What We Do…
Member Profile
Jim Sturman QC
Year of call: 1982
Year of silk: 2002
Education: LLB (Hons)
Jim Sturman QC, Deputy Head of Chambers, is recommended as a "leader in the field" in both general crime and fraud (ranked in band one in both categories) by the Chambers Directory, an independent guide to the legal profession - nominated by the editors of that publication as 'silk of the year' 2006. Also recommended in The Legal 500 and listed in "The Lawyers hot 100" in 2002. Considerable experience of serious crime including fraud, corruption, health and safety, extradition, Public Inquiries, inquests, terrorism, Judicial Review and advocacy before regulatory bodies, including The Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal and the GMC.
"What others say"
Chambers Directory 2010
"Always extremely enthusiastic and 100% committed to winning"
Chambers Directory 2009
"Well liked for his great rapport with clients and his fearlesness in Court"
"Hard working and possessed of extremely fine judgement"
"Incredibly quick to grasp the detail and engages effectively with clients"
Legal 500
"Exceptionally able"
"Accessible, approachable and on top of the detail"
An additional speciality is Sports Law (also a "leader in the field" ranked in band one in this third category) including F.A.P.L., English F.A., Welsh F.A., Scottish Premier League and U.E.F.A. and FIFA, Disciplinary tribunals, as well as libel and false attribution cases for Premiership footballers.
Investigations and pre-trial advice
Jim is frequently engaged to advise pre-charge, including instructions to challenge search warrants and restraint/receivership orders.
Most recently Jim acted for one of the successful applicants in challenges to restraint orders and search warrants in relation to raids on cash and carry warehouses. The search warrant aspect of the case is reported at 2011 EWHC 1899 (Admin).
Fraud
Extensive experience in diversion, VAT, tax and mortgage frauds. Also corruption (advised in many national and international corruption inquiries both in the UK and abroad), fraudulent trading, DTI offences and Companies Act offences, software piracy and MTIC fraud.
Has been retained by City institutions to advise on disclosure in complex "share ramping" and "insider dealing" frauds.
Advises potential defendants in relation to offers to compound proceedings in order to avoid prosecution and in relation to VAT assessments where persons have been inadvertently caught up in diversion frauds. Advises Solicitors and city institutions on money laundering regulations, also considerable experience in advising in civil fraud allegations on the impact of the criminal law. Frequently instructed to advise in confiscation proceedings. Advises in FSA matters. You can read about Jim's experience in more detail at www.jimsturmanqc.com or by clicking on the following links:
- Commercial fraud and business crime expert;
- Bribery and corruption expert;
- Investment scheme fraud expert;
- Financial and tax fraud expert;
- Money laudering and proceeds of crime expert.
General Crime
Has extensive experience in murder, armed robbery and major drugs cases. Since acting for Colin Stagg (The Rachel Nickell murder), Jim has been instructed in numerous cases where there has been an element of "entrapment". Regularly instructed to give a second opinion both upon requests from Solicitors and after referral from the Criminal Appeal Office in appeals where he did not conduct the original trial. Conducts many appeals, and drafts representations to The Criminal Cases Review Commission in cases where he did not act in the Court below. Advises "pro bono" in death row cases from Commonwealth jurisdictions.
Experienced in taking depositions before Magistrates for the purposes of use in evidence at trials abroad. He has acted for The State of Western Australia in such proceedings as well as for individuals.
Instructed in extradition cases.
For further detail of criminal cases in which Jim has appeared please refer to www.jimsturmanqc.com.
Health and Safety
Regularly advises and acts for the defence in Health and Safety Executive prosecutions, both before and after charge. Frequently appears at inquests. For further details refer to www.jimsturmanqc.com.
