Jo Sidhu is a leading silk with a formidable national reputation in serious cases including fraud, homicide, terrorism, drugs, armed robbery, extradition, and in cases involving human rights issues.
He was the Chair of the Criminal Bar Association (2021 - 2022).
RECENT TESTIMONIALS
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One of the best advocates in the business. He is phenomenal on his feet, very impactful and incredibly smooth. Chambers UK 2023, Crime
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Jo is right up there with the very best silks. Legal 500 2023
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A real bare-knuckle fighter when he needs to be and a real soothing presence in court when that is what the case needs. Legal 500 2023
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An absolutely amazing barrister. Chambers UK 2022
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Jo prepares his case very diligently and his advocacy is seamless and eloquent. Legal 500 2022, Crime
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He is very thorough with his preparation and is exceptionally good at strategising on behalf of his client's best interests. Legal 500 2022, Crime
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He is very charming with juries, judges and opponents alike. Legal 500 2022, Crime
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He is a very experienced crime advocate who explains things clearly. Chambers UK 2021
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A master of closing speeches and often instructed in difficult homicide cases. Chambers UK 2020
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A great jury advocate and extremely eloquent. Chambers UK 2020
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He defends in a range of homicide cases. Legal 500 2020
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Admired for his performance and conduct at court. Chambers UK
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Very proactive and diligent. Chambers UK
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Steps up to the plate. Chambers UK
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A keen eye for detail and a vast knowledge of the law. Legal 500
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Recommended for his experience in defending murders. Legal 500
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Recommended for his experience in defending murders. Legal 500
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His practice ranges from appeals through complex terror cases to sensitive sexual abuse trials. Legal 500
Associated Work
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Awarded Criminal Lawyer of the Year at the Asian Legal Awards 2022.
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Chair of The Criminal Bar Association (2021-2022),
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Bencher at Lincoln's Inn.
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President of the Society of Asian Lawyers 2013-2016.
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Vice-chair Equality & Diversity Committee of the Bar Council: 2003-2017.
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Qualified to undertake direct public access work.
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Regular broadcaster on TV and Radio on legal and political issues.
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Winner of the Asian Professional of the Year award (2016) and listed in GG2 Magazine as one of the top 101 most influential Asians in the UK.
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A master of closing speeches and often instructed in difficult homicide cases. Chambers UK 2020
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A great jury advocate and extremely eloquent. Chambers UK 2020
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He defends in a range of homicide cases. Legal 500 2020
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Admired for his performance and conduct at court. Chambers UK
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Very proactive and diligent. Chambers UK
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Steps up to the plate. Chambers UK
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A keen eye for detail and a vast knowledge of the law. Legal 500
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Recommended for his experience in defending murders. Legal 500
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Recommended for his experience in defending murders. Legal 500
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His practice ranges from appeals through complex terror cases to sensitive sexual abuse trials. Legal 500
Professional Memberships
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Wadham College Law Society (since 2000)
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Criminal Bar Association
Pre-Law Experience and Voluntary Work
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Chair of School Governing Body (1997-2017).
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Elected Councillor in London Borough of Ealing (1994-1998).
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Member of Middlesex Area Probation Committee (1995-1998).
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Tutor in Economics (P/T) (1989-91).
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Senior Programme Researcher at the BBC (F/T) (1989).
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Policy and Research Officer with London Borough of Ealing (F/T) (1988).
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Caseworker with Southall Monitoring Project (P/T) (1986-1989).
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Jury foreman in two trials (1984).
Publications
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The Accidental Barrister. Counsel Magazine, June 2023
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Diversity at the Bar: Where do we go from here? Counsel Magazine, September 2020
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Cases that Changed our Lives - author of chapter on Legal Insanity. Foreword by Lord Neuberger of Abbotsbury, Master of the Rolls. Butterworths (2010)
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Twenty Eight Days - What's the Verdict CLJW (2010), Vol 174, p103
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The Criminal Case of Usman Saddique The Guardian.11/02/10
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The Special Relationship CBQ March 2007. Issue 1, p6
Education
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BA (Hons) PPE - University of Oxford
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MSc Politics of the World Economy - L.S.E.
