Jonathan Laidlaw KC KC > Chambers of Jonathan Laidlaw KC > London, England > Barrister Profile
2 Hare Court Offices
2 Hare Court
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EC4Y 7BH
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Jonathan Laidlaw KC KC
Position
Jonathan Laidlaw KC’s practice is predominantly in business and financial crime and in defending directors and companies. Much of his work, both for individuals and corporates here and abroad, is pre-charge and advisory in nature. He also appears in regulatory proceedings, public inquiries, major inquests, sporting tribunals and is asked to produce reports in silk-led inquiries and to provide advice to litigants in commercial litigation considering launching private prosecutions.
Career
Called 1982; Inner Temple; South Eastern Circuit; 1995-2000 Junior Treasury Counsel; 1998 recorder; 2000-10 Senior Treasury Counsel; 2008 KC; 2008-10 First Senior Treasury Counsel.
Memberships
- 2013: Head of Chambers
- 2008-2010: First Senior Treasury Counsel
- 2008: King’s Counsel
- 2000-2008: Senior Treasury Counsel
- 1995-2000: Junior Treasury Counsel
- 1995: Recorder
- Criminal Bar Association
- Private Prosecution Association
- Fraud Lawyers Association
- Health & Safety Lawyers Association
- South Eastern Circuit
- ARDL
Lawyer Rankings
London Bar > Inquests and inquiries
(Leading Silks)Ranked: Tier 22 Hare Court’s expertise in crime, health and safety, and professional regulation inform its work in major inquests and inquiries and the proceedings arising from them. Jonathan Laidlaw KC regularly acts in high profile inquiries, including representing Harley Facades in the Grenfell Tower inquiry and Showsec/LiveNation, providers of security, in the Manchester Arena Bombing inquiry. Nikita McNeill acts for the Ministry of Defence in the Independent Inquiry relating to Afghanistan, in addition to acting as first junior counsel for the Welsh Government in module 3 of the Covid-19 inquiry.
London Bar > Fraud: crime
(Leading Silks)Ranked: Tier 12 Hare Court is highly regarded as a leading set for heavyweight financial crime work. David Whittaker KC recently defended one of 29 individuals in relation to a charge of cheating the public revenue through the VAT & Construction Industry Scheme. In a separate matter, Jonathan Laidlaw KC and Angus Bunyan represented the owner and director of major utilities company and League One football club, Andrew Pilley, who was charged with money laundering offences and fraudulent trading concerning the systemic mis-selling of energy contracts. Vivienne Tanchel has established expertise in representing individuals and companies in complex white-collar crime matters.
London Bar > Business and regulatory crime (including global investigations)
(Leading Silks)Ranked: Tier 2Jonathan Laidlaw KC – 2 Hare Court ‘Gets to the heart of the matter with no fuss. A class act.’
Noted for particular experience in the financial services sector, 2 Hare Court is geared to support clients from pre-charge stage, through to trial and confiscation proceedings, with the set’s member advising on a variety of allegations, including bribery and corruption, criminal anticompetitive behaviour, environmental crime, and money laundering. Jonathan Laidlaw KC acted for the Bank of England in their investigation regarding allegations that the former CEO of Barclays Bank may have misled senior figures at Barclays as to his relationship with now-deceased sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, and represents a former Nigerian minister charged with offences of bribery in relation to accepting multi-million dollar oil and gas contracts. Vivienne Tanchel is instructed as lead junior for the first defendant and former Goldman Sachs employee in FCA v Zina at Southwark Crown Court, a trial regarding allegations of insider dealing.
London Bar > Health and safety
(Leading Silks)Ranked: Tier 1With particular experience in the agriculture, healthcare, pharmaceutical, transport and engineering sectors, 2 Hare Court is well versed in defending clients in a wide spectrum of health and safety matters. Jonathan Laidlaw KC and Richard Heller were instructed in a Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 case in which Pret a Manger was fined after a member of staff was locked in a walk-in freezer for more than two hours and subsequently hospitalised with suspected hypothermia. James Buchanan is sought after for his expertise in handling cases involving allegations of gross negligence manslaughter.
London Bar > Professional disciplinary and regulatory law
(Leading Silks)Ranked: Tier 3Jonathan Laidlaw KC –2 Hare Court ‘Jonathan’s advocacy is always measured, well considered, and persuasive.’
London Bar > Crime
(Leading Silks)Ranked: Tier 4Jonathan Laidlaw KC – 2 Hare Court ‘His advocacy and case presentation readily commands the attention of clients, jurors, fellow advocates and the judiciary.’