Football Disciplinary and Sports Law
Acts for Clubs and individuals brought before regulatory and disciplinary tribunals across a range of sports. He has acted for Chelsea Football Club, Tottenham Hotspur Football Club, West Ham United, Newcastle United FC, Wigan, Millwall, Wimbledon AFC, Charlton Athletic, Brighton and Hove Albion, Norwich City, CSKA Moscow, The Ocean City Noreasters (US PDL league) and numerous individual players and management including Joe Jordan, Joe Kinnear, Alan Pardew, Graeme le Saux, Jimmy Hasselbaink, Frank Lampard, Kieron Dyer, Joe Cole, Ashley Cole, John Terry, Gus Poyet, Mauricio Taricco, Jose Mourinho, Asier Del Horno, Carlo Cuddicini, Michael Essien, Mido, Robbie Savage, Emre Belozoglu, Duncan Ferguson, Jens Lehmann, Peter Cech, Casper Ankergren, Robbie Keane, Michael Dawson, Jermaine Jenas, Mateja Kezman, Mido and Didier Zakora. He also acted for the Football Association in relation to charges brought against Roy Keane (for his autobiography) and charges against various players and Arsenal FC, arising out of a match at Old Trafford between Manchester United and Arsenal. Acted for Marcel Desailly before UEFA Appeals Tribunal in Geneva, and before UEFA Disciplinary Commission on behalf of Chelsea FC, Jose Mourinho, Steve Clarke and Les Miles in relation to the Barcelona v Chelsea Champions League fixture in 2004. Also represented CSKA Moscow before UEFA opposing Parma's protest against the result of the 2004/2005 UEFA Cup Semi-final. Has advised players and UEFA on doping cases. Jim Sturman appeared before the CAS on behalf of Wigan FC in a landmark case to determine the level of compensation to be awarded when a player terminates his contract with a club outside the 'protected period' (A.17 FIFA Regs). Represented Chelsea FC before FIFA appeals committee and has advised National Associations in relation to FIFA disputes. Has advised in FIFA DRC cases. Acted for Graeme le Saux in relation to an incident with Robbie Fowler, Chelsea Football Club and Dennis Wise in relation to an alleged incident in the tunnel after a Premiership game in 2000. For Chelsea FC on allegations of mass dissent and failure to control their players, and before the FA and UEFA in relation to charges of failure to control fans, Millwall FC for failing to control their players and AFC Wimbledon for a similar allegation, Has advised in doping cases in a range of different sports. He has acted for numerous clubs on charges of failing to control their fans. He has acted for the F.A., in relation to charges against Roy Keane of Manchester United that were brought as a result of the publication of that player's autobiography. Also instructed by the F.A. in relation to misconduct charges brought against Dennis Bergkamp and Graham Souness. Acted for Clubs and players in relation to charges of "racism", including acting for a Chelsea groundsman in a case that became known as "Mowergate" after an incident between Chelsea groundstaff and Patrice Evra of Manchester United. He represented Dennis Wise in relation to his case against Leicester City Football Club before the F.D.C. (Football Disciplinary Commission) and then before the F.L.A.C. (Football League Appeals Committee). Has represented Premiership Football players in libel and false attribution actions against national newspapers. Frequently advises clubs in PFCC cases and acted for Dan Gosling in his action seeking a declaration that he was entitled to a "free transfer" in July 2010.
Advises in PFCC cases.
Has advised numerous clubs including Chelsea, Tottenham Hostpur, West Ham United, Newcastle United, Wigan FC, Millwall, Brighton, AFC Wimbledon, Crawley Town FC, Charlton Athletic FC, Norwich City, Grays Athletic, Ocean City FC (USA) and CSKA Moscow. Has also advised national football associations in the UK, Europe, Asia and South America.
Acted for Tottenham Hotspur FC in relation to Sergei Rebrov's disputed contractual claim before The FA Premier League Committee.
Acted for Chelsea Football Club in the Ashley Cole "tapping up" case before the FAPL Disciplinary Commission.
Acted for many players and managers charged in respect of media comments before the FA and UEFA.
Appeared before UEFA Disciplinary Commissions representing Marcel Desailly, Chelsea FC, Jose Mourinho, Steve Clarke
Acted for CSKA Moscow in relation to Parma's protest against the result of the UEFA Cup semi-final in the season 2004/2005 and for Michael Essien before UEFA in the season 2005/2006.
Acted for West Ham United in the FAPL disciplinary proceedings in relation to Carlos Tevez and third party ownership.
Acted for Wigan FC before The Court of Arbitration for Sport in the Hearts v Wigan and Webster case, the first case on the construction of Article 17 of the FIFA statutes.
Acted before FIFA appeals committee re Rajkovic and has advised in numerous DRC cases.
Appears before the FIA and other sporting disciplinary tribunals. Sits as a Chairman of RFU disciplinary panels.
For further details of Jim's sports law experience refer to www.jimsturmanqc.com.
