Mountford Chambers delivers a nationwide and international service to clients, who are assured quality advice, advocacy and representation at all levels.
James has a busy practice in the Crown, Youth and Magistrates’ courts covering offences across the criminal spectrum. James acts exclusively for defendants, accepting both privately paying and legally-aided work.
Romania v S
EAW extradition request following conviction under Articles 329 and 13 of the Romanian Penal Code
Greece v E
EAW accusation request following conviction for dishonesty offences
United States of America v M
Accusation extradition request relating to internet-based alleged criminality
Greece v U
EAW extradition request following conviction in absence for fatal offence
Poland v M
EAW extradition request for RP said to have escaped from prison
France v G-P
EAW extradition request following conviction in absence for cross-jurisdictional smuggling offences
UK Crown Prosecution Service v W
Successfully opposed a CPS request for a European Arrest Warrant to be issued in respect of a suspect charged with causing death by dangerous driving
Road Traffic Act offences
James frequently represents defendants charged with driving offences.
R v K Woolwich Crown Court
Secured suspended sentence for defendant charged with dangerous driving with multiple like previous offences
R v G Highbury Magistrates Court
Secured acquittal of defendant charged with being drunk in charge of a vehicle
R v M Uxbridge Magistrates Court
Secured acquittal of defendant charged with failing to provide a specimen of breath
R v K Willesden Magistrates Court
Secured acquittal of defendant charged with driving without insurance following representations and arguments on CCTV evidence
R v S Staines Magistrates Court
Secured acquittal of defendant charged with driving whilst over the prescribed limit of alcohol following arguments on the testing procedure
R v W Croydon Magistrates Court
Successfully argued special reasons resulting in defendant keeping their licence
R v V Snaresbrook Crown Court
Secured acquittal on the Crown offering no evidence following representations made on disclosure failings for defendant charged with threats to commit criminal damage
R v E Southwark Crown Court
Secured acquittal of defendant charged with possession of articles for use in fraud on the Crown offering no evidence following representations on disclosure
R v H Woolwich Crown Court
Firearms matter involving a disguised ‘stun gun’
R v A Birmingham Crown Court
Defendant charged with possession of multiple weapons
R v P Portsmouth Crown Court
Secured suspended sentence on two counts of possession of a Class A drug with intent to supply
R v S Hove Crown Court
Secured suspended sentence for defendant who admitted to stealing thousands of pounds from her employer, using cash to flee the country
R v U Woolwich Crown Court
Secured community order for defendant charged with multiple racially aggravated public order offences
R v T Isleworth Crown Court
Secured suspended sentence for defendant charged with disorderly and dangerous conduct on an aircraft.
R v B Southwark Crown Court
Second junior to Andrew Trollope QC representing first defendant in the later stages of a five-defendant MTIC-type fraud relating to metals trading
R v E Southwark Crown Court
Secured acquittal of defendant charged with possession of articles for use in fraud on the Crown offering no evidence following representations on disclosure
R v K Sevenoaks Magistrates Court
Secured discontinuance of proceedings for possession of articles for use in fraud
Road Traffic Act offences
James frequently represents defendants charged with driving offences.
R v K Woolwich Crown Court
Secured suspended sentence for defendant charged with dangerous driving with multiple like previous offences
R v G Highbury Magistrates Court
Secured acquittal of defendant charged with being drunk in charge of a vehicle
R v M Uxbridge Magistrates Court
Secured acquittal of defendant charged with failing to provide a specimen of breath
R v K Willesden Magistrates Court
Secured acquittal of defendant charged with driving without insurance following representations and arguments on CCTV evidence
R v S Staines Magistrates Court
Secured acquittal of defendant charged with driving whilst over the prescribed limit of alcohol following arguments on the testing procedure
R v W Croydon Magistrates Court
Successfully argued special reasons resulting in defendant keeping their licence
James has a busy confiscation practice, acting in both the Crown and Magistrates’ court. He accepts and is frequently called upon to undertake advisory work in respect of both the 2002 and 1988 Acts.
