John O’Higgins joined No5 Chambers Birmingham in 2017 bringing 30 years of experience of practising criminal law at the highest level in London and the South-East.
Although he has extensive experience in prosecuting, his focus is now on defence work.
He is one of the few leading juniors on the Midland Circuit to be recommended by both the Legal 500 and Chambers and Partners Directories. This is what they say about him:
Chambers UK 2024
“John O’Higgins is an accomplished junior who has acted in a vast number of cases, including those concerning homicide, serious violence, terrorism, sexual offences and fraud. He regularly acts for both the prosecution and the defence.”
“John is excellent in conference, robust in his advice and a talented advocate.”
“There is no more powerful advocate with a greater depth of skills and breadth of knowledge than John.”
“John is a really good advocate and the jury listen to him.”
Legal 500 2024
“John is very thorough and approachable. His attention to detail is remarkable. When he speaks, he ensures the entire court notices.”
Chambers UK 2023
“John is an outstanding barrister.”
Legal 500 2023
“John is very thorough in all cases and his technical ability is exceptional. He is very good at building rapport with clients and putting them at ease throughout their cases. His advocacy skills are also exceptional, often able to persuade judges and juries to accept submission he has made. He is very professional in his approach to clients and courts and is well respected by his peers.”
Legal 500 2022
“John is highly intelligent and hardworking. He is at the very top end of the junior bar and is at ease in dealing with cases which might ordinarily be expected to merit the involvement of leading counsel.”
Chambers 2021
“Very calm, measured and experienced. He is a tough opponent.”
Legal 500 2021
“A persuasive and forceful advocate who is very tactically astute and regularly achieves the very best results for clients.”
“The extremely intelligent and tactically astute John O’Higgins is highly recommended for cases requiring a leading junior.”
Chambers UK 2020
“He is very intelligent and diligent. He is very much feared by his opponents.” “His preparation, skill with clients and court manner are all very impressive.”
Legal 500 2020
“A very strong advocate with an air of authority.”
Legal 500 2019
“Very intelligent, tactically astute and inspires confidence in his clients.”
Chambers 2018
“A really canny operator and a first-rate advocate.”
Legal 500 2018
“A terrifyingly good advocate”
Chambers 2017
“He is an extremely confident and commanding advocate, capable of undertaking the most serious work. His written work is also excellent: prompt and succinct.”
Chambers 2016
“The senior-junior both defends and prosecutes complex and high-profile cases such as gangland shootings and homicides” Strengths: “He is an exceptional advocate who has a commanding courtroom presence. He is a fearless opponent who nevertheless possesses the soft skills to deal with the most vulnerable of clients. He quickly identifies the heart of a case but also finds points of law that elude others.”
“Very popular with juries, and persuasive in his advocacy.”
Legal 500 2016
“An instinctive advocate and excellent cross-examiner” “He fights doggedly for the lay client and is an expert in unlawful killing and serious violence.”
Chambers UK 2015
“Extremely thorough in his preparation of a case”
Legal 500 2015
“He is an intense advocate who certainly gets the jury’s attention.”
“He is an individual with acute intelligence who is passionately committed to his clients and works incredibly hard for them”
Legal 500 2014
“Excellent at supporting the solicitors who instruct him.”
"John is an outstanding barrister."
"John is highly intelligent and hardworking. He is at the very top end of the junior bar and is at ease in dealing with cases which might ordinarily might be expected to merit the involvement of leading counsel."
"Very calm, measured and experienced. He is a tough opponent."
"A persuasive and forceful advocate who is very tactically astute and regularly achieves the very best results for clients."
“He is very intelligent and diligent. He is very much feared by his opponents.” “His preparation, skill with clients and court manner are all very impressive.”
“A very strong advocate with an air of authority.”
