James O'Hara
UK Guide 2025
Band 2 : POCA Work & Asset Forfeiture
Band 2
About
Provided by James O'Hara
Practice Areas
James regularly acts in complex business crime matters. He defends clients in applications brought by the SFO, FCA, NCA, and Insolvency Service amongst others. His practice includes the entire breadth of financial crime including fraud, money laundering and insider dealing. He has significant experience in confiscation, enforcement receivership applications, and both civil and criminal HMRC investigations.
He also acts in regulatory matters for corporates and individuals subject to civil matters including account freezing and forfeiture applications, and disclosure orders. His work is often of a cross-border, multi-jurisdictional nature.
His peers say James "knows POCA inside out" and "he is robust in his arguments and fights for his clients, but he is not unrealistic and he knows when a point is not worth running..."he is a real fighter who battles for his clients."
Career
James joined iLaw in January 2024 having been head of Financial Crime & PoCA at a leading national firm of solicitors.
Professional Memberships
Proceeds of Crime Lawyers Association
London Irish Lawyers Association
Fraud Lawyers Association
Publications
The Confiscation Manual, Sweet and Maxwell, 2015
Chambers Review
UK
James O'Hara is an experienced solicitor adept at handling high-profile and cross-border POCA cases. He offers expertise in asset forfeiture, confiscation and enforcement proceedings.
Strengths
Provided by Chambers
"James is very thoughtful and a very good tactician. He ensures that the right decisions are made."
"He works super hard and he's really driven and proactive. He's so sensitive and patient and supportive."
"James is very thoughtful and a very good tactician. He ensures that the right decisions are made."
"He works super hard and he's really driven and proactive. He's so sensitive and patient and supportive."
