James Waddington KC

Commercial & Tax

Asset Recovery, Restraint & Confiscation

For the last 25 years, James has mainly practised in the fields of Commercial and Tax Fraud. He is also experienced in the related proceedings of Restraint of Assets and Proceeds of Crime. His cases involve serious, complex and high-profile tax and white-collar corporate fraud, often with a substantial international element.

James has been described as a “masterful” and “fearless” advocate who is “terrific to work with”.

James was instructed by the SFO in R-v-Palombo, a case relating to the Euribor and Libor benchmark interest rate trials which went to the Supreme Court in March 2025. In 2023, he appeared in R-v-Osmond, which resulted in the first conviction in a case brought by the SFO for Tipping Off in the Regulated Sector. This case is now before the Court of Appeal. In 2024 James also prosecuted a corporate bribery case (R-v-Churchill Contractors Ltd. and others) where the company and one of its directors were convicted. James recently appeared in a confiscation case where an order for £90 million was made, of which over £50 million has been recovered. He has also represented four non-executive directors in connection with an SFO investigation and related civil proceedings.

Professional Memberships

South Eastern Circuit

Criminal Bar Association

Fraud Lawyers Association

He is a keen cricketer, having played for - among other teams - the Bar of England and Wales Cricket Club.