John Lucas

John is a well-respected practitioner with over 25 years’ experience at the Criminal Bar. A superb jury advocate, known for his meticulous preparation. The latest edition of Legal 500 describes John as "an experienced barrister - persuasive, charming and has a hugely confident courtroom manner. Clients have complete faith in him." With an impressive track record of winning cases, John is often instructed as leading junior in the most challenging of proceedings. His case record includes complex fraud, murder, rape, drugs, money laundering and organised crime.  John also specialises in cases which involve ‘enchro phones’ and enchro type material. He was the leading junior counsel in one of the biggest of these cases (R -v- FK Operation Elation). Another recent case was R -v - R which was an extremely far-reaching conspiracy case at the Cardiff Crown Court.

John has a special ability to deal with cases which require a careful eye to detail, and which involve, experts, including forensic accountants, computers, telephones and I.T. In terms of Johns’ approach to legal matters, he is a strategist, ‘who will always find an angle’. John’s quick thinking and natural talent at advocacy make him a lethal cross-examiner who is able to take a witness apart within minutes of them stepping into the witness box.
 
Recently John has been instructed on large scale cyber crime matters. This includes R v SA & Others - Snaresbrook Crown Court. Johns client faced cyber crime allegations on an enormous scale which involved ATM fraud and Malware - no evidence offered after John indentified issues with the prosecution case and drafted an advice on the obtaining of digital forensic expert analysis.
 
Additionally, R v DC & others – Wood Green Crown Court. John was Lead counsel for 1st defendant - enormous operation to defraud bookmakers in the UK - in excess of £ 1 million - this became a case of national publicity. In terms of client care, John is dedicated to the end often spending more time than is even necessary to ensure that ‘no stone is left unturned.’ He is also extremely good at putting clients at ease and is known for his perseverance and seeing cases through to the end. Area of Practice Crime Cyber Crime / Cyber Fraud Financial crime including large scale fraud and fraud generally Sexual offences across the spectrum POCA & Forfeiture Regulatory work Organised Crime Drug related crime Road Traffic Cases Prosecutions brought by local authorities General Civil work including contractual obligations, FTT work including breaches of covenant, and forfeiture claims and PI work. Direct Access John accepts instructions via “direct access”

Cases of note (concluded)

R -v- Jordan Lupton – Kingston Crown Court – (James Liasis- Caveat Solicitors) – Multi-handed – multi-million pounds drugs conspiracy 2024/25
16 crime gang members jailed after Sheffield cocaine network busted
 
2024 – R -v- Kristoffen Baidoo & others – Southwark Crown Court – multi-million-pound fraud and money laundering – 4-week trial – ABV solicitors – Fergus Harrington – (Leading Counsel)
 
2023/24 - R -v- Gigi Ciobanica – 8 handed -money laundering and People smuggling case – Winchester Crown Court – case of nationwide publicity – (Leading Counsel) 
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2023 – R -v- David Carl Richards – Newport Crown Court – 5 handed – money laundering and fraud and cannabis cultivation case – (Leading Counsel)
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2023 - R -v- James Green & another – Fraud and money laundering trial – Southampton Crown Court- over £5million pounds involving a solicitor -  (Blackford’s Solicitors) – (Leading Counsel)
 
2023 – R -v- Anthony Kefatzis & others Birmingham Crown Court – Fraud and money laundering – over £10 million pounds – (Leading Counsel)
 
2020 - R -v- Mark Braddock – CASE no: 201901185
Court of Appeal – heard before the Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales, The RT HON. LORD BURNETT OF MALEDON
– Appeal Against Conviction – Conviction Quashed – (see Judgement attached)

2018/9 - R -v- Declan Bannerman – HMRC AND GOOD Fraud – 7-month trial and Blackfriars Crown Court (now closed)  case involving 6 defendants and UK and French authorities involving over £10 million pounds – Case of nationwide publicity  - (Leading Counsel)

2017 - R -v- Renroy Johnson Attempted Murder at Wolverhampton Crown Court (case of nationwide publicity)
 
2017 - Mohammed Ali, K Hussein (& others) – Sexual Risk Prevention Order – involving 4 defendants at Birmingham Magistrates Court. 
 
2016 – R -v- Pierzhada Khan – murder trial involving 6 defendants lead by Tyrone Smith QC at Birmingham Crown Court.
 
2016 - Lauma Vankova (& others) Large scale fraud and money laundering trial which involved 4 defendants – lead counsel (leading Thomas McGarvey) and prosecuted by Greg Perrins (now HHJ Perrins at Wood Green Crown Court).
 
2016 - R -v- John Burnley – Cambridge Crown Court – extremely unusual trial involving rape of a grandchild.
 
2016 – Foysol Ahmed (& others) Local authority prosecution at Stafford Crown Court involving 9 defendants – case of large-scale publicity.
 
2015 - R -v- Robert Bailey (& others) exceptionally large multi-handed trial involving 13 defendants of child abuse at Warwick Crown Court.
 
2014 - R -v- Leon Pacquette – Central Criminal Court –  3-week murder trial led by James Scobie QC.
 
2014 - R -v- Jason Farinas (& others) Lead Counsel in 9 handed attempted murder trial at Wood Green Crown Court co-defending with Lee Karu QC (for the second defendant). A commendation received from the Learned Trial Judge (HHJ F. Morrison who is now retired).
 
2013 - R -v- Blandford – Worcester Crown Court – Serious Crime Prevention Order involving 5 million pounds.
 
Leading 500 (“Leading Junior” – BAND 4 - FRAUD) 
 
The latest edition of Legal 500 describes John as "an experienced barrister - persuasive, charming and has a hugely confident courtroom manner. Clients have complete faith in him."

Professional Membership

CBA 
Armenian Lawyers Association