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CPE - The College of Law
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BVC – Inns of Court School of Law
Languages
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Punjabi
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Hindi (working knowledge)
Notable Cases - CRIME
Homicide
- R v Alex Bates (2020) – Alleged murder of a client by a drug dealer involving four defendants (ongoing).
- R v Ismail Hussain (2020) – Alleged attempted murder by shooting in drugs dispute involving seven defendants (ongoing).
- R v Ashley Pace (2020) – Alleged murder of homeless person in street (ongoing).
- R v Marceli Szymanski (2020) – Charges of murder, manslaughter and conspiracy to rob involving five defendants (acquitted on all charges).
- R v Levar Thomas (2020) – Alleged murder by stabbing involving four defendants (acquitted of murder).
- R v Kevin Eves (2019) – Murder of own baby daughter.
- R v Alex Gunn (2019) - Murder and robbery of shop keeper in Pinner.
- R v Warsame Mohammed (2019) - Alleged murder by stabbing in group attack on street (acquitted of murder).
- R v Marcus West (2019) - Alleged murder by shooting and perverting the course of justice (acquitted)
- R v Clever Makande (2019) – Alleged murder of a drug dealer (acquitted of murder).
- R v Andrze Padewski (2019) – Alleged murder by battery in a house (acquitted) .
- R v John Nixon (2019) – Murder of a friend / neighbour after a domestic argument.
- R v Aram Kurd (2018) – Five murders alleged to have resulted from huge explosion and fire in a Leicester shop.
- R v Callum Smith (2018) – Murder by stabbing by teenage gang of a rival teenager in the street.
- R v S.M. (2018) – Murder by stabbing by teenage gang of a rival teenage drug dealer in an alley.
- R v Mohammed Khalid (2018) – Murder by stabbing after racist provocation.
- R v Leon Acheampong (2018) – Alleged murder by punching in the street by a boxer (acquitted).
- R v William Ransford (2018) – Alleged murder by stabbing by teenage gang of rival teenager (acquitted of murder).
- R v Belkar Singh (2017) – Murder of restaurant owner by his employee.
- R v Oluwadamilola Johnson (2017) – Murder by stabbing by teenager of a cannabis producer in his home.
- R v Sabah Khan (2017) – Love triangle. Sister murdered her own sister following affair with brother in law (pleaded guilty).
- R v Shiraz Bashir (2017) – Love triangle. Victim battered by five defendants and thrown to his death down a ravine.
- R v Azad Singh (2017) – Husband stabbed wife to death after finding her in their bed with another man.
- R v Anthony Goward (2016) – Bare knuckle fighter beat his partner’s lover after catching them in bed at home (acquitted).
- R v Zatoon Bibi (2016) – Murder by strangulation of ex-lover. Body dumped in boot of car.
- R v Sam Arnold (2016) – Alleged murder of drug dealer (acquitted).
- R v AG (2016) – Alleged murder by beating in tube station by 17 year old (acquitted of murder).
- R v Gibson Mazikana (2015) – Murder by stabbing of wife.
- R v Vladlens Ignashko (2015) – Murder by beating following a drinking session.
- R v Zaiem Zulqurnain (2015) – Alleged murder by stabbing in Nottingham city centre (acquitted).
- R v Zoeb Majid (2015) – Alleged murder and street robbery of a woman (acquitted of murder in cut throat with 13 year old co-defendant who was convicted).
- R v Darren Quainoo (2015) – Alleged gang related murder by stabbing (acquitted following half time submissions).
- R v Bharat Soma (2014) – Attempted murders of ex fiancée and her new partner by throat slashing.
- R v Gino Sawyers (2014) – Gang beating of 53 year old victim following argument in community centre (acquitted following half time submissions on murder and manslaughter).
- R v Kristofer Guler (2014) – Murder by stabbing in a public street
- R v TW (2014) – Allegation of attempted murder in series of contract killing hits.
