drug dealing enterprise. 15 defendants. Jama was the only defendant acquitted. Instructed by David Caplin of Cunninghams.
Operation Janitor (September / October 2014) – Leading counsel representing the first defendant who was an accountant and considered to be the controlling mind in a massive HMRC prosecution which was effectively a VAT repayment fraud.
R v Chopra (Basildon CC) May 2014 – This was a trading standards prosecution which involved a large scale conspiracy in respect go counterfeit clothing.
Operation Bamburgh – A large scale and complex mortgage fraud in the north east of England. Dropped by CPS after defence representations.
R v Edeigba – Large scale international advance fee fraud. This followed the traditional route of the ‘Nigerian 419 scam which is now predominantly internet based.
R v McKenzie – Operation Nacho is the largest criminal fraud ever prosecuted with over 80 defendants. Trial F is the trial involving the alleged organisers. It is expected to last three months.
R v Hayes – Financial crime perpetrated against high profile north east businessman.
R v B and others (2011) – Leading Counsel in £6million ‘boiler room’ fraud.
R v Flynn and others (Central Criminal Court) (2011/12) – Junior counsel in multi million pound mortgage fraud. Due for retrial in 2012.
R v Aheer and others (Southwark Crown Court) (2012) – Instructed in multi handed i-tunes fraud.
R v Page and others (Southwark Crown Court) – Junior counsel in large scale high profile fraud where husband of defendant was a royal protection police officer. Defendant acquitted after submissions.
R v Molseed and others (Sheffield Crown Court) – Defendant played pivotal role in ‘advance fee’ fraud.
R v Sagar and others (Leeds Crown Court) – VAT fraud involving loophole for disabled drivers. Case involved several para-olympians, plus numerous supercars.
R v Ogunbiyi and others (Southwark Crown Court) – NHS trust fraud. Co defendant on Metropolitan police’s 10 most wanted.
R v Pirouznia – Dentist accused of fraud by anonymous whistleblower.
Instructed to advise on various prison law matters including parole, categorisation and licence conditions.
Instructed to advise and review numerous ‘old’ cases.
R v Jason Charles [2006] 1 Cr.App R. (S) 48
Regularly instructed in confiscation proceedings arising out of various serious and complex offences.
R v Billa – Involving the extradition of Albanian national in respect allegations of murder. Issues involved whether mutual assistance lawful.
Recommendations
Accreditations
