Nick James successfully represented client charged with conspiracy to defraud.

Following a three-month trial at Southwark Crown Court his client, a woman of good character, was acquitted by the jury in February this year. Reporting restrictions had been in place until now.  Eighteen people were charged with a £25m fraud in proceedings which lasted more than three years, involved four separate trials and resulted in just three acquittals. Nicks client is one of just two people acquitted of the main Conspiracy count. She was a compliance officer and the longest serving employee at a Timeshare sales and relinquishment company.   It was alleged that she had made false claims about the company and the investment opportunities it offered.  The defence case, positively advanced through witness and documentary evidence and she only ever acted in compliance with company procedures and with the honest belief that the investment opportunities were genuine.

Nick and Lucy Sweetland of 2BR, The Chambers of Brian Altman KC and Christine Agnew KC were jointly instructed by Simon May of Edwards Duthie Shamash Solicitors.

This was one of a number of recent successes for Nick.

In August, a jury found his client not guilty of fraudulent trading following a three-month trial at St Alban’s Crown Court. His client was a senior broker at a wine investment company with a £30m turnover alleged to have mis-sold blue-chip wines to hundreds of clients. Nick led Violet Smart of Doughty Street Chambers and instructed by Tricia O'Sullivan of Sperrin Law.

Nick has also secured the acquittal for his client, charged with a £54m Money-Laundering Conspiracy, following a nine-week trial at Snaresbrook Crown Court. The client was alleged to be part of a group who used Chinese Underground Banking, an Informal Value Transfer System, to convert millions of pounds of criminal cash via bank accounts. Nick and Molly Dyas of 2BR, The Chambers of Brian Altman KC and Christine Agnew KC was instructed by Altaf Mohammed of Centurion Solicitors.

Nick has decades of experience as defence counsel in high-value complex fraud matters. His practice spans complex criminal and civil fraud and corruption cases, asset recovery proceedings, and cross-border litigation.

In the Legal Directories, he is described as a “formidable white collar fraud barrister combining charismatic jury advocacy, tactical acumen and excellent client care".

For further information please contact Sam Carter.