Direct Public Access. In certain limited circumstances and only in certain classes of case instructions are accepted on a direct public access basis. Please speak to Paul Rodgers if you require further details. The rules for instructing a barrister via direct public access are found at www.barcouncil.org.uk/aboutpublicaccess/
Cases
Drugs | |
| R v Pineda | Date : 2005 |
| R v Doherty | Date : 2000 |
| R v Reilly | Date : 1991 |
| R v Robert Gould | Date : 1997 |
| R v Anthony White | Date : 1993 |
Miscellaneous Crime | |
| R v Abdulla | Acted for Bilal Abdulla charged with the "Tiger Tiger" and Glasgow Airport bomb attacks. October to December 2008 |
| R v Joey Barton | Jim Sturman QC represented Joey Barton in relation to an allegation of assault on Ousmane Dabo, committed whilst both players were at Manchester City FC. Mr Barton was sentenced to a suspended sentence of imprisonment. Date : 2008 |
| R v Darren Williams | |
| R v Raja and others | |
| R v Noel "Razor" Smith | Acted for Noel Smith in a series of cases in the 80’s and 90’s prior to Mr Smith’s trial for armed robbery at The Central Criminal Court in 1998. Mr Smith subsequently published a best selling autobiography “A few kind words and a loaded gun” which deals with (amongst other events) the trial.” Court : Central Criminal Court Date : 1998 |
| R v Morris | Date : 2006 |
| R v Hardstaff | Date : 2001 |
| R v Kelly | First appeal on the "two strikes" mandatory life sentence. Drafted submissions to the CCRC and the case was referred back to The Court of Appeal after those representations had been considered. Life sentence quashed and the U.K. Government subsequently settled the European Court action. Date : 1998 |
| R v S. Stone & Ors | Date : 1998 |
| R v C & Ors | Date : 1998 |
Sexual Offences | |
| R v J | Date : 2001 |
| R v M | Date : 2000 |
Serious Fraud Office Prosecution | |
| R v F & Ors | Charges brought by the SFO arising out of the theft of the Cheney Pension Fund. Date : 2004 |
Extradition | |
| Government of The USA v Kleasen | Date : 2002 |
| Government of the USA v Sukharno | Date : 1998 |
| Government of the USA v Newton | Date : 1988 |
Sports Disciplinary | |
| Joe Kinnear |
Represented NUFC manager on misconduct charge. Acquitted. |
| FIFA v Rajkovic | Acted for Chelsea Football Club in support of the appeal lodged by the player Rajkovic before FIFA appealing against a one year ban from all football for spitting at a referee in the Olympic Soccer tournament. The appeal was upheld in part. " November 2008 |
| Mowergate: FA v CFC and Manchester United | Acted for CFC in the "Mowergate" case defending a groundsman charged with racially abusing the Manchester United player Patrice Evra. The groundsman was exonerated of the racism allegation" December 2008 |
| Wimbledon AFC | |
| Jose Mourinho | |
| Frank Lampard | |
| Mikel Obi Man Utd v CFC | |
| Carlos Tevez | Acted for West Ham United FC in FAPL disciplinary proceedings. |
| Emre Belozoglu | |
| FA v Millwall & Liverpool | Date : 2006 |
| FA v CFC & West Ham | Date : 2006 |
| Sergei Rebrov v Tottenham Hotspur FC | Jim Sturman QC Acted for Tottenham Hotspur FC in relation to Sergei Rebrov's disputed contractual claim before The FA Premier League Committee. Date : 2005 |
| Mateja Kezman | Acted in claim for wrongful dismissal in match played against Roma in Pittsburgh during Chelsea's pre-season tour, July 2004. |
| Millwall v Sunderland | Acted for Millwall FC on charge of failing to control players in FA Cup semi-final 2004. |
| Millwall v Sheffield United | Acted for Millwall FC on charge of failing to control players. |
| Marcel Desailly | Before UEFA Appeals Tribunal, appeal against 3 game ban arising out of an incident in The Champions League match against Monaco AFC |
| Dennis Wise v Leicester City FC | Acted for Dennis Wise in his appeal against his dismissal by Leicester FC after an alleged incident with a team mate on a pre- season tour. |
| Manchester United v Arsenal 2003/04 | Acted for the FA in proceedings against Arsenal F.C., Patrick Viera, Martin Keown, Lauren, Ray Parlour, Ryan Giggs and Christiano Ronaldo arising out of an incident at the end of the Premiership match. |
| Graham Souness | Misconduct charges arising out of incident in Blackburn v Wigan match.Acted for the FA. |
| Dennis Bergkamp | Misconduct charges arising out of the Arsenal v Spurs Premiership game. Acted for the FA. |
