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. He has acted for Chelsea Football Club, Tottenham Hotspur Football Club, West Ham United, Newcastle United FC, Wigan, Millwall, Wimbledon AFC and numerous individual players and management including Graeme le Saux, Jimmy Hasselbaink, Frank Lampard, Kieron Dyer, Joe Cole, John Terry, Gus Poyet, Mauricio Taricco, Jose Mourinho, Asier Del Horno, Michael Essien, Mido, Robbie Savage, Emre Belozoglu, Jens Lehmann, Robbie Keane 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 n FIFA DRC cases.

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. Acted for Darren Williams in the horse race fixing trial of Fallon and others, has also advised sportsmen in relation to allegations of improper betting and match fixing.

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.
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.
Instructed in extradition cases.

Health and Safety
Regularly advises and acts for the defence in Health and Safety Executive prosecutions, both before and after charge. Appears at inquests.  Retained to advise in many case involving work place fatalities. Acted for the defence in the HSE prosecution arising from the explosion at the Buncefield oil depot.

Football Disciplinary and Sports Law
Also acts for clubs and individuals brought before regulatory and disciplinary tribunals including the Football Association. 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, Millwall FC for failing to control their players and AFC Wimbledon for a similar allegation, Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, Celestine Babayaro, Mauricio Taricco, Gustavo Poyet, Carlo Cudiccini, Joe Cole, Duncan Ferguson, Mateja Kezman, John Terry, Petr Cech, Jose Mourinho, Kieron Dyer, Jens Lehmann, Michael Dawson, Jerman Jenas, Joe Kinnear and Mido.  Has advised in several doping cases.  He has acted for 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.  He also acted for the F.A. in the hearing of charges against Arsenal, Patrick Viera, Lauren, Ashley Cole, Ray Parlour, Martin Keown, Ryan Giggs and Christian Ronaldo arising out of the incidents at the end of the Premiership match at Old Trafford in the season 2003/2004. 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.  As well as huge experience in football he has acted and advised in cases in England and abroad  in many other sports including cricket, rugby, athletics, horse racing and motor racing.

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 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.

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Cases