Criminal, Regulatory & Public and Children Law

Call 2016 (Solicitor 1993)

Appointments:2016Grade 3 Crown Prosecutor

Criminal Bar AssociationInner Temple

CrimeOriginally from Leeds, John Batchelor has specialised in defending serious crime since 1993 when he was admitted as a solicitor. He is an effective advocate and obtained his higher rights (crime) in 2005, and has appeared regularly in the crown court since. John transferred to the bar in 2016 but has over 23 years experience in advising in cases involving serious violence, homicide, drugs, public disorder, proceeds of crime, fatal driving cases, and an array of sexual offences. He has recently been placed on the Advocate Panel 2016-20 list for general crime at level 3, for the North Eastern circuit.

John has also advised in serious police enquiries of national interest, including The News International phone hacking investigation. With particular experience in advising on serious fraud cases and VHCC cases brought by the CPS and the SFO (R.v.Papworth, R.v.Grove, R.v.Mitchell) he is skilled at handling complex and large electronic cases. He has a particular interest in business crime and regulatory work.

John has conducted trials involving serious violence and general crime, as well as multi-handed cases. He has been led by both silk and junior counsel and brings to the Bar his wealth of experience from advising suspects at the police station all the way through to jury trial.

A number of prominent figures from public life and those that have attracted media interest have been discreetly represented by John.

With experience at first hand of the changes and pressure brought to solicitors in practice, John is ideally placed to assist solicitors in looking after their lay clients from a diverse and varied background. He is an affable, approachable advocate who is plain speaking in his advice when supporting his professional and lay clients.

John has recently appeared in several serious sexual offence cases, including non-recent cases and those with multiple allegations and multiple complainants of all age ranges. A number of these cases involve pre-recorded cross-examination.

Recently John has represented a number of people with mental health issues or additional needs. He is used to representing those with complex communication needs.

Regulatory & PublicJohn has defended large SFO cases, organised fraud and money laundering cases brought by the CPS, HMRC, DWP and other agencies. He has significant experience in defending complex multi-handed frauds including Ponzi and Boiler room frauds, and cases presented on encrypted case management software.

John has case managed and planned defences in many large fraud cases and has also appeared as an advocate in similar cases including those with cross-jurisdictional issues and non-domiciled defendants.

As a solicitor John advised lay clients in a number of significant fraud enquiries, including The News International phone hacking enquiry. He was a police station adviser for over 20 years as well as an advocate and has also advised and appeared in money laundering and POCA cases and has significant experience in financial crime and advising in FCA compliance issues.

John has recently been instructed in food hygiene and food safety proceedings brought by the Food Standards Agency. His experience extends to RAN  appeals and he is familiar with all aspects of the hierarchy of the enforcement within the food industry.

John has experience in defending environmental pollution and industrial waste prosecutions, and health and safety industrial accident and criminal negligence cases, together with a number of trade licence cases.

In addition he has coronial law experience and has appeared at a number of inquests in West Yorkshire for medics at different levels of their career in hospital fatalities.

He has also regularly advised in police investigations for all the types of work described above.

He is an affable and approachable advocate who strives to give clear, concise and structured advice to his professional and lay clients alike.

Children Law

John has a great amount of experience in dealing with both vulnerable clients and those who find themselves in emotionally draining circumstances. He also has experience of cases involving cultural sensitivity and conflict.

John has experience of both representing and challenging those with additional needs, in particular with learning or behavioural issues. He has experience in cases with intermediaries and cross-examination of vulnerable witnesses.

John has a background of dealing with both sensitive and complex cases, including those with complex medical issues or conflicting expert evidence. He also has experience in dealing with issues crossing cultural and religious boundaries.

Having had a long standing interest in family law since first being actively involved in care cases when in his early years John is accepting instructions in family law, and in particular in care work.

1990College of Law York, Law Society Final Examination

1988T.E.F.L