John Hardy KC

Call: 1988 / Silk: 2008

"An absolute star who is extraordinarily hard-working, wonderful with clients, extraordinarily personable and a very fair minded opponent."

Chambers UK 2017: Extradition

"An absolutely lovely advocate."

Chambers UK 2017: Extradition

“Extradition guru."

Chambers UK 2016: Extradition

"He has a schoolmasterly approach which in the right cases is devastatingly effective. He is a really vigorous and courageous advocate."

Chambers UK 2016: Extradition

"He is able to assimilate huge amounts of evidence very quickly and translate them into very practical advice."

Chambers UK 2016: Extradition

Since taking silk, John Hardy KC has been instructed in a number of lengthy and complex fraud prosecutions as well as continuing his criminal practice, particularly in extradition where his expertise spans over 15 years.

John has appeared in a number of cases in the House of Lords as a junior (twice as leading junior), and has since appeared on several occasions in the Supreme Court.

John makes frequent appearances in the Divisional and Administrative Courts representing both foreign governments and defendants in extradition appeals, as well as prosecuting authorities and defendants in domestic judicial reviews and cases stated.

He appears for both prosecution and defence in major criminal trials and has extensive experience in money laundering and fraud cases. He is experienced in disciplinary tribunal work (for example the GMC and police discipline cases) and has significant expertise in dealing with regulatory offences.

John is also in demand as an expert witness on matters of United Kingdom extradition law, and the criminal law of England and Wales in foreign jurisdictions, as well as being a regular contributor to lectures and seminars around the world. He has given evidence in a murder case in the Supreme Court of British Columbia in Vancouver, as well as in the Dublin District Court. He has given presentations, lectures, and addresses on a wide variety of subjects, including extradition, constitutional law, and general crime with an emphasis on bribery and corruption, and money-laundering, in (amongst others) Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Ghana, Lithuania, Macao, Spain, and Ukraine.

John is also experienced in cases which have a civil dimension. He has recently cocmpleted Supreme Court proceedings in Dublin relating to a civil confiscation process, and has also appeared in contested trials in the Family Division of the High Court. He has also been instructed in a major civil action in a case against a United Kingdom Police Force.

Legal Expertise

Crime overview

Notable Crime cases

R v Mandair [1995] 1 AC 208

Security Industry Authority v Sabrewatch Limited & Ors

[Regulatory prosecution.]

R v AH

[Defended a barrister who was acquitted after being accused of defrauding the HMRC of over £210,000 for failing to make VAT returns or payments over the course of seven years.]

Extradition

Extradition overview

Notable Extradition cases

Calderelli v Court of Naples [2008] UKHL 51

In re Burke [2001] 1 AC 422

In re Ismail [1999] 1 AC 230

R v Governor of Belmarsh Prison, Ex parte Gilligan; R v Governor of Exeter Prison, Ex parte Ellis [2001] 1 AC 84

Re Proulx [2001] 1 All ER 57

R (Guisto) v Governor of Brixton Prison & The United States of America [2004] 1 AC 101

Bermingham & Ors v Government of USA & SSHD [2006] 3 All ER 239

Lukaszewski v District Court in Torun, Poland [2012] UKSC 20

Zakrzewski v Regional Court in Lodz, Poland [2013] UKSC 2

Konecny v District Court, Czech Republic [2019] UKSC 8

Crime

R v Mandair
[1995] 1 AC 208

Security Industry Authority v Sabrewatch Limited & Ors
[Regulatory prosecution.]

R v AH
[Defended a barrister who was acquitted after being accused of defrauding the HMRC of over £210,000 for failing to make VAT returns or payments over the course of seven years].

Extradition

Calderelli v Court of Naples
[2008] UKHL 51

In re Burke
[2001] 1 AC 422

In re Ismail
[1999] 1 AC 230

R v Governor of Belmarsh Prison, Ex parte Gilligan; R v Governor of Exeter Prison, Ex parte Ellis
[2001] 1 AC 84

Re Proulx
[2001] 1 All ER 57

R (Guisto) v Governor of Brixton Prison & The United States of America
[2004] 1 AC 101

Bermingham & Ors v Government of USA and SSHD
[2006] 3 All ER 239

Lukaszewski v District Court in Torun, Poland
[2012] UKSC 20

Zakrzewski v Regional Court in Lodz, Poland
[2013] UKSC 2

Konecny v District Court, Czech Republic
[2019] UKSC 8

Key contacts

John is ranked in Chambers UK 2020

“An absolute star who is extraordinarily hard-working, wonderful with clients, extraordinarily personable and a very fair minded opponent.” “An absolutely lovely advocate.” Chambers UK 2017: Extradition