James frequently acts for and advises defendants in applications for the re-consideration of confiscation orders, including:
R v R Leicester Crown Court
Contested POCA matter. Benefit figure reduced from £340,000 to £50,000 after legal argument seeking to depart from a previously agreed (higher) figure
R v R Derby Crown Court
Contested POCA matter. Benefit figure reduced from £90,000 to £20,000
R v R York Crown Court
Contested s.23 application following further investigation a number of years after the order was made.
R v J Harrow Crown Court
Successful (opposed) s.11 POCA application
R v S Reading Crown Court
Successful (opposed) s.11 POCA application
R v D Westminster Magistrates Court
Successfully resisted application to activate default sentence where defendant owed in excess of £200,000
R v G Westminster Magistrates Court
Successfully resisted application to activate default sentence where defendant owed in excess of £650,000
R v P Westminster Magistrates Court
Successfully resisted application to activate default sentence where defendant owed in excess of £125,000
R v M Westminster Magistrates Court
Successfully resisted application to activate default sentence where defendant owed in excess of £85,000
R v B Westminster Magistrates Court
Successfully resisted application to activate default sentence where defendant owed in excess of £450,000
James accepts instructions in county courts in committal and similar proceedings relating to breaches of civil injunctions and orders.
With a background in civil litigation prior to joining Chambers, James has a wide experience of civil litigation including disclosure, bankruptcy orders, and judicial review. James has recently assisted in applications for interim freezing injunctions and undertaken advisory work on civil procedure.
Woking Borough Council v U Oxford Crown Court
Committal hearing for breach of housing injunction
London Borough of Ealing v C Brentford Crown Court
Committal hearing for breach of anti-social behaviour injunction
Regulatory and Disciplinary Proceedings
James has significant experience before the Health and Care Professions Tribunal and is frequently instructed in fitness to practise (FTP) cases on behalf of the HCPC. He deals with cases at all stages of the HCPTS process, and has experience of the entire spectrum of cases brought by the HCPC, including cases where fitness to practice is allegedly impaired by virtue of health, misconduct, and lack of competence.
Recent FTP matters in which James has been instructed have involved paramedics, radiographers, operating department practitioners, physiotherapists, occupational therapists and hearing aid dispensers.
HCPC v H
Radiographer convicted of multiple serious criminal offences
HCPC v G
Operating Department Practitioner accused of multiple acts of dishonesty and false claims for overtime payments in the course of their employment
HCPC v H
Hearing Aid Dispenser cautioned by police for multiple sexual offences
HCPC v S
Occupational Therapist faced with multiple allegations involving endangering patients, inappropriate clinical practice and misconduct in respect of colleagues
HCPC v N
Hearing Aid Dispenser convicted of sexual offences
HCPC v S
Paramedic faced with allegations of misconduct and lack of competence involving clinical and capacity assessments, record-keeping and patient safeguarding
HCPC v C
Operating Department Practitioner convicted of serious criminal offences
HCPC v B
Paramedic convicted of violent criminal offence
HCPC v S
Physiotherapist faced with multiple allegations of poor or dangerous practice. Allegations of misconduct and lack of competence
HCPC v H
Paramedic accused of dishonesty in the course of their employment
HCPC v K
Paramedic alleged to be impaired by virtue of physical/mental health
HCPC v M
Radiographer convicted of serious criminal offences
HCPC v S
Student Paramedic accused of serious unprofessional behaviour and dangerous driving
HCPC v M
Biomedical Scientist faced with allegations of dishonesty and lack of competence
HCPC v D
Operating Department Practitioner convicted of dishonesty offences abroad
HCPC v E
Operating Department Practitioner convicted of dishonesty and driving offences
HCPC v W
Radiographer convicted of theft of drugs from their place of employment
James has significant experience of professional disciplinary matters involving social workers. Recent cases have involved allegations of sexual misconduct, lack of competence, dishonesty, and endangering service users.
James has also assisted in professional discipline matters before the Teaching Regulation Agency.
James also maintains an advisory practice in respect of financial regulation. He has recently advised a large US firm in respect of a significant Serious Fraud Office investigation and undertakes advisory work in respect of investigations instigated by the UK Serious Fraud Office and Financial Conduct Authority.