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Crime

James Wood KC

James Wood KC

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Doughty Street Chambers

Doughty Street Chambers is renowned as ‘a leading set full of barristers who know their craft and are renowned for their unwavering commitment to justice’. James Wood KC, known for his ability to ’ability to exude a subtly in his advocacy’ , is a formidable member of the set, having recently represented two men who were retried for murder in December 2024 after a successful reference from the Criminal Cases Review Commission to the Court of Appeal. The set has notable expertise in terrorism cases: David Bentley KC represented a right-wing extremist, who was sentenced to a hospital order after an assassination attempt on a high-profile immigration solicitor, while turning to the set's juniors, Kate O’Raghallaigh , as a junior alone, is instructed to represent the first defendant on the indictment in a case concerning an attack by now-proscribed organisation Palestine Action on defence contractor Elbit Systems, in which it is alleged that £2.2m of damage was done and security guards were attacked with sledgehammers.
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020 7404 1313
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[email protected]
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doughtystreet.co.uk

Profile

Work Department

Criminal Law and AppealsExtraditionBusiness Crime and InvestigationsInquests and Public InquiriesActions Against the Police and Public Authorities

Position

Enormously experienced, driven, gutsy, calm and determined, James has a broad based crime practice, concentrating on domestic and international criminal trial and appellate work, but also practices in inquests, police actions and inquiries.

Career

Year of Call: 1975; Year of Silk: 1999

James’s extensive trial and appellate experience means he is fully aware of and has litigated issues involving many of the investigative techniques likely deployed in the course of complex police, SFA and SOCO investigations. This always informs his detailed and careful pre-trial preparation on issues of disclosure and abuse of process, and his approach to pre-charge advice. He is inclusive when leading a team and will always encourage, and be open to, lay and professional client involvement and participation in core pre-trial decision making. As an advocate he is forceful, incisive and strong. The bulk of his work concerns allegations of grave crime, be it homicides, corporate fraud, money laundering, serious drugs, terrorism, or organised crime. Recent instructions include murders, grave terrorism, complex fraud and large-scale money laundering.

Other areas of practice include Public Inquiries, Extradition, International crime, civil actions against the police, Inquests and Regulatory and Disciplinary work. He is on the list of approved counsel for the International Criminal Court and welcomes instruction abroad. He is authorised for direct access work.

Languages

French.

Memberships

Criminal Bar Association (co-opted executive member) Liberty Justice Forensic Science Society South Eastern Circuit Supporter and donor to the Koestler Foundation supporting art amongst prisoners.

Education

Haileybury College; Warwick University (1974 LLB 2:1).

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Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • 'A leading set full of barristers who know their craft and are renowned for their unwavering commitment to justice'
  • 'Great set with brilliant barristers covering all aspects of crime. They are my most used chambers at present for overall quality and service. '
  • 'Doughty Street Chambers is a leading set full of barristers who know their craft and are renowned for their unwavering commitment to justice. A set that I would instruct again and again.'
  • 'Doughty Street is a highly experienced and extremely respected set of Chambers. '
  • 'One of London's super chambers, the clerks room does great work to keep things moving smoothly.'
  • 'Doughty Street Chambers has a rich history as leaders in the human rights filed. The set's commitment to pro bono legal representation in capital cases marks them out as a special set committed to the rule of law and equality of justice. '
  • 'Doughty Street Chambers is renowned for its expertise in criminal law, with a strong emphasis on human rights and civil liberties.'
  • 'It is a reliable, dependable set, full of bright and driven barristers, led by an excellent clerks room.'