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Jonathan Laidlaw

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Jonathan Laidlaw
KC
Junior Treasury Counsel
In office
1995–2000
Senior Treasury Counsel
In office
2000–2008
First Treasury Counsel
In office
2008–2010
Personal details
Born
Jonathan James Laidlaw

1960
NationalityBritish
Residence(s)London, England
Alma materUniversity of Hull
OccupationSenior Treasury Counsel, barrister at 2 Hare Court
ProfessionBarrister
Websitewww.2harecourt.com

Jonathan Laidlaw KC (February 1960) is an English barrister[1] notable for prosecuting and defending in many high-profile criminal cases,[2] including defence of News International chief executive Rebekah Brooks who was acquitted of all charges after the phone hacking trial.[3] In 2012 he was chosen by the Football Association to present their case against John Terry.[4] On 31 May 2022, he applied to be admitted as a lawyer in Malaysia to serve as lead counsel for former Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak to appeal the latter's criminal convictions in Malaysia.[5] The application was dismissed by the Malaysia High Court on July 21, 2022.[6] He also unsuccessfully represented Andrew Pilley between 2022 and 2023 in his fraud trial. He graduated from the University of Hull with a law degree.[7]

Career at the Bar

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2 Hare Court chambers where in 2013 Laidlaw was appointed the head of chambers

Laidlaw was called to the Bar in 1982. He practises at 2 Hare Court in the Inner Temple, where in 2013 he was appointed the head of chambers.[8] He sat as a Crown Court Recorder since 1998[9] and in 2008 was appointed Queen's Counsel.[10]

Between 2022 and 2023 Laidlaw represented Andrew Pilley (founder of the BES Utilities fraud), after making a number of attempts to dismiss the criminal charges brought against him, the matter ultimately went to trial in Preston Crown Court between October 2022 and May 2023. Pilley was found guilty on 4 serious fraud charges and sentenced to 13 years prison. In his sentencing remarks, Laidlaw received admonishment from His Honour Judge Knowles KC for complaining on Pilley's behalf that his cell was too small, complaining of being "humiliated" and asking for him not to sit in the dock during the course of the trial. [11]

Treasury Counsel

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As Treasury Counsel, Laidlaw brought Britain's first war crimes case and acted as prosecution in the trial of the Provisional IRA bombing of Canary Wharf, the Official Secrets Act prosecution of Richard Tomlinson[12] and David Shayler,[13] the Jill Dando murder trial,[14] the trial of the Al Qaeda cell that planned pre-9/11 attacks in the United States and United Kingdom,[15] the trial of the Al Qaeda attack on Glasgow Airport and of Delroy Grant[16] who received four life sentences and is believed responsible for roughly 100 cases of rape, sexual assault and burglary.[17]

References

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  1. ^ "Lawyer of the week Jonathan Laidlaw, QC". 10 November 2017. Retrieved 10 November 2017.
  2. ^ "Phone-hacking trial: total legal costs approach £100m". 10 November 2017. Retrieved 10 November 2017.
  3. ^ "Rebekah Brooks' legal team revealed as gagging order lifted". Retrieved 10 November 2017.
  4. ^ "John Terry verdict: if the FA does not think this is racism, what is?". Retrieved 10 November 2017.
  5. ^ "Queen's Counsel Jonathan Laidlaw applies to appear as Najib's lawyer in SRC appeal". The Star. Retrieved 31 May 2022.
  6. ^ Tee, Kenneth (21 July 2022). "High Court dismisses Najib's bid for Queen's Counsel in SRC International appeal". Retrieved 21 July 2022.
  7. ^ "Laidlaw, Jonathan James, (born 28 Feb. 1960), KC; a Recorder, since 1998." WHO'S WHO & WHO WAS WHO. 1 Dec. 2007
  8. ^ "2 Hare Court: Chambers of Jonathan Laidlaw QC". Legal500. 10 November 2017. Retrieved 10 November 2017.
  9. ^ "The Law Pages: Jonathan James Laidlaw QC". 11 November 2017. Retrieved 11 November 2017.
  10. ^ "The silks list in full: 98 new QCs". 11 November 2017. Retrieved 11 November 2017.
  11. ^ https://www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk/news/crime/fleetwood-town-insist-its-business-as-usual-after-owner-andy-pilley-is-jailed-for-13-years-for-fraud-4208662
  12. ^ "Leading for Rebekah Brooks: Jonathan Laidlaw QC". Archived from the original on 14 June 2022. Retrieved 10 November 2017.
  13. ^ "R v. David Michael Shayler". Retrieved 10 November 2017.
  14. ^ "Barry George trial: Lone stalker killed Jill Dando, court told". Retrieved 10 November 2017.
  15. ^ "BA computer expert 'in plot to bomb packed jet'". Retrieved 10 November 2017.
  16. ^ "Night Stalker rapist: Delroy Grant guilty". Retrieved 10 November 2017.
  17. ^ "Night Stalker guilty: Sex attacker Delroy Grant preyed on 1,000 elderly victims". Retrieved 10 November 2017.
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