Jonathan Higgs KC is a leading criminal silk ranked in both the Chambers UK Guide to the Bar and the Legal 500 directories andis a specialist criminal practitioner, appearing in high profile criminal trials throughout the UK as well as the Appellate Courts. Since taking silk in 2011 he has quickly established a first class reputation as a leading silk, appearing regularly at the Old Bailey and throughout the UK.
His practice is primarily concentrated upon offences of homicide, serious and organised criminal activity and all cases involving serious fraud, money laundering and revenue evasion as well as other large-scale conspiracies. Jonathan is regularly instructed to advise clients under investigation by the SFO, FSA, DTI and FPS. Additionally he has appeared in numerous cases involving sexual offending and historic sexual abuse.
He has appeared before the Administrative Court in many judicial reviews, is an expert in military law and has been instructed by the Army Legal service in Courts Martials. Jonathan has been instructed to appear on the Isle of Man. Additionally, he has a wealth of experience before the Appellate Courts and is often instructed post conviction in cases in which he was not the trial advocate. Fees in these cases are agreed by the Senior Clerk.
Jonathan Higgs KC is able to accept instructions direct from the public in appropriate cases. For further information in this regard please contact the Senior Clerk.
Lex lapidus. Jonathan Higgs KC was the central character in Swedish international bestseller Jens Lapidus’ [Easy Money, Stockholm Noir] documentary on the English legal system, screened on Swedish television in 2020.
Gordon Carse, led by Jonathan Higgs KC, represented an alleged member of a Swedish hit team, hired to assassinate a leading member of a rival international OCG. The case made national headlines due to the professionalism of the assassination, in which latex masks and other disguises were used prior to the shooting. The shooting itself was designed to be shocking, taking place on Christmas Eve on the victim’s doorstep and in front of his family.
Jonathan Higgs QC represented LG in the final instalment of the notorious Salford gang wars of 2015, when machine guns, pump action shotguns, machetes and even military handgrenades were used in a series of executions and assassination attempts spreading all across Manchester and then abroad to Spain. LG was acquitted of all charges.
Jonathan Higgs QC successfully defended this client who was acquitted of the joint enterprise murder of an North London student who was stabbed multiple times and shot following a late night altercation. A second victim survived multiple stab wounds. The two other defendants were convicted and sentenced to serve a minimum of 29 years each. Instructed by Phaedon Georgiou of Joseph Hill Solicitors.
Jonathan Higgs QC leading James Martin for Goldkorns Solicitors. Three people were charged with Murder following the discovery of a body left in the stairwell of a block of flats in Chatham. The deceased and the three charged were known drug users and the death had occurred in a nearby flat occupied by one of the accused.
The previous few days were carefully pieced back together by the investigatory team using a combination of CCTV footage, eye witness accounts and call records as well as some footage from mobile phones.
There were complex issues of causation due to the post-mortem findings and in particular the neuro-pathology results. Besides the factual complications there were also issues relating to identification and also joint-enterprise.
Jonathan Higgs QC led Paul Jackson for the defence of this young male charged with murder. The Crown’s case was that the defendant stabbed the deceased 14 times in a matter of seconds. Whilst the defendant accepted causing the death of the deceased, he asserted that the deceased attacked him with a knife which he was able to take off of him and then acted in self-defence. The defendant was found not guilty.
Jonathan Higgs QC successfully defended his client in this 8 week murder trial involving the kidnap, torture and killing of an alleged love rival. Instructed by Farradays.
Jonathan Higgs QC was instructed for the defence of this man cleared of his involvement in the murder of Pokemon Go fan, Carl Gregory, by strangulation in a revenge attack for posting offensive material online of an ex-girlfriend. Instructed by Gurney Harden Solicitors.
Jonathan Higgs QC led Paul Jackson in the Defence of a young male charged with the murder of his own father and attempted murder of his young niece and nephew. Defendant found not guilty by reason of insanity. Instructed by Emery Halil and Brown.
Jonathan Higgs QC led Edmund Fowler for the Prosecution of these 4 defendants for the murder of a Kent man found naked on the beach in Leysdown. The alleged motivation for the attack and murder was the victim was alleged to have molested a teenage girl earlier on the night of his murder.
Jonathan Higgs QC led James Martin and successfully defended this allegation of Murder. Principle defendant accused of stabbing his partner in premeditated attack said to have been planned in advance and encouraged by the second defendant who hid in the boot of the car when victim was picked up by the first defendant. Issues in the case involved: Self defence, loss of control, secondary parties to Murder and joint enterprise.
Jonathan Higgs QC leading Valeria Swift defended a 15 year old youth, at his 2 month Old Bailey trial, charged with 5 others, accused of the murder of a 17 year old aspiring "Rap" artist in South London. Instructed by Thomas Boyd Whyte Solicitors.
Jonathan Higgs QC leading Danny Robinson successfully defended a man cleared of a joint enterprise murder in which was the first trial to be subject to the Supreme Court decision of R v. Jogee. Instructed by Thomas Boyd Whyte Solicitors.
Jonathan Higgs QC defended a teenage boy charged with another for the fatal stabbing of a young man in East London. Instructed by Alexander Johnson & Partners.
Jonathan Higgs QC defended in this trial of 5 men for murder after victim was robbed and fatally attacked in Basildon, Essex. Instructed by Sternberg Reed.
Jonathan Higgs QC leading Jonathan Polnay represented a defendant in the much publicised Old Bailey trial involving the worldwide sale of "fake" bomb detection devices. Instructed by Gary Bloxsome of Blackfords LLP.
