Profile
Jonathan is ranked in Chambers and Partners 2024 in POCA, extradition and Inquests and Public Inquiries, and in the Legal 500 2024 in POCA and International Crime and Extradition. He has a wealth of experience handling unusual, sensitive or controversial matters, in the fields of asset recovery, mutual legal assistance, national security, human rights, confiscation, tax and duties, law enforcement, extradition, inquests and immigration, and wherever criminal law interfaces with public law. Before taking Silk, Jonathan was a grade 4 prosecutor and on the Attorney General’s Civil A Panel.
In May 2019, Jonathan Hall KC was appointed by the Home Secretary as Independent Reviewer of Terrorism Legislation. As with previous Reviewers, this is a part-time role which Jonathan principally conducts from Chambers. As a result of this appointment, there are certain limits as to the instructions that Jonathan can accept – his clerks will be happy to discuss.
“He has outstanding judgement and understands what the opponents are going to say and what the judge wants. A formidable cross-examiner who is ferociously bright, he is quick on his feet and leaves no stone left unturned. He’s very thorough and never misses a point.”
Chambers & Partners
“Very hard-working and able to coordinate a team and drive the case through. He’s very good at focusing on the key points.”
Chambers & Partners
“An experienced advocate, who just really totally has the ear of the court.”
Chambers & Partners
“A really serious, worthy counsel.”
Chambers & Partners
“He has an unerring ability to reduce a complex issue to something which can easily be understood using persuasive and compelling arguments.”
Legal 500
“A thorough, clear-thinking, dedicated advocate…he has the ability to pull up points that haven’t been considered before and then build upon them brilliantly in a way that favours the client’s case.”
Chambers & Partners
“Intimidatingly intelligent; judges appreciate his concise advocacy style.”
Legal 500
Legal Directories Testimonials
POCA Work and Asset Forfeiture
Jonathan is highly esteemed for his work in civil recovery, and an expert on freezing and disclosure orders. He also advises on domestic and international restraint and receivership in confiscation cases. He has recently been handling work surrounding cryptocurrencies.
“Shows great attention to detail and is very good on his historical legal knowledge. He is fantastic at getting to the bottom of why statutes say what they do.”
Chambers & Partners
“He is very popular with the authorities at the moment, and deservedly so.”
Legal 500
Administrative and Public Law
Jonathan is particularly strong in the context of national security and regularly defends the use of ‘no suspicion’ powers under Schedule 7 of the Terrorism Act 2000.
“Incredibly experienced and really trusted with wary clients.” “He’s completely fair and completely on top of his material. His skill is in not saying too much, which is very effective.” “Jonathan is very intelligent, very personable and very conscientious.”
Chambers & Partners
“He is a true tactician and terrifyingly clever.”
Legal 500
Police Law
“An excellent lawyer and tactician who is highly respected by the teams he leads.”
Legal 500
Other Testimonies
“Effective as an advocate and good at explaining ideas to the court.”
Chambers & Partners
“He has a real eye for detail, and is incredibly approachable and friendly as well.”
Chambers & Partners
“He’s really clever, he writes well and he’s a great advocate.”
Legal 500
“A powerful advocate who can see both sides of an argument and really fine-tune his approach.”
