Jonathan Fisher KC
Call: 1980 | Silk: 2003
Personal profile
Jonathan Fisher KC is a leading barrister, specialising in financial crime and corporate crime cases.
Ranked by the independent legal directories in Band 1 for Money Laundering, Asset Forfeiture, Financial Crime and Corporate Financial Crime, Jonathan is also featured for his work in Fraud (Civil and Criminal), Financial Services Regulation, Corporate Tax Evasion and Sanctions cases.
Jonathan’s recommendations for advisory and advocacy work are extensive and exemplary. He was recently described in The Times as “one of the UK’s most experienced white-collar crime specialists.”
Jonathan is experienced in handling civil law cases in the High Court, criminal prosecutions in the Crown Court and Magistrates Court, and tax and regulatory disputes in the tribunals. He has appeared many times in applications for judicial review in the Administrative Court. Recently, Jonathan successfully led a team of five barristers in a significant money laundering case (National Crime Agency v World Uyghur Congress) which has been recognised as the “development of the year”. Before becoming a KC, Jonathan was Standing Counsel (Criminal) to the Commissioners of Revenue at the Central Criminal Court and London Crown Courts.
Jonathan has a strong advisory practice in all types of financial crime and corporate crime cases. These cases can be highly sensitive and may involve large corporates as well as high net worth and ultra-high net worth individuals, oligarchs and persons classified as politically exposed. Cross-border issues are frequently encountered.
Jonathan is a Master of the Bench of the Honourable Society of Gray’s Inn, a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Taxation, a registered practitioner in the Dubai International Financial Court, editor emeritus of the Lloyds Law Reports: Financial Crime series, a columnist for New Law Journal, and a contributor to other journals such as Counsel. His views are frequently sought by the media.
In 2024 Jonathan was appointed to lead the UK Government’s Independent Review into Disclosure of Unused Material in Criminal Cases and Fraud Offences. This is a part-time role which he undertakes from Chambers.
Alongside his practice, Jonathan is a Senior Fellow at LSE teaching Financial Crime on the LLM programme and undertaking research. Jonathan holds a PhD awarded by LSE following his research into the obligation to report suspicious activity in money laundering cases and its engagement with corporate rights. Jonathan has been awarded an Honorary LLD by UWE Bristol in recognition of his contribution to financial crime and financial regulation. LSE Law School has described Jonathan as a barrister with a “distinguished career in both academia and practice”.
Jonathan is available to receive instructions in advisory and advocacy cases as well as inquiries and reviews, giving expert evidence and bespoke professional training.
A full c.v. is available on request. Please contact Jonathan through his clerks.
Recommendations
― Legal 500 (2025)An expert in his field.
― Legal 500 (2025)Jonathan possesses an absolute mastery of his subject. He exudes quiet and unflappable confidence which calms even the most skittish of clients.
― Chambers UK (2025)I've never known him to get anything wrong and he will do anything for his clients.
― Chambers UK (2025)Jonathan is absolutely brilliant.
― Chambers UK (2025)He engenders confidence from the outset of a call.
― Chambers UK (2025)He will take very complicated cases and distil them quickly to get to the heart.
― Chambers UK (2025)Jonathan is disarmingly gentlemanly and incisive at the same time.
― Chambers UK (2025)He is supremely knowledgeable and has the ability to quickly get to the crux of the matter and apply the law to it.
― Chambers UK (2025)Jonathan is a pleasure to deal with.
― Chambers UK (2025)Jonathan absolutely knows his stuff and is one of the first names you reach out to. He's great to work with.
― Chambers UK (2025)Jonathan Fisher KC is one of the most astute and technically adept lawyers in this field. Very few have his level of knowledge of the law.
― Chambers UK (2025)Jonathan Fisher is a really eminent but at the same time approachable King's Counsel. His years of experience are worn lightly.
― Chambers UK (2025)Jonathan is a leading expert who will do anything for his clients.
― Legal 500 (2024)His reputation is second to none. As he practices in a number of jurisdictions, he has an exceptional profile in massive cross-border cases. He is very bright and a super-effective counsel.
― Legal 500 (2024)Jonathan is very astute, quickly understands the important issues and is able to very easily pinpoint the relevant law and explain it in a simple way. He always finds a solution. Aside from his fantastic knowledge of the law and his skill in applying that knowledge, he always makes himself available and his turnaround of work is exceptional.
― Legal 500 (2024)Jonathan is exquisite. He captures the confidence of the client from the very start of any consultation with his mastery of the detail, his clarity of thought and his obvious pre-eminence in the area.
― Chambers UK (2023)He is massively knowledgeable.
― Chambers UK (2023)Jonathan is astute and responsive.
