James Fletcher

Year of Call: 2000

"He has a first-class analytical mind, and is able to assimilate and consider huge volumes of detailed material. He's a great advocate who shows diligence throughout and is great in terms of preparing skeleton arguments."

Chambers and Partners 2015 for POCA Work & Asset Forfeiture

Our specialist clerks can be contacted by email on clerks@5sah.co.uk or phone on 020 7332 5400. To contact our Chambers Director directly in relation to a specific members’ practice, please email dscothern@5sah.co.uk

"James is a great advocate, who is very thorough and provides clear advice."

Chambers & Partners, 2023

“Hugely competent, persuasive and immediately understands the issues.”

Chambers & Partners, 2024

"A go-to barrister at the Bar for asset forfeiture work, he is down to earth, user-friendly and very good at explaining things to clients." "He responds to tight deadlines and inspires confidence with his calm, unruffled manner. He is a considerable talent in POCA."

Chambers & Partners, 2022

"He is excellent. He is very thorough in his preparation, a great eye for detail and presents well in court."

The Legal 500, 2023

"He's a master tactician who is realistic and totally aware of the gaps in the law that might give him room to manoeuvre."

Chambers & Partners, 2025 - POCA Work & Asset Forfeiture

Overview

James practises in both civil and criminal law. He is a specialist in Asset Recovery money laundering and Proceeds of Crime work. He has significant expertise in dealing with Account Freezing, Listed Assets and Forfeiture applications in the Magistrates Court and Civil Recovery in the High Court. He is instructed on behalf of businesses, by individual members of the public and by Government departments, such as the NCA, HMRC, FCA and DPP.

James also has extensive expertise in applications and judicial reviews relating to law enforcement investigations such as search warrants, restraint, disclosure orders, receiverships and moratorium extensions.

In his capacity as a “A panelist” on the Attorney General’s list of Civil Counsel, he deals with immigration, inquest and inquiry work and challenges to government policy.

James is also a standing counsel to Santander bank. 

He has been featured in Chambers and Partners in the field of Proceeds of Crime and Asset Forfeiture work (all circuits) since 2014 and has been “Top Ranked” since 2016. James is ranked as a Tier 1 leading individual in The Legal 500 for POCA and Asset Forfeiture (London Bar). 

James Fletcher was nominated as Financial Crime junior of the year, at the Legal 500 UK Bar Awards 2022. 

 

“Mr James Fletcher displayed tremendous technical knowledge of the legal issues and other ancillary matters regarding this particular case. It was a complex case as almost everything that could be thrown at you by the prosecution in a criminal case, was, and Mr Fletcher handled it with an air of calmness and expertise. His advocacy skills were superior and he always stood his ground well in the face of adversity.”

Chambers & Partners, 2024

“His advocacy skills were superior and he always stood his ground well in the face of adversity.”

Chambers & Partners, 2024

‘He has an excellent grasp of legal issues in this area, manages client expectations very well and is a strong advocate at court hearings.'

The Legal 500 2024.

"James is unfailingly polite and a pleasure to work with. He is extremely bright and very capable."

The Legal 500, 2023

"His knowledge of and familiarity with how POCA powers are deployed across the range of enforcement authorities is invaluable."

The Legal 500, 2022 & 2021

"He's very good and very practical."

Chambers & Partners, 2020

"A very persuasive advocate in court."

The Legal 500, 2020

"James is responsive, knowledgeable, efficient and pragmatic: pretty much everything you would want in a barrister."

The Legal 500, 2025 | Proceeds of Crime (POCA) and Asset Forfeiture

"James is an exceptional talent when it comes to POCA."

Chambers & Partners, 2025 - POCA Work & Asset Forfeiture

Additional information

Direct Public Access

James is qualified to receive instructions directly from members of the public.  He is qualified to conduct litigation. Recent cases include:

  • Advising on Restraint Proceedings.
  • Advising on third-party intervention at confiscation.

Professional Panel Appointments

  • Attorney General's Panel of Counsel: A Panel.
  • Grade 3 Prosecutor for the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS).
  • CPS specialist list for Proceeds of Crime: Grade 3.
  • CPS specialist list for Fraud and Serious Crime: Grade 4.

"James is very hard-working, bright and very pragmatic in his approach. He is also good at thinking outside the box."

Chambers & Partners, 2019

“Hugely competent, persuasive and immediately understands the issues.”

Chambers & Partners, 2024

“He really knows his stuff on POCA and is one of the top juniors. He has a very good manner in court, he is very good with judges and he always takes good points. A very effective advocate.”