Legal 500
Expertise
- Zabalotnyi v Hungary [2021] 1 WLR 2569 (Extradition, prison conditions, Supreme Court)
- R (on the application of KBR Inc) v Director of the Serious Fraud Office [2021] 2 WLR 335 (investigatory powers, extraterritorial extent, Supreme Court)
- Enasoaie v Romania [2021] EWHC 69 (Admin) (Extradition, specialty)
- Danfelds v Latvia [2020] EWHC 3199 (Admin) (Extradition, prison conditions)
- Shirnaky v Germany [2020] EWHC 1103 (Admin) (Extradition/ EU Law/ local law)
- NCA v Baker [2020] EWHC 822 (Unexplained Wealth Order)
- Hajiyeva v NCA [2020] EWCA Civ 108 (Unexplained Wealth Order)
- Bartulis v Lithuania [2019] EWCH 3504 (Extradition/ prisons/ Article 3)
- Foster-Taylor v Italy [2019 EWHC 2938 (Extradition/ right to fair trial)
- Turani v Home Secretary [2019] EWHC 1568 (Immigration/ Equality Duties)
- Revenue and Customs Commissioners v Smart Price Midlands Ltd [2019] EWCA Civ 841 (test case for disclosure in Tax Tribunal cases)
- Szalai v Hungary [2019] EWHC 934 (Admin) (acted for prisoners in appeal concerning prison conditions)
- R v Moss [2019] EWCA Crim 501 (criminal appeal concerning EU certification of confiscation orders)
- Attorney General v Tina Malone [2019] 3 WLUK 255 (contempt of court)
- Previously lead counsel for the Metropolitan Police Service in the Undercover Police Inquiry
- National crime Agency v A [2018] EWHC 2534 (Admin) (UK’s first Unexplained Wealth Order)
- R (on the application of KBR Inc.) v Director of the Serious Fraud Office [2018] EWHC 2368 (Admin) (extraterritorial application of serious fraud powers)
- R (on the application of AL) v Serious Fraud Office[2017] 2 Cr. App. R. 13 (bribery, deferred prosecution agreements, disclosure, interview records, privilege, self-reporting, Serious Fraud Office, subsidiary companies)
- Euro Wines (C&C) Ltd v Revenue and Customs Commissioners [2018] 1 WLR 3248; Times, February 16, 2018 (reverse burden in tax legislation)
- Serra v Paraguay [2017] Lloyd’s Rep, F.C. 537;[2017] A.C.D. 122 (extradition, prison conditions)
- Grecu v Romania [2017] 4 WLR 139 (extradition, prison conditions)
- R (on the application of Unaenergy Group Holding Pte Ltd) v Director of the Serious Fraud Office 1 WLR 3302; [2017] 2 Cr. App. R. 11 (judicial review of UK/Monaco Mutual Legal Assistance)
- National Crime Agency v Khan (QBD) [2017] Lloyd’s Rep. F.C. 153 (civil recovery of organised crime property)
- R. v Guraj (Lodvik) (Supreme Court)[2017] 1 W.L.R. 22 (postponement of confiscation orders)
- Beghal v United Kingdom (European Court of Human Rights), ongoing
- National Crime Agency v Abacha (Court of Appeal), Times, September 29, 2016, [2016] 1 W.L.R. 4375 (disclosure of Letters of Request)
- MP (Sri Lanka) v Secretary of State for the Home Department (Supreme Court) [2017] 2 All E.R. 155 (reference by Supreme Court to EJC on immigration/EU issue)
- A v DPP (Court of Appeal Criminal Division), [2016] EWCA Crim 96 (restraint proceedings under POCA against foreign nationals)
- R (on the application of McKenzie) v Director of the Serious Fraud Office (Divisional Court) [2016] 1 W.L.R. 1308 (protection of LPP material using information technology)
- B v Chief Constable of Northern Ireland (Divisional Court) [2016] Crim. L.R. 428 (police powers of arrest relating to Bloody Sunday)
- National Crime Agency v Abacha (Administrative Court), 21 January 2015 [2015] EWHC 357 (Admin); [2015] Lloyd’s Rep. F.C. 411 (new statutory freezing power to recover assets stolen by former Nigerian dictator)
- Yam v Attorney General (Supreme Court) [2016] A.C. 771 (power to prevent transmission of detail sensitive court proceedings to European Court of Human Rights)
- Sher v United Kingdom (European Court of Human Rights), App.No. 5201/11, 20 October 2015 (Prevention of terrorism; warrants of detention; search warrants).