― Chambers UK (2023)Jonathan is a first-rate silk.
― Chambers UK (2023)A fantastic silk who is an absolute must if you require responsive and intelligent, yet practical, advice.
― Legal 500 (2023)Jonathan is user-friendly, astute, authoritative and inspires confidence in clients.
― Legal 500 (2023)Jonathan is a total leader in his field. He is hugely-knowledgeable, responsive and easy to work with. You absolutely feel he is on your side.
― Legal 500 (2023)His reputation is second to none. As he practices in a number of jurisdictions he has an exceptional profile in massive cross border cases. He is, to say the least, very bright and a super effective counsel.
― Legal 500 (2023)Jonathan is a scholarly, meticulous, strategic advocate. His measure and authority commands the attention of the most challenging of tribunals.
― Legal 500 (2022)An extremely bright and super effective counsel who reads the tribunal well. A pleasure to work with.
― Chambers UK (2022)Jonathan is one of the best in the business for money laundering POCA matters. He understands how the law and the courts work, and as an advocate he is second to none.
― Chambers UK (2022)Jonathan is a fantastic advocate. He explains anti-money laundering issues in a practical and easy way for others to understand.
― Chambers UK (2022)He is the go-to for money laundering and confiscation.
― Chambers UK (2022)He provides very clear and concise advice.
― Legal 500 (2021)Extremely experienced in handling cases involving bribery and corruption.
― Legal 500 (2021)He is a tough yet charming advocate, with a compelling courtroom presence that commands judicial respect.
― Legal 500 (2021)He has an extremely deep knowledge of the law around money laundering and all kinds of financial wrongdoing that straddle criminal and civil fraud law.
― Legal 500 (2021)A succinct, logical and innovative silk.
― Legal 500 (2021)Both charming and honest with clients. Quick to grasp a case and incisive in the advice he gives.
― Chambers UK (2021)Extremely helpful at giving practical and quality advice on tax-related matters… He’s great for matters that span both tax and crime.
― Chambers UK (2021)Without a doubt he is a walking encyclopaedia on corporate crime – he is an absolute genius. He’s highly academic, great with corporate and professional clients and very down to earth.
― Chambers UK (2021)One of the brightest financial crime lawyers in the country. He’s accessible, an excellent communicator and a pleasure to deal with.
― Chambers UK (2021)A well-respected lawyer who is sought out by prosecuting and defending parties for novel or complicated cases.
― Chambers UK (2021)An excellent practitioner with a wealth of knowledge and first-class expertise. He breaks down complicated issues and provides clear and decisive advice.
― Legal 500 (2020)Extremely experienced in handling cases involving bribery and corruption.
― Legal 500 (2020)Accessible, easy to deal with, thoughtful and brave enough to stick his neck out on important points.
― Legal 500 (2020)Especially esteemed in the field of Proceeds of Crime litigation, both civil and criminal – he always provides sound tactical advice.
― Legal 500 (2020)He is particularly good with anxious clients.
― Legal 500 (2020)Highly regarded for his encyclopaedic knowledge and practical advice.
― Legal 500 (2020)Clients value his insight, his practicality and the fact that he is very hands-on, always leading from the front.
― Chambers UK (2020)Extremely helpful at giving practical and quality advice on tax-related matters.
― Chambers UK (2020)He’s great for matters that span both tax and crime.
― Chambers UK (2020)He is accessible and responsive, and is reassuringly prepared to take a view even where there might be relatively little case law, and that really requires judgement.
― Chambers UK (2020)He comes across as very confident in his advice, and does not leave you questioning whether what he has advised is the correct way forward.
― Chambers UK (2020)An absolute leading authority on money laundering cases and a mine of information, who is very accessible, highly user-friendly and a pleasure to deal with.
― Chambers UK (2020)He’s very hands-on and has an ability to summarise complex issues succinctly and memorably.
― Chambers UK (2020)Approachable, clear in his advice and supportive in difficult situations.
― Chambers UK (2020)He is a true expert who can be relied upon. He has a very high standard of client service and is always very quick to respond.
― Chambers UK (2018)He is one of the brightest financial crime lawyers in this country. He leaves no stone unturned, has a phenomenal brain and has done some really fantastic international work.
― Chambers UK (2018)Jonathan is an absolute leading authority on money laundering cases and is a mine of information. Yet at the same time he is very accessible, user-friendly and a pleasure to deal with.
― Legal 500 (2017)He gives consistently robust, practical and commercial advice.
― Legal 500 (2017)He has a gift for setting out clear strategy in even the most complex case.
― Legal 500 (2017)The consummate modern Silk, he leads from the front and is hands-on.
