John Lyons specialises in criminal defence, in particular white collar crime and commercial fraud. He also acts for those accused of large-scale drug trafficking and murders. He has been instructed (including pro bono advice) on behalf of potential victims of miscarriages of justice. He is a Grade 4 prosecutor (CPS London since 2007).
He is well qualified to advise on international corruption matters, because of his role in advising a corporate client on establishing an anonymous hotline for their employees that operates in 20 European Countries and through which he provides continuous advice.
He undertakes leading junior work and is regularly led by Queen’s Counsel. Since the early 1990s he has defended in large-scale financial frauds, high-tech computer frauds, VAT and tax offences etc (e.g SFO prosecution of Eagle Trust 1992-3).
As a former qualified Company Secretary and with a degree in economics, he is well equipped to understand and analyse complex company accounts and other financial documents.
John Lyons is highly proficient in the use of computers for case preparation. He has lectured in use of Casemap case preparation software. He is able to establish case-based intranets; designs, develops and uses bespoke databases and spreadsheets.
He has a background in human rights law and has a strong knowledge of the impact of the European Convention on Human Rights.
He has considerable experience in confiscation matters.
He appears in the High Court in public law cases, judicial review, appeals by case stated, drug trafficking and criminal confiscations.
Representative examples of recent work
Re E: From 2005 - 2008: Provided detailed and protracted pre-charge advice and assistance to directors of a large London-based energy company facing SFO investigation in UK concerning allegations of bribery of foreign officials and corruption. Successfully persuaded Attorney General not to approve prosecution following referral of case by SFO. Also advised in respect of inquiries being pursued by foreign governmental agencies.
Re X: Currently advising, pre-charge, an international firm of commodity traders concerning investigations into sanctions-busting.
R. v. G: Defending a businessman accused of passing forged multi-million dollars of US bonds to UK and Icelandic banks.
R v. N: International multi-million pound money laundering case, currently advising.
R v. Egan: Successful defence of an Inland Revenue building contractors fraud.
R v. Conjoice: Said to be largest ever insurance fraud in Wales.
R v. Parmar and Osaghe: Credit card/banking fraud; inside information from a bank employee was used to target high worth customers and to clone credit and debit cards that were used to strip their accounts.
R v. Tipu: Immigration fraud; a dishonest advice service created false documents to enable illegal immigrants to remain in the UK.
R v. Delvalle: International money laundering and allegations of misfeasance by HM Revenue and Customs.
R. v. Adams [2007] 1 Cr.App.R. 34: Court of Appeal quashed 1993 murder conviction (the defendant had been in custody for 15 years) due to failures in original legal representation (John Lyons had worked on this case for over four years). The defence have now been granted permission to judicially review the refusal of the Justice Secretary to award Mr Adams compensation.
R. v. Rowe: Money laundering over six years of the proceeds of large-scale drug trafficking; a current case.
R v. B: Having successfully represented B on allegation of conspiracy to murder, he is now resisting a ground-breaking application by the Crown to the Court of Appeal to re-prosecute, based on allegedly compelling new evidence from a convicted co-defendant; this is the first case under s.76 CJA 2003 where the fresh evidence does not consist of a confession.
R. v. Firkins: Double-murder of elderly couple in Cornish petrol station.
R. v. H: Two importations totalling 380 kg of heroin.
R. v. Yilmaz: The police claimed the defendant was the largest heroin trafficker in London.
Also: Various complex contested confiscation hearings (detention and forfeiture proceedings and appeals,.
Earlier notable cases include
R v Paulssen [2002]: £10m multi-jurisdictional advance fee fraud.
R v. A [2000]: Alleged evasion of import duties by a major foreign company.
R. v. Drewe [1998] Major art fraud. A much publicised case of forgery of modern masterpieces, supported by the creation of a false provenance by the forgery of entries in catalogues.
Reported cases include a variety of appeals against conviction, confiscation and public law cases.
Publications
Author of numerous submissions to Law Commission, Home Office and DCA on criminal law reform.
He was a contributor to the CBA’s response to the Law Commission’s Consultation Paper on reforming the law of Bribery.
