John-James Hallissey

Called 2003
Middle Temple
LLB (Hons), De Montfort University
LLM Public International Law, University College London

Practice

John-James is a member of the Crime team.

John prosecutes and defends in equal measure and with equal vigour. He also represents Local Authorities, the Probation Service and other private prosecuting agencies. He is a grade 2 CPS prosecutor and his practice covers the full range of criminal offences.

John’s wide range of criminal experience means he is equally at home with paperwork frauds, technical regulatory crimes or city centre violence.

A natural advocate, John is known for his adept cross-examinations and his powerful mitigations and has developed a reputation as counsel of choice for difficult clients.

John sits occasionally as a legal advisor in the Magistrates’ Courts.

John lectures to solicitors on criminal law and trains junior barristers in advocacy skills.

Cases of note:

• R v Bowler (2008) – Successful prosecution of a man charged with supply of class A drugs on the basis of a single text message.

• R v Carrino (2007) – Arson being reckless as to the endangerment of life – Guilty plea.

• R v McLean (2006) – Large scale conspiracy to defraud. Paperwork fraud in excess of £100,000 – Guilty plea & non-custodial sentence

• R v Coverdale (2006) – Successful defence of a woman charged with possessing a firearm without a licence. Caused the Leicestershire Constabulary’s Firearms Licensing Department to review its policy of issuing backdated firearms certificates after forcing the Crown to withdraw its prosecution

• R v Henton (2005) – John represented a man charged with breaching his Anti-Social Behaviour Order. John’s thorough preparation and grasp of the case were instrumental in having the case against the defendant dropped on the day of trial.

• R v Mangan & McDonagh (2005) – Represented a man who was dissatisfied with the adoption of his younger brother and so kidnapped him and fled the country, sparking an international manhunt. John was drafted in part way through the proceedings when the defendant was trying to vacate his guilty plea and was facing an ever-increasing custodial sentence in response. John’s careful handling and mitigation secured his almost immediate release from custody.

Professional Memberships

Criminal Bar Association