With established experience in the financial services sector, 2 Hare Court's team is instructed by the SFO and corporate clients in cases involving allegations of money laundering, insider trading, and fraud. Christopher Coltart KC appeared for the defendant in R v Matthew West, concerning charges of insider trading brought against the defendant and his brother by the FCA; the two brothers entered a guilty plea. Jonathan Laidlaw KC continues to act for the former Nigerian Minister of Petroleum Resources in an ongoing case concerning allegations of bribery in relation to accepting multi-million dollar oil and gas contracts. Among the juniors, Angus Bunyan is instructed for the prosecution on behalf of the SFO in proceedings regarding charges of bribery brought against two former Petrofac senior executives.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Profile
Position
Whilst Jonathan Laidlaw KC’s practice is predominantly in business and financial crime where he has consistently been ranked by Chambers and Partners as one of their star silks, he is now rated in the directories as a leading silk in seven practice areas: financial and business crime; general crime; private prosecutions; health and safety; inquests and inquiries; professional discipline and regulatory law.
Previously a recipient of the “Crime Silk of the Year” award, the directories have spoken of him being “regularly instructed in headline-grabbing cases” who is, “also eminently well equipped to advise significant individuals on sensitive matters involving reputational issues”. It has been said that he is “an extraordinarily able advocate with great style who can deal with the most difficult of cases with the greatest of ease” and that he has “lethal cross-examination skills and a mean way with closing speeches”. He features in both the Sunday Times/Debretts list of the 500 most influential people in Britain today and the High Net Worth Guide.
Much of his work, both for individuals and companies here and abroad, is pre-charge and advisory in nature and Jonathan Laidlaw KC makes appearances in the Commercial Court, at major inquests and public inquiries and before sporting, regulatory and professional disciplinary tribunals. He is also asked to produce reports in silk-led inquiries.
He presently acts for several individuals who are the subject of SFO, FCA, NCA and DoJ investigations and for the Bank of England, Pret a Manger, The FA, Live Nation and Aviva. He has represented core participants or provided advice in the Grenfell Tower, Manchester Arena Bombing, COVID-19 and Post Office Horizon public inquiries and he advises a number of leading entrepreneurs considering bringing 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.
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Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- 'Julian Campbell, Jack Shah and Nadia Todor-Ward are all fantastic clerks. Chloe Tennent is a stand out: she is caring towards instructing solicitors and treats every case with the attention and effort it deserves.'
- 'Julian Campbell and Jack Shah are right up there with the very best of clerks: they instinctively know what their solicitor clients need and move heaven and earth to provide it.'
- 'The clerks always go the extra mile to find the right barrister to fit the case.'
- 'Top clerks.'
- '2 Hare Court boasts one of the strongest rosters of counsel in this field.'
- '2 Hare Court are a brilliant set.'
- 'A brilliant set dealing with a wide range of criminal and regulatory matters. Real strength in depth across the board.'
- 'A solid and reliable set.'