James Reilly
Partner & Higher Rights Advocate
020 3811 5143
jreilly@lewisnedas.co.uk
Working alongside his brother Sean in our City Office, James is a very successful serious crime advocate with a high acquittal rate of Crown Court trials, and successes in the Court of Appeal.
James is a solicitor advocate with considerable skill. A highly experienced lawyer, James has spent over 20 years specialising in criminal law during which time included being a founding partner of a specialist criminal defence firm in Oxford. James specialises in Conspiracies. His practice encompasses Financial White-Collar Fraud, Proceeds of Crime Offences, Sexual Offences, Large Scale drug offences, Firearms offences and Murder. James frequently conducts trials in the Crown Court and proceedings in the Court of Appeal and High Court. James often co-defends alongside Queen’s Counsel and in multi-handed, complex cases.
James has a natural ability for advocacy and his down to earth manner enables him to build a connection with juries and present his client’s cases skilfully. He has established a reputation for hard work, meticulous preparation and a no-nonsense but courteous approach to all cases he deals with.
James has been instructed in some of the most serious cases heard in the Crown Court
Notable Cases
R v C 2021 Fraudulent Evasion of Duty case involving almost £500,000 before the Southwark Crown Court
R V A 'Encro Chat case' large scale conspiracy to import class a kingston crown court
R V H 'Encro Chat case' large scale conspiracy to import 70 kg Class A Luton Crown Court
R V F and others conspiracy to Purvert the Course of Justice
R v H (2021) Murder at the Old Bailey.
R v S -(2021) Conspiracy to Rob
Appeal of S (2020) - Multi handed Murder conviction quashed.
R v D -( 2020) Firearms conspiracy- defendant acquitted of all defended counts on the indictment.
R v S (2019) – Woolwich Crown Court – the last defendant’s facing trial regarding the ‘Hatton Garden Robbery’ which is still the largest burglary in British History (in excess of £14 million)– a much publicised case attracting national and international attention. Co-defending alongside Queen’s Counsel.
R v B (2018) - Slavery trial - Oxford Crown Court - complex case multi handed case– co-defending alongside Queen’s Counsel. The client raised a statutory defence under section 45 of the Modern Slavery Act raised which resulted in the defendant being acquitted of all counts at the close of the prosecution case.
R v S (2018) – 10 handed defendant murder trial– Oxford Crown Court – co-defended alongside Queen’s Counsel.
R v SZ (2018) – multi handed murder heard at the Old Bailey – co-defended alongside Queen’s Counsel
R v A (2018) – causing death by dangerous driving trial – Woodgreen Crown Court
R v B (2017) – Possession with intent to supply 10kg of cocaine – Oxford Crown Court
R v M (2013) – nationwide cannabis factory conspiracy and money laundering (in excess of £4million) – co-defended alongside Queen’s Counsel.
R v P&R (2012) (Court of Appeal) The Court of Appeal – leading case regarding requisite mens rea for Procceeds of Crime Act on the basis that the defendants did not possess the requisite mens rea for attempting to commit the offence
AREA OF EXPERTISE
Top Ranked Lawyers: Legal 500
Celebrating 39 years of practice in 2021, we are leaders in criminal defence, serious fraud, serious crime and many other areas of legal practice. We have been involved in many leading cases over the last 35+ years and are well known for our genuinely high acquittal rate and overall success rate. Please click the Legal 500 logo below for more information about our rankings.
