The Legal 500

Position

John Jones specialises in the law of extradition, war crimes and counter-terrorism. John is a specialist extradition practitioner and author. He is the general editor of the ‘Extradition and Mutual Legal Assistance Handbook’ (OUP: 2nd edition, 2010) and the ‘Extradition Law Reports’ (Southside Legal Publishing, 2007). Substantial practice in financial restrictions (counter-terrorism) cases, involving directions given by HM Treasury. In the field of war crimes, John has practiced since 1995 at the War Crimes Tribunals for the former Yugoslavia, Rwanda and Sierra Leone. He has been involved as counsel in four separate war crimes cases (Mehmed Alagic, Naser Oric, Rasim Delic and Momcilo Krajisnik (as amicus). He publishes the leading textbook on international criminal law, ‘International Criminal Practice’ (OUP, 3rd edition (2003)). John has also appeared in the leading cases on prisoner repatriation (Willcox, Samantha O). Appointed member of Attorney General’s B Panel of Counsel 2011. For recent cases, see www.doughtystreet.co.uk. Publications of note: ‘International Criminal Practice’ (3rd edition, Transnational Publishers-Oxford University Press: 2003) by John RWD Jones and Steven Powles; ‘The Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court: A Commentary’ (Edited by Antonio Cassese, Paola Gaeta and John RWD Jones) (Oxford University Press, 2002, 3 volumes); ‘The Practice of the International Criminal Tribunals for the former Yugoslavia and Rwanda’ (Transnational Publishers: Irvington-on-Hudson, NY, USA. 1st edition: 1998, 2nd edition: 2000); ‘Extradition and Mutual Legal Assistance Handbook’ (Oxford University Press, 2010).

Career

Passed DC Bar examinations and became member of the DC bar in 1999. Called to the Bar by Lincoln’s Inn in 1992. Fee-paid immigration judge, First-Tier Tribunal (Immigration and Asylum Chamber) 1995-99 legal officer at the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia and at the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda; 1999-2001 associate (international commercial arbitration), White & Case, Paris; 2003 acting head of defence office, Special Court for Sierra Leone. Current directorships: BOS-International (Save the Orang-utan).

Languages

French (fluent), Bosnian/Croatian/Serbian (working knowledge).

Member

Foreign and Commonwealth Office Pro Bono Panel.

Education

Mander Portman Woodward, London; George Washington University (1997, general LLM, international legal studies program); Hague Academy of International Law (1996, public international law course); The Inns of Court School of Law (1991). City University (1991, Diploma, law, commendation – converted into a MA in Law); dissertation on ‘Private Prosecutions in English Criminal Law’; Oxford University (1989, MA, philosophy, politics and economics, 2:1).

Leisure

Squash (member, Cumberland LTC), expeditions.