Email address
[email protected]Contact number
020 7430 2277Share profile
Band 1
Band 2
Band 2
About
Provided by John Binns
Practice Areas
John advises corporate and individual clients on business crime and corporate regulatory matters, including bribery, controlled drugs, extradition, fraud, Interpol red notices, sanctions, tax evasion, and terrorist financing. He has particular expertise on issues under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (POCA), including confiscation, civil recovery, Suspicious Activity Reports (SARs) and Unexplained Wealth Orders (UWOs), and on the operation of the Money Laundering Regulations (MLRs).
His recent work includes advising numerous corporate clients, including a major British multinational group, on cannabis licensing issues, and on the implications under POCA of UK investments in overseas lawful cannabis businesses. He has represented individual and corporate suspects in major criminal investigations by HMRC, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), and National Trading Standards.
John has also advised a variety of companies and professional firms on issues including: their obligations to prevent bribery and the facilitation of tax evasion, to comply with the MLRs, and to submit SARs; their exposure to UWOs and to liability under POCA and sanctions laws; and the extent of their duty to cooperate with international and domestic POCA investigations.
Fellow practitioners say John has ‘a very cerebral approach’ and is ‘absolutely first rate’; ‘superbly analytical, right down in the detail, and a very nice guy to work with’; ‘absolutely fantastic… brilliant at advising clients… very calm and measured’; ‘approachable [and] very thorough’; and ‘a very strong POCA solicitor, who has a lot of experience [and] gives excellent, high-end advice for crime matters.’
John has presented at the Cambridge Symposium on Economic Crime, Cannabis Europa, the Proceeds of Crime Lawyers’ Association’s forum, the Red Lion Lectures, and webinars for Lexis Nexis, and gave expert evidence to the House of Lords’ EU Home Affairs Subcommittee.
Career
Qualified in 2000, joined BCL in 2010 and became a partner in 2017.
Professional Memberships
Anti-Money Laundering Professionals Forum; Association of Regulatory and Disciplinary Lawyers; Defence Extradition Lawyers Forum; Fraud Lawyers Association; the Law Society; Proceeds of Crime Lawyers Association (committee member); Tax Investigations Practitioners Group.
Publications
Contributor to Anti-Bribery and Anti-Corruption Review (Law Business Research) and Money Laundering Law and Regulation: a Practical Guide (Oxford University Press).
Author of various articles on economic crime topics for Analytical Cannabis, City AM, Fraud Intelligence, Law 360, Lexis Nexis, Money Laundering Bulletin, Open Access Government, Property Journal.
Personal
LLB Law at King’s College London, MPhil Criminology at Cambridge.
Chambers Review
UK
John Binns is highly experienced in POCA work, with notable expertise in cross-border matters. He has a wide-ranging practice advising on money laundering and UWOs.
John Binns frequently advises clients in relation to tax fraud and tax evasion cases. He is recognised as a highly skilled practitioner who is able to assist with sensitive and complex matters.
John Binns advises designated persons seeking to contest sanctions imposed by the UK and overseas governments. He is especially well known for representing Russian nationals or those associated with Russia.
Contributions
Latest contributions provided by John Binns
All contributions provided by John Binns
Strengths
Provided by Chambers
"John is not only an exceptional lawyer but also a pleasure to work with."
"John Binns is a very experienced and technically gifted sanctions lawyer."
"John is super knowledgeable and adaptable to the issues thrown at him."
"John is a patient, thoughtful and intelligent adviser who gives robust advice."
"John is a pre-eminent practitioner in the area and a go-to expert."
"He has an appetite for all things related to the proceeds of crime. When he writes articles or gives seminars you can see his passion and his interest and enthusiasm for this area of law."
"John is very knowledgeable and clear-cut in his advice."
"John is not only an exceptional lawyer but also a pleasure to work with."
"John Binns is a very experienced and technically gifted sanctions lawyer."
"John is super knowledgeable and adaptable to the issues thrown at him."
"John is a patient, thoughtful and intelligent adviser who gives robust advice."
"John is a pre-eminent practitioner in the area and a go-to expert."
"He has an appetite for all things related to the proceeds of crime. When he writes articles or gives seminars you can see his passion and his interest and enthusiasm for this area of law."
"John is very knowledgeable and clear-cut in his advice."
Articles, highlights and press releases
1 item provided by BCL Solicitors LLP
A Simple Guide to the Law on Civil Recovery under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (POCA)
Partner John Binns explains the way civil recovery works under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (POCA).
A Simple Guide to the Law on Civil Recovery under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (POCA)
Partner John Binns explains the way civil recovery works under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (POCA).
Discover other Lawyers at
BCL Solicitors LLP
London (Firms)
UK-wide