― Legal 500 (2017)The person clients want fighting in their corner if they are in a tight spot.
― Legal 500 (2017)He speaks with great authority and has encyclopedic knowledge.
― Legal 500 (2017)Highly respected and highly effective; a sage of the tax bar.
― Chambers UK (2017)User-friendly, easy to work with, and a great team player. He wins plaudits for his technical knowledge and persistence when tackling high value accounting fraud and bribery cases.
― Chambers UK (2017)He is very dogged, incredibly knowledgeable, and someone with a good sense of humour. He gets across complex messages in a very entertaining way, and can make the convoluted readily understandable.
― Chambers UK (2017)Exhibits a rare depth of knowledge and expertise in relation to money laundering matters, and his advice is both insightful and highly practical.
― Chambers UK (2017)Particularly valued for his advice on the criminal aspects of financial services, often providing support on matters of money laundering and economic sanctions. His strong enforcement credentials mean that he is often seen advising on multi-jurisdictional market abuse cases.
― Chambers UK (2017)He’s very knowledgeable in his areas of expertise and has strong opinions which are obviously well reasoned, well thought out and therefore reliable.
― Chambers UK (2017)Has a well-respected practice and frequently assists high-profile individuals, City firms and US firms with money laundering issues.
― Chambers UK (2017)He’s always very responsive, and he understands our business – he’s a leader in this field but he is also down to earth and understands commercial concerns as well as the law.’ ‘He’s highly intelligent, very responsive, easy to work with, and a person whom clients quickly grow to trust.
― Chambers UK (2017)Specialises in representing individual and corporate taxpayers in HMRC investigations. Sources highlight his previous experience as standing counsel to the Inland Revenue as being particularly helpful.
― Chambers UK (2017)I use him because of his experience advising the Revenue before he moved to private practice. He knows how the Revenue ticks, and is very approachable and very good with clients.
― Chambers UK (2016)A very effective advocate, both in terms of oral submissions and written advice. Has the ability to distil the relevant points and focus on what matters. In a game of chess, he would be five steps ahead.
― Chambers UK (2016)He is a true expert in his field and somebody who is a pleasure to deal with. He is well able to communicate with both lawyers and clients, and makes points which are relevant and straightforward.
― Chambers UK (2016)He is very thorough and able to explain things in a simplified form.
― Legal 500 (2015)A rare breed who is well able to deal with hybrid financial, banking, criminal and regulatory law.
― Legal 500 (2015)Cerebral, knowledgeable and authoritative.
― Chambers UK (2008)Extremely thoughtful and considered in the run-up to court but once in the heat of battle pulls no punches.
― Legal 500 (2008)Meticulous in preparation, extremely responsive and hard-working – judges defer to his knowledge.
Fraud
Jonathan has a Business Crime & Fraud practice, with particular emphasis on Money Laundering & Proceeds of Crime, Fraud and corruption, tax evasion, confiscation and civil recovery cases.
Featured cases
- R (World Uyghur Congress) v The National Crime Agency [2024] EWCA Civ 715 – money laundering investigation, proceeds of crime, modern slavery, identifiable property and adequate consideration in the supply chain, civil recovery.
- National Crime Agency v Riza Aziz, Red Granite Pictures Inc & Z Limited [2020] EWHC 3060 (Admin) – POCA prohibition order restraining assets, extension of SAR moratorium period.
- Ashbolt & Arundell v Her Majesty’s Revenue & Customs [2020] EWHC 1588 (Admin) – Tax avoidance/evasion, application to quash search warrants.
- Nest International v Deloitte (2019) – Dubai International Financial Court of Appeal. Power to add a party in a civil fraud claim involving alleged failure by auditors to satisfy anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing compliance standards)
- Director of the Serious Fraud Office v Eurasian Natural Resources Company [2018] EWCA Civ 2006 – Corporate investigation, alleged corruption, legal professional privilege.
- Malabu Oil and Gas Ltd v Director of Public Prosecutions [2016] Lloyd’s Rep FC 108 – International mutual assistance, restraint order, bribery and corruption, Nigerian oil field.
- Wiese v UKBA [2012] Lloyd’s Rep. F.C. 681 – Proceeds of crime: money laundering, cash forfeiture.
