Ranked in The Legal 500 (2025) and Chambers and Partners (2025) for Crime.
Julian is a specialist in serious and complex crime. He is instructed for the prosecution and defence in approximately equal proportions. He appears as leading junior counsel, sole counsel, and is led by King’s Counsel.
- CPS Advocates’ General Panel (Grade 4) (North Eastern, London and South Eastern Circuits)
- CPS Advocates’ Serious Crime Group Panel (Grade 4)
- CPS Advocates’ Specialist Fraud Group Panel (Grade 4)
- CPS Rape and Child Sexual Abuse List
- Serious Fraud Office List A 2017 – 2020; renewed 2020 – 2024)
- Pupil Supervisor
“‘A diligent junior with an authoritative court presence.’ – The Legal 500 (2025)
“Julian Jones is thorough, clever and strategic in court and a powerful advocate.” – Chambers and Partners (2024)
“Julian has a very analytical mind. His advocacy skills are elegant and succinct, and he delivers complex arguments in a clear, persuasive way.” – The Legal 500 (2024)
“Julian Jones prosecutes and defends complex criminal cases involving fraud, sexual assault and homicide. He possesses particular expertise in disclosure”.
“He is a persuasive advocate”. – Chambers UK Bar 2023
‘Julian has an encyclopaedic knowledge of the law and an unrivalled commitment to preparation – a barrister anyone would want in their corner.’ The Legal 500 (2023)
“Julian has an astute legal mind. He clearly is extremely passionate about his work and very committed. He possesses a calm and considered demeanour in even the most pressurised of circumstances”. -The Legal 500 (2022)
Julian has experience of very substantial width and depth in trial advocacy, appellate advocacy, the giving of advice and case management.He brings very thorough preparation and a firm grip on case management to every case he undertakes.
Julian is fully committed to giving every case the best he possibly can and those who instruct him know their case is in trusted hands. In the current resource stripped climate he will “go the extra mile” and do whatever he personally can for Prosecution Lawyers, Paralegal Officers and Defence Solicitors so as to make a case ready for hearing.
He takes great pride in client care, whether it be working with senior prosecution lawyers and police officers on prosecution strategy, or fulfilling the pastoral side of the job with a vulnerable defence client.
Julian is firmly committed to a mixed practice of both defending and prosecuting and believes experience on each side has helped him on the other.
His experience includes cases involving abuse of process, judicial review, confiscation, PII, notification hearings, RIPA/IPA, witness anonymity, third party disclosure, police texts, fitness to plead.
He has a particular interest and expertise in disclosure and has lectured to leading Yorkshire and London solicitors and to senior Metropolitan Police Service detectives on this topic.
Notable cases
Murder and attempted murder
- · R v S (2024) Defence – junior (led by Claire Davies KC) – allegation of murder by joint enterprise stabbing – Media Coverage
- · R v P (2024) Defence – junior (led by James Dawes KC) – allegation of baby shaking murder – Media Coverage
- R v P (2023) Defence – junior (led by Rossano Scamardella KC) – allegation of murder by joint enterprise beating – Media Coverage
- R v M (2023) Defence – junior (led by Amjad Malik KC) – allegation of murder joint enterprise beating – Media Coverage
- R v M (2022) Defence – junior (led by Jenni Dempster QC) – allegation of murder by strangling of the defendant’s daughter. This case, described by the Common Serjeant of London as one of the most tragic he had dealt with, concluded with the acceptance of a plea of manslaughter by reason of diminished responsibility – Media Coverage
- R v S (2021) Defence – junior (led by Ali Bajwa QC) – allegation of murder by stabbing of the defendant’s ex-partner – Media Coverage
- R v F (2019) Defence – junior (led by Dexter Dias QC) – allegation of murder by stabbing – Media Coverage
- R v I (2018) Defence – junior (led by Ali Bajwa QC) – allegation of murder by shooting – Media Coverage
- R v N (2016) Prosecution – junior alone – allegation of attempted murder by stabbing – Media Coverage
- R v F (2016) Prosecution – junior alone – allegation of attempted murder – pushing in front of tube train – Media Coverage
- R v Q (2016) Prosecution – junior alone – 2 handed allegation of attempted murder by stabbing – Media Coverage
- R v K (2015) Prosecution – junior alone – allegation of attempted murder by stabbing – Media Coverage
- R v G (2014) Prosecution – junior alone – allegation of double attempted murder by shooting – Media Coverage
Cases of sexual offending
- R v M (2024) Defence – junior alone – allegation of sexual abuse against two complainants and involving two Police investigations
- R v S (2022) Prosecution – junior alone – allegation of sexual abuse including the defendant filming himself carrying out the activity. Required advice on complex law including the application of the “double jeopardy” provisions – Media Coverage
- R v R (2021) Prosecution – leading junior – allegation of sexual abuse involving multiple victims
- R v A and P (2020) Prosecution – leading junior – allegation of sexual abuse involving multiple victims – Media Coverage
- R v S (2020) Prosecution – junior alone – allegation of sexual abuse against child – Media Coverage
- R v L (2019) Prosecution – junior alone – allegation of sexual abuse against children – Media Coverage
- R v D (2019) Defence – junior alone – allegation of rape – Media Coverage
Conspiracies to handle stolen goods/rob
- R v A and others (2023) Prosecution – leading junior – allegations of conspiracy to rob involving weapons. Julian had to navigate complex PII issues.