- R v Rubel Miah (2014) - Murder and attempted murder by stabbing and machete attack.
- R v Mark Hannell (2013) - Alleged murder following an attack by a gang (secured discontinuance of murder charge).
- R v RW (2013) - 16 year old defendant. Gang related fatal shooting of rival gang leader (acquitted of murder).
- R v Pirughan Kunaratnam & Others (2013) - Battering to death of victim with a cricket bat in alleged gang related fight in Lewisham. (Acquitted of murder).
- R v Hassan Tonbul & Others (2013) – Defendant allegedly involved in an ongoing feud between Turkish gangs in North London which resulted in an execution (secured discontinuance of murder charge).
- R v VO & Others – Murder of 16 year old by gang of teenagers.
- R v Daniel Rogers – Murder of Asian taxi driver during attack involving racial abuse.
- R v Robert Jones – Defendant with Asperger’s Syndrome and Schizophrenia stabbed mother in the head
- R v Sabra Sultana & Others - "Thumb that fell from the sky" murder
- R v Michael Jachimowicz – Alleged killing of father and burying of body in the garden. (Acquitted of murder)
- R v PP & Ors - Honour killing of co-defendants mother's lover. (Acquitted of murder).
- R v GF – Broadmoor patient accused of double murder, attempted murder and rapes.
- R v Sean Edwards - Gangland stabbing (acquitted of attempted murder).
- R v Mahmuda Khatun – Stabbing to death of husband after abusive arranged marriage.
- R v Marcel Anderson – Punch in fight resulting in death of 60 year old victim. (Acquitted of murder).
- R v Gabriel Alecu & Others - Gangland beating to death of victim in back of ambulance.
- R v Imran Khan – Stabbing to death in street gang dispute.
- R v Manoj Mistry & Others – Kidnapping, strangulation and burning to death of love rival.
- R v Myriam Conte – Stabbing to death of student by housemate (acquitted of murder).
- R v Terry Steadman & Others – Beating to death of elderly man in random street assault. (Acquitted of murder).
- R v Ranjit Sohal – Beating to death of wife with hammer after domestic argument.
- R v Kalvinder Dosanjh - Soliciting to murder of own daughter as an 'honour killing'.
- R v Paul Jones & Others - Hit man contract killing (shooting) of a business rival.
- R v Christopher Wilkins – Attempted murder (stabbing) in a street fight (acquitted).
- R v Asburn Morrison - Attempted murder (stabbing) at a blues party.
- R v Jermaine Pearcy & Others - Double attempted murder (shooting) at a nightclub. (Acquitted of murder).
- R v Timothy Merchant - Double attempted murder (shooting) & conspiracy to pervert justice.
- R v Colin Crawley & Others - Attempted murder (shooting) of former business partner.
- R v Francis Pope & Others - Double attempted murder (shooting) at nightclub. (Acquitted of murder).
- R v Pauline Drinkwater - Manslaughter/aiding & abetting suicide of husband in suicide pact.
Terrorism
- R v Mizanur Rahman – Inviting support for ISIS (co-defendant was Anjem Choudary).
- R v Runa Khan – Disseminating terrorist publications via Facebook to encourage jihad in Syria. (Pleaded guilty).
- R v Usman Saddique & Others – ‘Airline Liquid Bomb’ plot to explode seven airplanes over the Atlantic in August 2006. (Acquitted) VHCC
- R v Abdul Jalil & Others - 'Dirty bomb' manufacture alleged to be used for mass terrorist killing. (Pleaded guilty) VHCC
- R v Mouloud Bouhrama & Others - Chemical weapons [Ricin] manufacture alleged to be preparation for mass terrorist killing. (Acquitted) VHCC
Drugs
- R v Samir Baghdadi (2020) – Alleged production of industrial quantities of cannabis (ongoing).
- R v Hai Ban Tran & 23 Others - Conspiracy to produce cannabis. VHCC (largest ever)
- R v Troy Alleyne & Others - Conspiracy to supply crack cocaine valued at over £50 million: dubbed the "bling bling gang".