Chambers & Partners, 2024

Asset Forfeiture, Confiscation & Civil Fraud

James has specialist knowledge of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 and Asset Forfeiture. Government bodies, defendants, third parties and victims all approach James to act in Account Freezing, Restraint, Receivership, Confiscation and Enforcement cases in the Magistrates’ Court, Crown Court and High Court.

"A specialist whose highly comprehensible advice you can trust." "With his technical knowledge comes an enthusiasm for the subject matter." 

Chambers and Partners 2020.

He undertakes Civil Recovery cases and Cash Forfeiture cases under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002. James can help defendants and third parties, providing solutions where they face problematic confiscation issues or have been prevented from dealing with their assets. He can assist businesses and individuals recover missing or stolen assets.

'Another amazingly bright practitioner in the field, and always very prepared.’

Legal 500 2019.

Business Crime & Financial Regulation

James is a barrister who acts across the whole spectrum of regulatory cases. He deals with all types of search warrant, production order and disclosure applications and associated judicial reviews. 

James acts for parties in contempt of court applications in the civil and criminal courts.

Criminal Defence & Criminal Prosecutions - Private & Public

James’ practice in crime focusses on fraud and money laundering cases where there are significant quantities of material.

James accepts Private Prosecution Instructions.

“A seasoned prosecutor, and the go-to guy for the Metropolitan Police and their civil applications for POCA. He does a lot of work for HMRC as well and is highly experienced.”

Chambers and Partners 2023.

Immigration

James accepts immigration instructions and regularly appears in the Upper Tribunal and other Courts in relation to Judicial Review.

Judicial Review & Public Law & Inquests & Inquiries

James accepts immigration instructions and regularly appears in the Upper Tribunal and other Courts in relation to Judicial Review.

James accepts instructions in relation to Public Inquiries and Inquests.

Professional Memberships

  • Proceeds of Crime Lawyers Association.

Cases of Note

Contempt of Court Proceedings: Umbrella Care Ltd (in Liquidation) v Usman Raja: High Court.

James acted for the Defendant, resisting contempt of court allegations arising out of a labour supply fraud.

Read more >>

R (on application of Express Remit and MT Global) v HM Revenue and Customs

Acted for HMRC. Unsuccessful challenge to HMRC’s policy in calculation of fines for breaches of the Money Laundering Regulations.

Radley v Feld

Private prosecution alleging theft of 1.5m from Defendant’s mother. Prosecutor was Defendant’s sister. Acted for Defendant. Unanimous acquittal.

Acted for Scottish Office and Department of Health in the Infected Blood Inquiry

R (on application of AM) v Secretary of State for Home Department [2022] EWHC 2591 (Admin).

Challenge to SSHD Immigration Rules and effect upon victims of Transnational Marriage Abandonment.

NCA v Vlad Filat (appeared for NCA in first contested AFO)

Appeared for the NCA in their first contested application for Account Forfeiture Orders. The Court ordered forfeiture of approximately £500,000 in three accounts held in the name of Vlad Filat, the son of the ex-Moldovan prime minister who was found guilty in 2016 of bribery and corruption offences arising out of his role in the disappearance of 1 billion USD from three Moldovan banks. The Court found the balances derived from the father’s corruption also considered that the bank account funds derived from money laundering.

R v Tom Hayes [2018] 1 WLR 5060.

The proper approach to making a tainted gifts finding.

R v Contogoulas & Others

Successful defence of a former Barclays US Swaps trader accused of dishonest manipulation of the LIBOR interest rate benchmark between 2005 and 2007. Led by John Ryder QC (6 KBW College Hill). After a three month case in 2016 where the jury were unable to return verdicts, Mr Contogoulas was acquitted in a re-trial in 2017.

Operation Bitterling

£1.2m VAT fraud conducted by two Indian restaurants over an 8 year period.

Operation Airbrick

Leading junior in a £14m money Laundering case where part of the money was laundered through an alcohol trading company.

Operation Thornback

A multi defendant case where the defendants distributed and sold non duty paid cigarettes across the UK.

R (on the Application of Chaudhary) v Bristol Crown Court [2015] EWHC Admin 723

Costs in section 59 cases. Search warrants

R (on the Application of Chaudhary) v Bristol Crown Court [2014] EWHC Admin 4096

A challenge to the lawfulness of a search warrant issued by the Crown Court must be made to the High Court by way of judicial review.

R (On Application of Bavi) v Snaresbrook Crown Court [2013] EWHC 4015

Mental health issues in cash forfeiture case.

"James is so clever and so personable."

Chambers & Partners, 2025 - POCA Work & Asset Forfeiture

"He gives highly persuasive, very pragmatic advice and doesn't shy away from a fight."

Chambers & Partners, 2025 - POCA Work & Asset Forfeiture