Typically, cases may involve issues relating to asset forfeiture, asset freezing, asset recovery, bribery and corruption, cartels, civil recovery, company books and records offences, confiscation, contempt of court, corporate manslaughter, cross-border transactions, cryptocurrency, data protection, deferred prosecution agreements, environmental offences, export controls, “failure to prevent” corporate offences, false accounting, financial markets and services regulation and offences, fraud, health and safety offences, human rights, informants, internet regulation and offences, gambling offences, insider dealing, investigation powers, legal professional privilege, licence offences, medicines and drug offences, modern slavery, money laundering, mutual legal assistance, obscene publications, offshore jurisdictions, pharmacy offences, privacy rights, privilege against self-incrimination, property law, planning offences, production notices, public-private partnerships, revenue offences, search warrants, social media offences, tax fraud, terrorist financing, theft, trusts, sanctions, US Department of Justice investigations, Serious Fraud Office cases, tax investigations, unexplained wealth orders and whistleblowing.
Financial Services Regulation
Jonathan has experience dealing with a range of Regulatory & Professional Disciplinary cases, most particularly those related to the money laundering regulations, the “fit and proper” requirements, market disclosures and economic sanctions.
Featured cases
- Advising on the making of disclosures under the Proceeds of Crime legislation.
- Advising on the application of the money laundering offences in commercial cases.
- Advising in cases where there has been an alleged breach of the money laundering regulations.
- Advising in corruption cases.
- Advising on behalf of individual and corporate taxpayers on reasons why criminal charges should not be brought in failed tax avoidance/evasion cases.
- Advising on the application of economic sanctions and the continuing validity of licences obtained from HM Treasury.
- Due to the sensitivity of these cases, information which could identify the client is not given.
Education
- PhD, LSE
- Master’s degree in law, LLM, Cambridge University
- BA in Law: 1st Class
Awards
- Department of Education State Scholarship
- Senior Scholarship Award, Gray’s Inn.
- LLD (Honoris Causa)
Professional appointments
- Chair of the UK Government’s Independent Review into Disclosure of Unused Material in Criminal Cases and Fraud Offences
- Senior Fellow and Visiting Professor in Practice, Law School, London School of Economics
- New Law Journal columnist
- Editor Emeritus, Lloyds Law Reports: Financial Crime
- Honorary Member of the London Fraud Forum Steering Group
- Master of the Bench of the Honourable Society of Gray’s Inn
Previous appointments include:
• Commissioner on the Commission on a Bill of Rights
• Specialist adviser to the House of Commons Treasury Committee
• Trustee Director of the Fraud Advisory Panel
• Committee Member of the Asset Recovery Agency Steering Group
• Legal Panel Member of the Accountancy & Actuarial Discipline Board
• Trustee, International Lawyers Project
• Standing Counsel (Criminal) to the Commissioners of Inland Revenue at the Central Criminal Court and London Crown Courts
Memberships
- Chartered Institute of Taxation (Fellow)
- CBA
- Dubai International Financial Court (registered practitioner)
- Society of Legal Scholars
- South Eastern Circuit
Publications
Books:
- Arlidge & Parry on Fraud, 6th edition, Thomson Sweet & Maxwell, co-author
- The Criminal Finances Act 2017, Informa Law, co-author
- Law of Investor Protection, Sweet & Maxwell, co-author,
Chapters
- The Joint Money Laundering Intelligence Taskforce in the United Kingdom, A Critique of an Emerging Model for a Public–Private Information-Sharing Partnership, Max Planck Institute, Intersentia 2024.
- Modernising and Simplifying Tax Evasion Offences in the UK: Response, Criminal Law Reform Now Volume 2: Proposals and Critique, Bloomsbury Publishing, 2024.
- ‘Fraud in Civil and Criminal Law’, Research Handbook on International Financial Crime, Edward Elgar
- ‘Fighting Financial Crime in the Global Economic Crisis’, Policing the Financial Markets, Risk and Recklessness, Routledge
- ‘Temas de Anticorruptcao e Compliance’, The UK Bribery Act 2010, Elsevier (Brazil)
- ‘Confiscating the Proceeds of Crime’, International Guide to Money Laundering Law & Practice, Bloomsbury Professional
- ‘EU Directives’, A Practitioner’s Guide to International Money Laundering Law and Regulation, Sweet & Maxwell
Peer-reviewed journals
‘Anti-Corruption Sanctions, The Bribery Act and Unexplained Wealth Order’, Criminal Law Review 2022, 41, co-author
‘Confiscation: Deprivatory and not Punitive’ Criminal Law Review, 2018, 192, co-author.
‘Permanent injunction to prevent market abuse’ Butterworths Journal of International Banking and Financial Law 2015, 681
Part 1 of ‘Serious Crime Act 2015: Strengthening the restraint and confiscation regime’, Criminal Law Review, September 2015, 753-765
‘Criminal forms of high frequency trading on the financial markets’, Law and Financial Markets Review, 2015, 113, co-author
‘The vulnerability of HMRC to penetration by criminal actors’, Journal of Money Laundering Control, 2012, 153.