Our Expertise
St Pauls Chambers provides legal services throughout the UK and worldwide. We are known for providing excellence in our areas of focus.
As a leading barristers chambers in Leeds, our expertise span the depth and breadth of a number of key areas of law.
Our People
St Pauls Chambers have an excellent team of Barristers, Clerks & Administration, with our barristers including KC’s, Members and Pupils.
View our teams in full detail, or browse by expertise to find a barrister.
Call 1994 | Silk 2016
John Harrison was called to the bar in 1994 and took Silk in 2016.
John is a criminal law and regulatory specialist with specific expertise in Financial Regulation, including both unregulated and Financial Conduct Authority regulated matters. He also has a particular interest in tax tribunal work.
John undertakes advisory and litigation work for both prosecution and defence in respect of Serious Crime, Corporate Manslaughter, Gross Negligence Manslaughter, Environmental Law and Health and Safety Offences.
John is an extremely popular barrister who has earned a reputation of being both a master tactician and an outstanding trial advocate. He is well known for his capability to handle the most complex of cases with a clear, pragmatic approach.
John’s background in civil litigation and commercial law makes him particularly well placed to assist clients across a range of litigation areas.
Although based on the North Eastern Circuit he has a national practice.
For further information or to instruct John Harrison KC please contact the Senior Clerk, Jayne Drake.
John is well known for his capability to handle the most complex of cases with a clear, pragmatic approach. In 2019 John made legal history by securing the first-ever bribery law acquittal for a client following a Deferred Prosecution Agreement (DPA). Final Judgment
Described by The Legal 500 as
‘A highly accomplished silk in the field of financial services. John is a first-class advocate nd has a clarity of thought and expression that cuts through a lot of irrelevant material’
John has a strong background in civil litigation and commercial law that works to his advantage when advising clients in all types of litigation.
R v Sorby
Defence – SFO prosecution. Sorby was the retired managing director of Sarclad Ltd who traded internationally in steel manufacturing equipment. The company had entered into a Deferred Prosecution Agreement (DPA) with the SFO, after undertaking an internal investigation. The DPA was anonymised to XYZ. Sorby was prosecuted by the SFO following the outcome of their investigation, which was in reality, an adoption of the investigation carried out by Sarclad’s solicitors. After a lengthy trial Sorby was acquitted by the jury casting doubt over the DPA process itself. Satellite litigation included SFO v. XYZ.
R v Wharton
Defence – Operation Circus, the lead defendant in both international property investment and ponzi investment frauds.
R v Patterson
Defence (VHCC) – Operation Bamburgh 1, North East Property Buyers fraud involving mortgage, re-sale/re-mortgage and property investment scheme frauds.
R v Frisby
Defence (VHCC) – Operation Armadale, fraudulent trading and property investment schemes.
R v Smith
Defence (VHCC) – Operation Savate, VAT and direct tax fraud using the Construction Industry Scheme.
R v Marr
Defence – Operation Bamburgh 2, conspiracy to defraud, property development and mortgage fraud, electronic presentation.
R v Akegwure
Prosecution – Conspiracy to defraud, identity and credit fraud, company identities stolen and used to purchase or lease computer equipment.
R v Roberts
Defence – Fraudulent trading and money laundering in relation to the selling of utility company contracts and the failure of the company involved.
R v Sargent & Brownhill
Prosecution – NHS fraud and false accounting, diversion of funds from service users of care homes by managers of those care.
R v Kiani
Defence – Conspiracy to defraud and fraudulent trading offences prosecuted by the SFO. Defending a complex asset stripping fraud involving ‘white wash’ company purchases, inter company loans, and the use of factoring agents.
R v Khan
Defence – Indentity theft conspiracy involving malicious computer hacking, dissemination and sale of stolen credit card account numbers, compromised bank account information, counterfeit currency, counterfeit cheques, and counterfeit identity documents. Defendant involved as a ‘moderator’ within the ‘shadowcrew.com’ website. Defending an international conspiracy involving internet theft and fraud.