- Beghal v DPP (Supreme Court) [2015] 3 W.L.R. 344 (Investigatory powers; Privilege against self-incrimination; Proportionality; Right to fair trial; Right to liberty and security; Right to respect for private and family life; Terrorism)
- The Brecon Inquests (deaths of 3 reservists from heat illness), June 2015
- Amin v DG of MI5 and others (Court of Appeal) [2015] EWCA Civ 653 (strike out; damages complicity in torture)
- DD v Secretary of State for Home Department (Administrative Court) [2015] EWHC 1681 (Admin) (terror suspect/ Art 3)
- TN and MA v Secretary of State for Home Department (Supreme Court) [2015] 1 WLR 3083 (asylum claims by Afghan children)
- National Iranian Tanker Co v Foreign Secretary (QBD) [2015] EWHC 282 (QBD) (injunction in EU sanctions case)
- Magee and Others v the United Kingdom (European Court of Human Rights), judgment 12 May 2015 (2016) 62 E.H.R.R. 10
- Armstrong v the United Kingdom (European Court of Human Rights), judgment 9 December 2014 (2003) 36 E.H.R.R. 30
- Independent Reviewer of Terrorism Legislation (May 2019)
- Queen’s Counsel (2014)
- Recorder of the Crown Court
University of Oxford, BA (Hons), English Language and Literature
- French (Advanced)
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Notable cases
Revenue and Customs Commissioners v Smart Price Midlands Ltd
Test case for disclosure in Tax Tribunal cases
Szalai v Hungary
Acted for prisoners in appeal concerning prison conditions
R v Moss
Criminal appeal concerning EU certification of confiscation orders
Attorney General v Tina Malone
Contempt of court
Undercover Police Inquiry
Lead counsel for the Metropolitan Police Service
National Crime Agency v A
UK’s first Unexplained Wealth Order
R (on the application of KBR Inc.) v Director of the Serious Fraud Office
Extraterritorial application of serious fraud powers
Euro Wines (C&C) Ltd v Revenue and Customs Commissioners
Reverse burden in tax legislation.
Serra v Paraguay
Extradition, prison conditions.
Grecu v Romania
Extradition, prison conditions.
R (on the application of Unaenergy Group Holding Pte Ltd) v Director of the Serious Fraud Office
Judicial review of UK/Monaco Mutual Legal Assistance.
National Crime Agency v Khan
Civil recovery of organised crime property.
R. v Guraj (Lodvik) (Supreme Court)
Postponement of confiscation orders.
Beghal v United Kingdom
European Court of Human Rights.
National Crime Agency v Abacha (Court of Appeal)
Disclosure of Letters of Request.
MP (Sri Lanka) v Secretary of State for the Home Department
Reference by Supreme Court to EJC on immigration/EU issue.
A v DPP
Restraint proceedings under POCA against foreign nationals.
R (on the application of McKenzie) v Director of the Serious Fraud Office
Protection of LPP material using information technology.
National Crime Agency v Abacha
New statutory freezing power to recover assets stolen by former Nigerian dictator
Yam v Attorney General
Power to prevent transmission of detail sensitive court proceedings to European Court of Human Rights
The Brecon Inquests
Deaths of 3 reservists from heat illness
TN and MA v Secretary of State for Home Department
Asylum claims by Afghan children
National Iranian Tanker Co v Foreign Secretary
Injunction in EU sanctions case
Duggan v Metropolitan Police
Acting for the Metropolitan Police in civil clams arising from the shooting of Mark Duggan.
Armstrong v United Kingdom
European Court of Human Rights, judgment 9 December 2014.
NCA v Surin
Civil recovery claim against notorious criminal.
Magee and Others v United Kingdom
European Court of Human Rights, judgment 12 May 2015
National Iranian Tanker Co v Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs
Injunction in an EU sanctions case.
TN and MA v Secretary of State for the Home Department
Supreme Court matter concerning asylum claims by Afghan children.
Amin v DG of MI5 and Others
Concerning strike out and damages complicity in torture.
The Brecon Inquests
Inquest into the deaths of three reservists from heat illness.
Sher v United Kingdom
Concerning prevention of terrorism, warrants of detention and search warrants.
National Crime Agency v Abacha
Concerning a new statutory freezing power to recover assets stolen by a former Nigerian dictator.
Undercover Policing Inquiry
The Inquiry into undercover police operations conducted by English and Welsh police forces in England and Wales since 1968, chaired by Lord...
Beghal v Director of Public Prosecutions
The leading domestic case on the compatibility of detention and questioning at airports under the Terrorism Act 2000 with Articles 5, 6 and...
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