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England - Regional Bar • Western Circuit
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Crime (general and fraud)

James Haskell

James Haskell

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Guildhall Chambers

Guildhall Chambers is ‘the premier set on the Western circuit’, with ’a strength in depth which is unrivalled’. Andrew Langdon KC, noted for his ‘an unrivalled intellect and instinct’, recently represented a defendant in a multi-handed murder trial involving the death of a drug dealer. Mary Cowe, who ’works ferociously hard and is always across the detail of his cases’, successfully prosecuted a complex homicide case in which a sex worker dragged a severely disabled victim after stealing his mobility scooter when he failed to pay for her services - the defendant entered guilty pleas to manslaughter and aggravated vehicle taking. James Haskell led the prosecution in a sensitive case involving both rape and an alleged consensual sexual relationship, ultimately securing a conviction. David Scutt, known for his ‘calm and unflustered style in court’, represented a woman - who had complex mental health issues - accused of sexually assaulting her younger brother.
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Profile

Work Department

Crime; regulatory and professional discipline.

Position

James is a specialist criminal advocate who prosecutes and defends in a wide range of criminal cases. He is consistently ranked in Chambers UK as a ‘leading junior’. He is regularly instructed to prosecute and defend in cases involving serious sexual offences. James successfully defended only the second person in British legal history to be charged with exposing his daughter to Female Genital Mutilation. James is a Grade 4 CPS Prosecutor. He acts as Independent Counsel for reviewing material which might attract Legal Professional Privilege. He also represents professionals during disciplinary proceedings.

Career

Called 2004.

James has consistently been recommended in Chambers UK for his criminal expertise since he debuted in 2010 as the ‘up-and-coming’ junior on the Western Circuit. James is instructed to advise on disclosure in serious and complex cases and to advise on material which might attract Legal Professional Privilege. James is regularly instructed to prosecute and defend in cases involving serious sexual offences. He successfully defended only the second person in British legal history to be charged with exposing his daughter to Female Genital Mutilation. James has experience of representing serving prisoners before Parole Boards and representing the police in relation to the variation or discharge of Sexual Harm Prevention Orders. He also appears in Insurance backed criminal proceedings ranging from driving without due care and attention to proceedings arising from serious road traffic accidents.

Recent Cases

R v Chugg & Swannick (2022)
Junior Counsel for the Prosecution. Both defendants were successfully convicted of murder.

R v Beale (2022)
Successfully prosecuted the defendant for Misconduct in a Public Office. She was a serving Offender Manager for Wiltshire Constabulary.

R v Sawyers & B (2022)
Junior Counsel for the Prosecution. A complex case in which Sawyers was successfully convicted of manslaughter and B was convicted of s.18 GBH.

Memberships

  • Criminal Bar Association
  • Western Circuit

Education

University of the West of England, Bristol (2003 LLB Law (Hons) first class); 2004 Bar Vocational Course (very competent); 2005-2006 pupillage Guildhall Chambers.

Content supplied by Guildhall Chambers

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • ‘ Lucy Northeast is a super clerk.’
  • 'The clerks at Guildhall chambers are very efficient. Grant Bidwell and Lucy Northeast are always supportive and do the best they can to find the correct barrister.'
  • 'The perfect clerking team with strength in depth.'
  • ‘Guildhall Chambers is a long-established set with a powerful criminal team.’
  • ‘Guildhall chambers is full of intelligent, effective barristers. It is one of the go-to criminal teams on the Western Circuit.’
  • ‘Guildhall chambers is a strong set.’
  • ‘Guildhall chambers is the leading criminal set on the Western Circuit and one of the best sets. The strength in depth is impressive.’