Red Lion Chambers

Gillian Jones KC has a high-profile practice advising on Business Crime & Fraud, Murder & Manslaughter, Serious & Organised Crime and serious Sexual Offences.

Gillian is described as a brilliant practitioner who is fabulous and absolutely faultless – solicitors appreciate her quality of advocacy before juries and her adaptability. She is an extremely bright and extremely hard-working …assiduous, quick-thinking, formidable silk …who is able to navigate the most complex cases and get to the heart of the matter almost instantly. She is a go-to person for those seeking pragmatic, sensible and reliable advice.

Gillian has developed a high-profile practice with a specialisation in Financial & Business Crime, acting on behalf of individuals, corporate clients, and the prosecution – many of her cases are well-known with a global reach. Gillian also advises companies on compliance issues, internal investigations, and strategically following commencement of investigations by the SFO, FCA and other regulatory bodies. Her practice is such that she has acquired specialist knowledge of restraint and confiscation, the obtaining of material from foreign jurisdictions, and an understanding and analysis of complex bank movements and offshore transactions.

Gillian is also noted for her significant expertise in Private Prosecutions.

Gillian is noted for being a tactically astute and persuasive advocate who has a reputation for meticulous preparation, excellent client care skills and commitment to her clients. She is described as having an incisive legal mind which enables her to cut rapidly to the crux of the issues in the most complex cases. She is able to take the client through difficult decisions, attracting plaudits for both her advocacy and her upbeat attitude – she stands her ground and holds her own… Her advice is pragmatic and vigorous, making her highly sought after.

Gillian also regularly defends in cases involving Murder & Manslaughter, Serious Organised Crime, misconduct in public office (including deaths in custody, Fraud, and sexual misconduct), death by dangerous driving and serious Sexual Offences having developed specialist expertise in trials involving vulnerable witnesses.

Gillian was appointed joint Head of Chambers in 2018. Appointed a Recorder of the Crown Court in 2012, Serious Sexual Offences ticket 2016, and appointed to sit at the Central Criminal Court 2018.

Gilllian has been named in The Hot 100 list 2021, produced by The Lawyer Magazine. She was the winner of Crime Silk of the Year at Legal 500’s UK awards 2020, won Highly Commended in the Women-in-Law category at the British Legal Awards 2019, and was cited as a Leading Silk across Financial Crime, Business and Regulatory Crime (including global investigations), Private Prosecutions, as well as General Crime by Chambers UK, Legal 500 and Who’s Who Legal. Gillian is also the winner of the Legal 500 2024 Financial Crime Silk of the Year. 

Year of call: 1996 Inn: Lincolns Inn 2014

Joint Head of Chambers (2018) SFO Queen’s Counsel Panel (2017) CPS Specialist Panel Advocate (Fraud, Organised Crime, Confiscation/Asset Recovery) Recorder (2012) – authorised to sit in serious sexual offence cases (2017), appointed to sit at the Central Criminal Court (Old Bailey) (2018) Developmental List: General Medical Council (2012 to date) Treasurer of the CBA (2017) Management Committee of the Advocate’s Gateway (2015 to date) Course Director for Inns of Court College of Advocacy (ICCA) and Rook Groups ‘Advocacy and the Vulnerable’ (2015 to date)

Italian

CBA (Secretary 2012 -2013, Treasurer 2017-2018)

FLA

International Society for the Reform of Criminal Law

Liberty

South-eastern Circuit

Lincoln’s Inn

Hammond School.

Chester Leicester University, LLB (EC) Hons.

Modena University, Italy, Diploma in Law; Inns of Court School of Law.

Archbold Criminal Pleading, Evidence and Practice, contributing editor

Fraud Law, Practice and Procedure, LexisNexis, chapter contributor

Corporate and Financial Crime – Conspiracy, Practical Law, co-author

Legal Professional Privilege and the right against self-incrimination, Practical Law, co- author

Vulnerable Witness Advocacy Training Course, Course Director, Inns of Court College of Advocacy, and a lead facilitator on behalf of Lincoln’s Inn

Rook & Ward: Sexual Offences, Law & Practice, Sweet & Maxwell, contributor

Case Management and Ground Rules Hearing Toolkits, Advocate’s Gateway, contributor

Archbold Magistrates Court: Criminal Practice, Sweet & Maxwell, contributing editor

Gillian regularly presents webinars/lectures in the UK and overseas on a range of topics from financial crime to advocacy training. She is also regularly invited as a guest speaker, for example, by the FLA, by the Institute of Advanced Legal Studies in their two-part seminar marking the anniversary of the Bribery Act. Gillian acts pro bono for the Centre for Women’s Justice and is on the developmental board of the charity Clean Break. She also acts as a mentor to students as part of the ELBA out-reach programme.

Gillian has also appeared on a number of occasions as a guest on BBC Radio’s Women’s Hour and has recorded Podcasts for Get Legally Speaking on a number of topics.