“Extradition guru” “He has a schoolmasterly approach which in the right cases is devastatingly effective. He is a really vigorous and courageous advocate.” “He is able to assimilate huge amounts of evidence very quickly and translate them into very practical advice.” Chambers UK 2016: Extradition

“Well known for his money laundering expertise.” Legal 500 2015: Fraud

“Charming and dedicated to his cases.” Legal 500 2014: Fraud

“He knows his way around extradition law backwards and forwards”. Chambers UK 2014: Extradition

John Hardy QC has over 15 years of extradition expertise and is well regarded in this field, but is also a dab hand at all areas of criminal work including fraud. Sources described him as “very conscientious, highly approachable, and tenacious when on a case.” Chambers UK 2013: Crime

“Respected silk John Hardy QC enjoys the esteem of the market for his skills at extradition and general criminal cases.” Chambers UK 2012: Crime

“John Hardy QC has over 15 years’ experience in extradition. In addition to his well-respected practice in this area, he also appears for both prosecution and defence in major criminal trials.” Chambers UK 2011: Crime

  • Diploma in Law
  • BA Hons, Magdalen College, Oxford
  • Recorder of the Crown Courts 2002
  • Silk Counsel 2008
  • Appointed to the SFO Prosecution List 2013

Facilitator at Bar Council Human Rights Courses.

Regularly appears on TV and radio discussing matters of international criminal law and has appeared as a guest speaker in many jurisdictions.

I, John Hardy KC, am a data controller and can be contacted at 3 Raymond Buildings, Gray’s Inn, London WC1R 5BH or by telephone on 020 7400 6400 or by email at john.hardy@3rblaw.com. My Data Protection Policy can be found below.

All personal data that I process is for the purposes of providing legal services, conducting conflict-checks, marketing, defending potential complaints, legal proceedings or fee disputes, keeping anti-money laundering records, training other barristers and pupils and when providing work-shadowing opportunities, and/or exercising a right to a lien. The types of data I process vary upon the nature of the legal matter in relation to which I am engaged to advise, but can include names, contact details, biographic details and ‘special category personal data’ (such as details of racial or ethnic origin, political opinions, religious or philosophical beliefs, health, sex life and criminal convictions and proceedings).

Depending upon the circumstances of the case, the legal bases upon which I process personal data are (i) the performance of a contract to which the data subject is a party or in order to take steps at the request of the data subject prior to entering into a contract, (ii) the processing is necessary to comply with legal obligations to which I am subject, or (iii) the processing is necessary for the legitimate interests set out above, except where such interests are overridden by the interests or fundamental rights and freedoms of the data subjects which require protection of personal data, in particular where the data subject is a child. When I rely on (iii) legitimate interests, my ‘Legitimate Interests Assessment’ can be found here. When I process data which has not be obtained directly from the data subject (e.g. personal data contained in evidential materials), it will have been supplied to me as part of my instructions in circumstances covered by legal professional privilege.

Depending upon the circumstances of the case, I may share the personal data with:

  1. my Chambers, which supplies professional and administrative support to my practice;
  2. Courts and other tribunals to whom documents are presented;
  3. my lay and professional clients;
  4. potential witnesses, in particular experts, and friends or family of the data subject;
  5. solicitors, barristers, pupils, mini pupils and other legal representatives;
  6. ombudsmen and regulatory authorities;
  7. current, past or prospective employers;
  8. education and examining bodies;
  9. business associates, professional advisers and trade bodies.

I retain personal data for no longer than 7 years after the case has come to an end or as otherwise required by law.

I do not intend to transfer data to any country which is not either within the European Union, ‘white listed’ by the EU or otherwise permitted by EU law (e.g. to the USA under the provisions of the ‘Privacy Shield’).

Under the GDPR, data subjects whose personal data I process have the right to request from me access to, and rectification or erasure of, their personal data, the right to the restriction of processing concerning them, the right to object to processing as well as the right to data portability. Data subjects also have the right to lodge a complaint with the Information Commissioner’s Office (ico.org.uk).

In cases where there is a contract between me and the data subject, the provision of personal data is a contractual requirement and the data subject is obliged to provide the personal data in order that I can supply legal services. A failure to provide such data may mean that I will not be able to provide the legal services.

Rev 1.1 18.02.2019

Data Protection Policy

Legitimate Interests Assessment

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