John has a wide ranging interest across the Financial Regulation sector. He has been involved in many cases, advising at all stages of FCA regulation, from authorisation and approval, through the investigation phase, to criminal prosecution and/or civil enforcement or action.
It is clear from John’s experience that all clients benefit from obtaining legal advice at the earliest possible stage when dealing with any matter which may or may not require regulation by the FCA.
R v Donaldson, Sladek & Hargreaves
Instructed by the CPS Complex Case Unit – This case was a murderous group revenge attack after tit for tat escalating violence.
Defence – Alleged joint murder of the defendant’s friend. Acquitted of murder after trial
Defence – Alleged group attack by way of summary justice in Hartlepool, acquitted after trial.
Defence – Group revenge attack on several other young men, one of whom was killed.
Defence – Operation Troop – (defence) – Substantial Moss Side gang related murder involving numerous defendants. Joint enterprise and bad character both major factors in the case.
Defence – Conspiracy to murder in Bolton, acquitted of conspiracy to murder after trial having admitted conspiracy to commit robbery.
Defence – Conspiracy to murder, two brothers paid to kill complainant, attacked with axe and knife, complex issues witness intimidation & cut throat defences.
R v Callaghan, Ojengbede & Others
Defence – Attempted murder, shotgun used, drug turf war, complex factual case with extensive bad character issues.
Defence – Aggravated burglary and double attempted murder, revenge attack on father and son, complex issues as to defendants mental state.
Prosecution – Murder to steal drugs and money, convicted after trial.
Defence – Alleged murder of the defendant’s father. Acquitted after trial.
Issues dealt with have included:
R v Roofing Consultants Limited
Prosecution – fatality following fall from height, health and safety offences.
R v Al Amin Warehouse
Prosecution – fatality following fall from height, health and safety offences.
R v Huntley Mount Engineering
Prosecution – fatality involving a young apprentice at an engineering company, health and safety offences.
R v Pyranha Mouldings
Prosecution – fatality at a canoe factory, health and safety offence.
R v Sherwood Rise Ltd
Prosecution – fatality at a care home, elderly resident neglected, health and safety offences.
R v Andrew Jones Pies
Prosecution – fatal explosion in a factory, health and safety offences.
R v Pavers
Defence – asbestos contamination offences.
EA v Fenny
Unauthorised waste operation offences at various sites in Middlesbrough area.
EA v Smith
Waste management offences described as the worst ever seen in South Yorkshire.
R v Glan McCallum
Defence – part of Operation Clio, allegations of conspiracies to defraud by using copy-cat websites, not guilty verdicts prior to trial.
R v Thwaites
Defence – involving the deployment of test purchase officers as covert human resources.
WYCC v Hemingway
Defence – mis-selling second hand cars, confiscation proceedings.
NYCC v Wileman
Defence, company director alleged to have allowed false statements to be made on his company’s behalf.
Serious Fraud Office prosecution. Sorby was the retired managing director of Sarclad Ltd who traded internationally in steel manufacturing equipment. The company had entered into a Deferred Prosecution Agreement (DPA) with the SFO, after undertaking an internal investigation. The DPA was anonymised to XYZ. Sorby was prosecuted by the SFO following the outcome of their investigation, which was in reality, an adoption of the investigation carried out by Sarclad’s solicitors. After a lengthy trial Sorby was acquitted by the jury casting doubt over the DPA process itself. Satellite litigation included SFO v. XYZ. Read more about the first ever Bribery Acquittal for clients following a Deferred Prosecution Agreement.
Chambers is centrally located within walking distance of the train station, secure car parks and the Courts.
St Pauls Chambers
Park Row House
19-20 Park Row
Leeds
LS1 5JF
For out of hours assistance please call the senior clerk on 07854170429.
The switchboard will open from 08:30 until 17:30
Phone: +44 (0)1132 455 866
Email: [email protected]
CJSM: [email protected]
