SILK PROFILE

Jonathan Laidlaw KC

UK Bar 2026

2 Hare Court

Ranked in 6 practice areas

Financial Crime

London (Bar)

12 years ranked

Crime

London (Bar)

31 years ranked

Health & Safety

London (Bar)

14 years ranked

Financial Crime: Private Prosecutions

London (Bar)

7 years ranked

Financial Crime: Corporates

London (Bar)

4 years ranked

Inquests & Public Inquiries

London (Bar)

6 years ranked

About

Provided by 2 Hare Court

Practice Areas

Jonathan Laidlaw KC’s practice is primarily in business and financial crime, where he has consistently been ranked by Chambers and Partners as a star silk. He is now recognised in seven areas: financial and business crime; general crime; private prosecutions; health and safety; inquests and inquiries; professional discipline; and regulatory law.

A former “Crime Silk of the Year,” he is “regularly instructed in headline-grabbing cases” and “well equipped to advise individuals on sensitive matters involving reputational issues”. He has been described as “an extraordinarily able advocate with great style” and praised for “lethal cross-examination skills and a mean way with closing speeches”. He features in the Sunday Times/Debretts list of 500 most influential people in Britain and HNW Guide.

Much of his work, for individuals and companies domestically and internationally, is pre-charge and advisory. He appears in the Commercial Court, at major inquests and public inquiries, and before sporting, regulatory, and professional disciplinary tribunals, and produces reports in silk-led inquiries.

He acts for individuals under SFO, FCA, NCA, and DoJ investigations, and for organisations including the Bank of England, Pret a Manger, The FA, Live Nation, and Aviva. He has represented or advised core participants in the Grenfell Tower, Manchester Arena Bombing, COVID-19, and Post Office Horizon inquiries, and advises entrepreneurs considering private prosecutions.

Career

Head of Chambers (2013)

First Senior Treasury Counsel (2008-2010)

Senior Treasury Counsel (2000-2008)

Junior Treasury Counsel (1995-2000)

Recorder (1995)

Professional Memberships

Criminal Bar Association

Private Prosecution Association

Fraud Lawyers Association

Health & Safety Lawyers Association

South Eastern Circuit

Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers

UK Bar

Financial Crime - London (Bar)

Star Individuals

Individual Editorial

Jonathan Laidlaw KC is a top barrister with a wide-ranging practice in financial crime. Having served as First Senior Treasury Counsel at the Old Bailey, he has in recent years been involved in major Serious Fraud Office investigations into alleged corruption and market manipulation offences. He is highly rated for his defence of directors and companies facing fraud charges, and is noted for his adept handling of cases involving private prosecutions.

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Crime - London (Bar)

Star Individuals

Individual Editorial

Jonathan Laidlaw KC is an impressive and highly regarded silk with over 15 years of Treasury Counsel experience, who now specialises only in private defence work spanning the areas of general crime, business crime and regulatory work, among others. He represents both individuals and companies in a vast range of complex criminal matters. Laidlaw is an expert in both domestic and international criminal cases.

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Health & Safety - London (Bar)

Band 1

Individual Editorial

Jonathan Laidlaw KC is an expert advocate lauded for the breadth of his expertise in health and safety cases, public inquiries and inquests. He defends companies and directors in regulatory, disciplinary and professional matters, and regularly acts for those facing prosecution by the HSE. He is also highly sought after in the US market to represent corporates facing health and safety prosecutions, particularly those concerning corporate manslaughter.

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Financial Crime: Private Prosecutions - London (Bar)

Band 2

Individual Editorial

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Financial Crime: Corporates - London (Bar)

Band 2

Individual Editorial

View ranking table

Inquests & Public Inquiries - London (Bar)

Band 2

Individual Editorial

Jonathan Laidlaw KC is an experienced criminal and regulatory silk who is frequently instructed in significant inquests and public inquiries. He has considerable experience of inquests involving health and safety, regularly advising businesses and regulators on such matters.

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Strengths

Provided by Chambers

Jonathan is beyond knowledgeable, strategic and commercially-minded.
Financial CrimeUK Bar
Jonathan is really quite masterful. He can take a complicated factual background and simplify it to the court.
Financial CrimeUK Bar
He is one of the star performers at the bar.
Financial CrimeUK Bar
Jonathan is fantastic. he is excellent at what he does. He is someone you want in your corner fighting for you.
Financial CrimeUK Bar
He is great.
CrimeUK Bar
Jonathan Laidlaw KC ensures that his clients get the best outcome. He is rightly regarded as being at the top of the criminal Bar. He really is just brilliant.
CrimeUK Bar