- R v V (2020-22) Defence – leading junior – 10 handed allegation of conspiracy to handle stolen goods – Media Coverage
- R v I (2019) Defence – junior alone – 4 handed allegation of conspiracy to rob (11 cash in transit robberies) – Media Coverage
Firearms, gang cases and other serious violence
- R v S (2021) Prosecution – junior alone – allegation of wounding with intent against a sex worker
- R v U (2018-19) Prosecution – leading junior – 11 handed alleged conspiracy to commit GBH
- R v X (2018) Prosecution – junior alone – 3 handed alleged international firearms conspiracy
- R v R (2017) Defence – junior alone – 3 handed alleged stabbing
- R v M (2013) Prosecution – junior alone – 3 handed allegation of shooting at police in an inter – gang dispute – Media coverage. (Note: the appeal against conviction of Adebola Alimi was subsequently allowed)
Fraud and money laundering
- R v T (2022) Prosecution – leading junior – 3 handed allegation of complex fraud (£ multiple millions) – Media Coverage
- R v G (2020-21) Defence – leading junior – 5 handed allegation of fraud (£ multiple millions)
- R v J (2018) Defence – junior alone –6 handed allegation of fraud and money laundering (2 trials)
- R v A (2017) Prosecution – leading junior – 2 handed allegation of fraud and money laundering
- R v S (2016) Prosecution – leading junior – 2 handed allegation of controlling prostitution / money laundering – Media Coverage
- R v Q (2015) Prosecution – leading junior – 6 handed allegation of accident fraud and money laundering
Drugs conspiracies
- R v Z (2024) Prosecution – junior alone – part of Operation Venetic – allegation of conspiracy to supply kilos of cocaine – Media Coverage
- R V Z (2022) Defence – leading junior – 27 handled allegation of conspiracy to produce cannabis – Media Coverage
- R v M (2017) Prosecution – junior alone – 4 handed allegation of conspiracy to supply kilos of cocaine
- R v A (2017) Prosecution – junior alone – 4 handed allegation of conspiracy to supply kilos of cocaine
- R v X (2017) Prosecution – pre charge advice in 7 handed international pharmaceuticals case
Cases involving prosecution of public servants / professional persons
- R v N (2021) Prosecution – junior alone – allegation of sexual abuse by vicar of three year old child – Media Coverage
- R v T (2021) Prosecution – junior alone – allegation of rape against a serving police officer
- R v R (2016) Defence – junior alone – allegation of drink driving with complex defence – accused was a serving Operation Trident detective
- R v W (2016) Prosecution – junior alone – allegation of fraud (defendant was a practising solicitor) – Media Coverage
- R v C (2015) Prosecution – junior alone – allegation of breach of restraining order – defendant was a practising barrister and former judicial office holder – Media Coverage
- R v B (2014) Prosecution – junior alone – allegation of arson – defendant was a practising solicitor
Court of Appeal experience – conviction appeals
- R v McInerney 2024 EWCA Crim 165 Applicant – led by Amjad Malik KC – extent of permissible defence comment in closing speech where defendant did not testify. Click here to view the decision.
- R v P (2021-2022) Respondent – junior alone
- R v J (2019) Applicant – junior alone – pro bono renewed leave for appeal against conviction, co-defending with Mark Heywood QC
- R v Alimi (2014) [2014] EWCA Crim 2412 Respondent – junior alone – appeal against conviction. Click here to read a subsequent article on the decision by opposing counsel
- R v Coley and others [2013] EWCA Crim 223 Respondent – conjoined appeals against conviction – led by John Price QC – Click here to view the decision
- R v H [2010] EWCA Crim 219 Respondent – junior alone – appeal against conviction – involved the cross-examination in the CACD of a fresh evidence witness
Court of Appeal experience – sentence appeals
- R v D (2020) Applicant – junior alone – renewed leave for appeal against sentence
- R v C (2016) Respondent – junior alone – appeal against sentence
- R v G [2010] EWCA Crim 215 Respondent – junior alone – appeal against finding of, and sentence for, contempt
Contact Julian’s clerks
Andrew Thornton on 0113 213 5202
Julian specialises in private prosecutions and has over many years successfully secured convictions on behalf of his clients.
He is able to act from cradle to grave in such cases advising on the prospects of success pre charge through to applications for costs following conviction.
He conducts private prosecution work in both the Magistrates and Crown Courts. His clients include companies, charities and private individuals.