- R v R.W. - Importation of 3 tonnes of cannabis valued at over £10 million.
- R v Henry Mumford & Others - Conspiracy to produce largest ever quantity of amphetamine sulphate valued at £6 million.
- R v Jason Smith - Conspiracy to supply heroin valued at over £1 million.
- R v Desmond Black & Others - Conspiracy to supply heroin and firearms (Operation Trident).
- Robbery / Handling
- R v Soloman Beyene – Conspiracy to rob Graff jewellers. £40 million worth of jewels stolen.
- R v Lynnden Willoughby & Others - Conspiracy to steal computer equipment valued at over £25 million.
- R v Jagdev Shergill & Others - Conspiracy to handle computer goods valued at over £7 million.
- R v Abdul Awada - Conspiracy to handle mobile phones valued at over £1 million.
- R v Michael Walker & Others - Armed robbery by gang who murdered victim in course of one robbery.
- R v David Samuel & Others - Conspiracy to rob in a string of Securicor van hold ups.
Immigration Offences
- R v Giwo Faith Bala-Tonglele - £4 million immigration conspiracy
- R v Shravan Lattupally – Lead defendant of seven in a £2 million immigration conspiracy.
Sexual Offences
- R v Joseph McCann (2019) - Convicted of multiple rapes and sexual assaults in a spree of attacks across the country.
- R v John Wilson - Pentecostalist preacher prosecuted for 31 sexual offences against female members of his Church.
Serious Fraud
- R v Ragini Sona – Conspiracy to cheat HMRC
- R v Yuganthini Thayaparan – Money laundering conspiracy of more than £100 million. VHCC
- R v SM & Others – Conspiracy to cheat HMRC.
- R v Joyti De-Laurey & Others - Goldman Sachs secretary who used forgery and deception to obtain over £4 million from bosses.
- R v Malcolm Gell & Others - Excise/VAT diversion fraud valued at over £100 million.
- R v Malcolm Gell & Others - Excise/VAT diversion fraud valued at over £30 million.
- R v N C & Ors – Solicitor alleged to be party to defrauding land registry.
- R v Sukhdip Sander & Others – Conspiracy to commit ‘long firm’ fraud of £1.2 million.
- R v Alpesh Patel & Others - Bank fraud conspiracy valued at over £15 million.
- R v Choudry Maroof & Others - Credit card fraud conspiracy valued at over £2 million.
- R v Zarina Mahmood & Others - Bank fraud conspiracy valued at over £1.25 million.
- R v Dilbagh Singh - Dept. of Health fraud conspiracy valued at over £1.25 million.
- R v Anthony Ijomanta & Others - Advance fee fraud conspiracy between Nigeria and UK.
- R v Muhamed Iqbal - Second largest ever conspiracy to produce forged passports (x 450) valued at over £1.5 million.
- R v Zarina Patel & Others – Largest ever illegal immigration conspiracy (bogus marriages) involving 28 defendants.
Extradition
- Robert Ulaszonek v Polish Judicial Authority [2018] EWHC 2618 Admin Case No. CO/827/2018
- Piotr Peryt v Polish Judicial Authority [2018]
- Pawel Litwinuik v Polish Judicial Authority [2018]
Appeal Cases
- Shuayb Mahomud [2019] EWCA Crim 667
- Sabah Khan [2018] EWCA Crim 1357
- Choudary & Rahman v R [2017] EWCA Crim 1606
- Johnson & Ors [2016] EWCA Crim 1613
- Bala & Ors [2016] EWCA Crim 560
- Anjem Choudary & Mohammed Mizanur Rahman [2016] EWCA Crim 61
- Mazikana (Shonhiwa Gibson) [2016] EWCA Crim 1277
- Runa Khan [2015] EWCA Crim 1341
- Okonono & Wilson-Moonie [2014] EWCA Crim 2521
- Dang & Ors [2014] 1 W.L.R. 3797
- Rajakumar & Ors [2014] 1 Cr.App.R. 12
- Pepper [2010] EWCA Crim 2136
- Mahmuda Khatun [2010] All ER (D) 121
