Jim Sturman KC

Practice Areas

Specialist defence advocate instructed in many high profile fraud, criminal, health and safety, regulatory and sports law cases as well as advising in civil cases where criminal allegations arise. Frequently acts and advises abroad and in multi-jurisdictional investigations often advising high net-worth individuals and celebrities as well as their children. Experienced in acting as part of a team of lawyers from different jurisdictions and has appeared as an advocate in civil arbitrations involving multi-billion dollar claims both in The Hague and in Switzerland.

A wide ranging international practice, he has advised in Africa, Europe, Russia, the Caribbean, South America, the Middle East, The Gulf, USA, Australia and the Far East. Particular expertise in bribery and corruption, sanctions offences, data protection, homicide, regulatory work (frequently representing professionals from all professions before disciplinary tribunals) and advisory work to banks and corporate clients as well as individuals on criminal matters and mutual assistance requests as well as in 'quasi criminal' tribunals. Advises in SFO cases from the earliest stages and up to trial, on warrants as well as section 2 requests and drafting representations as to why the SFO should not charge - successfully arguing against charge for his client in Innospec, Barclays Qatar fund raising and other cases. Acts in challenges to search warrants on behalf of professionals, corporate clients and individuals. Advises solicitors and City institutions in money laundering cases and inquiries. Author of the chapter on criminal procedure in a recent textbook on competition law. Extensive experience of health and safety work, frequently advising Directors and engaged in defending Corporate manslaughter prosecutions, advising before charge and also acting at trial in cases across all sectors of industry (for example the trial arising from the Buncefield explosion), railways and farming. R v Piranha, R v T and R v H (all cases involving fatalities) R v CGT joint venture. Acts in public inquiries and inquests, for example The Grenfell Tower Inquiry, Turks and Caicos Commission of Inquiry and represented Primrose Shipman before The Shipman Inquiry and at the inquest into the death of Dr Harold Shipman. Extensive experience of asset confiscation and restraint proceedings under POCA, CJA and DTA.

Considerable experience in The Court of Appeal Criminal Division, particularly in cases where he did not act in the lower court. Examples include, R v L, conviction for murder quashed and no evidence offered at the re-trial, R v Dallagher ('ear print' identification case) and R v Dixon (Customs and Excise non-disclosure in a large drugs case known as 'Operation Cinema'. Notable cases in general crime include, R v Wayne Couzens (murder of Sarah Everard), R v Tania Clarence. R v Stagg (Wimbledon common murder). R v G and Charles Kray. R v M "sex on an aeroplane case'. R v Kelly, first appeal on 'two strikes' life sentence. Acted in 2 'Operation Care' cases in Liverpool. R v C and others (Serbian sanctions busting case), R v H (co-defendant in the Bowyer and Woodgate trial). Enormously experienced in drugs cases, R v A White, R v D (Part of the Michael Michaels series of cases) and several Encro chat cases. Acted for Joey Barton on assault charge at Manchester City training ground. Extradition cases include USA v Sukharno, USA v Newton (part of the Howard Marks case) and USA v Kleasen - the 'Texas chainsaw' case. Fraud cases include BAE, Innospec, Unaoil, Barclays Bank Qatar fund raising, the appeal of Michael Villiers in the LCB diversion case (the first of the chain of LCB appeals), and the subsequent abuse of process hearing based on non-disclosure at Liverpool Crown Court. R v G (largest ever cigarette diversion fraud), R v F (SFO prosecution arising out of the theft of the Cheney Pension Fund), appeared in the Unaoil trial acting for X, R v E (International Internet piracy first investigated in the USA as 'Operation Buccaneer'), acted for three of the British MP's charged with "expenses fraud" and in the prosecution arising out of the South Thanet campaign at the general election.

Extensive experience of all types of financial fraud, including fraud by abuse of position, mortgage, ponzi, advance fee, insider dealing and derivatives 'ramping', revenue, VAT and diversion frauds. Acts and advises throughout the English Speaking world and throughout the world, successfully defended a solicitor on a stamp duty fraud allegation in the Turks and Caicos Islands. Has aced in sanctions matters for decades, particularly Russian and Iranian sanctions and has appeared in the commercial court on sanctions issues in the UK and all over the world. Frequently advises in international and domestic corruption investigations on both the criminal and civil aspects, experienced in such investigations in the oil and gas, mining, armaments, banking, shipping, insurance, property, financial services and many other fields of commerce and industry throughout the world.

In sports law regularly appears before FA, FAPL, UEFA and FIFA disciplinary tribunals in relation to on field and off the field matters, (including 'doping offences', betting irregularities, breach of financial rules (including FFP) and allegations of misconduct by fans), acting for the defence. Has acted for Chelsea FC, Tottenham Hotspur FC, Newcastle United FC, Watford FC, CSKA Moscow, Jose Mourinho, Frank Lampard, John Terry, Didier Drogba, Dele Alli, Jens Lehman, Millwall FC, Wimbledon AFC, Watford FC, Tottenham Hotspur FC, Robbie Keane, Michael Dawson, Dennis Wise, Gustavo Poyet, Diego Costa, Emre of Newcastle on a 'racism' allegation that was dismissed, Peter Cech, Ashley Cole, Jermaine Defoe. Acted for Newcastle United in Premier League Tribunal hearing brought by Kevin Keegan. Instructed by the FA to prosecute Roy Keane in relation to the autobiography by that player and featured in the second autobiography in Chapter 1 where the author described the original disciplinary proceedings. Acted for Chelsea FC in the 'Ashley Cole tapping up case'. Acted for CSKA Moscow in Parma's protest against the result of the 2005 UEFA semi final. Acted for West Ham in the Carlos Tevez affair. Has acted for UEFA, national FAs and for individual players in relation to doping allegations. Has advised on OADT issues for directors and acted for the defence and the EFL in such matters. Acted for Wigan FC in the 'Webster' case on Article 17 of the FIFA statutes. Acted for Mohammed Bin Hammam in his successful appeal to CAS from FIFA findings arising out of his campaign to run for the FIFA Presidency against Sepp Blatter. Acted for an individual charged with breach of the WADA Code as a result of the investigation into Russian doping and also has advised athletes in all sports including motor and horse racing. Has successfully represented agents suing players who attempted to "cut out" the agent from transfer deals. Has advised national associations in South America and the Far East in relation to disputes under FIFA regulations. Has also acted and advised across a host of other sports, including motor sport and horse racing.

Author of the chapter on disciplinary proceedings in the "Law of Football" he frequently appears in The Court of Arbitration for Sport. Sits as an RFU and PGA appeals Chairman and on the disciplinary panels of other sports on an ad hoc basis.

Jim is an ever present in The Professional Guides since they were first published, he was in The Hot 100 in 2002, has been nominated as silk of the year on numerous occasions in crime, business crime, fraud and health and safety (as well as "silk of the year") and was one of a handful of criminal barristers listed in "The Business 100" - a list of the pre-eminent advisors to businesses and Directors in the UK.

Career

Called 1982, joined chambers 1983, Silk 2002. Joint Head of Chambers since 2019.

Professional Memberships

Member of Gibraltar Bar, CBA, IBA, EBA and BAFS.

Publications

Contributor (with Professor David Ormerod) to 'The Forensic Psychologists casebook' published in 2005.

Contributor to 'Football and the Law' published in 2018 and second edition 2022.

Contributor to "Competition Law" published in 2019.