| Roy Keane | Misconduct charges arising out of his autobiography and a tackle on Alf Inge Haaland. Acted for the FA. |
| Joe Cole | Misconduct charges arising out of West Ham v Bolton Premiership game. |
| Steve Evans | Acted in the appeal of the Boston United manager after findings of guilt on various financial irregularities. |
| Carlo Cudiccini | Appeal against sending off in a Premiership game against Middlesborough. |
| Mauricio Taricco | Charge of violent conduct arising out of Spurs v Chelsea Worthington Cup match. |
| Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink | Charge of violent conduct based on "video evidence" arising out of Premiership game against Southampton. |
| Frank Leboeuf | Charges arising out of sending off in Premiership game against Leeds and alleged "stamp" on Harry Kerwell. |
| Celestine Babayaro | Alleged "stamp" on F. Ljunberg of Arsenal in Premiership game. |
| Chelsea FC v Sheffield Wednesday | Alleged "mass confrontation" at end of Premiership game. |
| FA v Dennis Wise | Incident in tunnel after Premiership game against Wimbledon that led to misconduct charges. |
| Graeme le Saux | Charge of misconduct arising out of incident with Robbie Fowler at Stamford Bridge in Chelsea v Liverpool game. |
Money Laundering | |
| R v S | Alleged money laundering for "crime syndicate." Date : 2003 |
| R v P | Date : 1999 |
| R v Q | Date : 2003 |
| R v V | Date : 2002 |
Murder/Manslaughter | |
| R v Nudds | Date : 2006 |
| R v Dallagher | Jim Sturman QC Appeared for the defence. At appeal and at the retrial. (Although not at first instance). Man wrongly convicted on the basis of his purported "earprint" found at the scene of the murder of a 94 year old lady. Later disclosures, including DNA testing, proved the "earprint" could not have been the defendant's. Date : 2004 |
| R v Ian Kay | Junior Counsel for the defence in the "Woolworths" murder trial. Date : 1995 |
| R v McGovern | Junior Counsel in murder trial, now reported on Sections 76/78 of P.A.C.E. Date : 1988 |
| R v Parchment | Date : 1995 |
| R v Colin Stagg | Junior Counsel in the infamous Rachel Nickell murder trial. Date : 1994 |
Fraud | |
| R v N (Operation Euripus) | Acted for N who was one of the defendants in the operation Euripus investigation (said to be the largest MTIC fraud ever prosecuted). The case against the defendant was dismissed after our application that there was no case to answer. A subsequent application by HMRC for a voluntary bill of indictment to reinstate the proceedings was opposed successfully with costs against the Crown. Date : 2007 |
| R v A | |
| R v Darren Williams | |
| R v G & Ors | Date : 2005 |
| R v O | Date : 2005 |
| R v A and others (Operation Vitric) | Acted in £90 million MTIC Fraud stayed for abuse of process (non-disclosure by Customs). Court : Blackfriars Crown Court Date : 2005 |
| R v I | £1.8 million investment fraud involving manipulation of sale and purchase orders on investments held with Allied Dunbar. Date : 2003 |
| R v E &Ors | Acted for the first defendant in the largest ever internet "piracy" prosecution brought after the UK co-operated in the US Customs investigation that was known as "Operation Buccaneer " and which targeted "Warez" groups world-wide. This multi-jurisdictional investigation led to proceedings in the USA, Australia,Scandinavia and Europe. Further details will be added at the conclusion of all linked trials. Date : 2004 |
| R v H, P & Ors | Date : 2000 |
| R v O | VAT fraud arising out of the "Viking Oaks" scheme. Date : 2001 |
| R v Freeman & Ors | Date : 2000 |
| R v C & Ors | Date : 1999 |
| R v Satnam Singh & Others | Date : 1999 |
| R v Casey | Date : 1998 |
| R v Bonner | Date : 1997 |
| R v Dhannotta | Date : 1997 |
| R v Dannison | Date : 1996 |
| R v Richardson & Others | Date : 1996 |
| R v de Vandiere & Others | Date : 1992 |
| R v Easton & Others | Date : 1992 |
| R v Russell | Date : 1991 |
| R v C | Date : 1991 |
| R v Morley | Date : 1991 |
| R v Vanduvall | Date : 1990 |
Domestic Appellate Cases | |
| R v Susan Lummes | 2001 EWCA Crim 72 and 2001 {AER} (D) 175 Acted for Susan Lummes in her appeal (though not at trial) against her conviction for murder. The conviction was quashed and at the retrial, the Crown offered no evidence. Date : 2001 |
| R v Volker Kappler | EWCA Crim 1224 Date : 2006 |
| R v Dixon (Operation Cinema) | 2004 EWCA 22/12 Conviction for drugs importation quashed because of non-disclosure by Customs and Excise. Date : 2004 |
