William Emlyn Jones KC

Call: 1996 / Silk: 2021

“One of the best Treasury Counsel KCs of his or any generation.”

Chambers UK 2024: Crime

“He has a wonderful court manner with the jury and the judge. He’s a real class act.”

Chambers UK 2024: Crime

“… one of the most respected and formidable prosecutors in the country. His mastery of detail is unsurpassed and juries love his easy going and straight forward manner.”

Legal 500 2024: Crime

“… a class act, a trustworthy and scrupulously fair opponent. He is a skilled and extremely effective advocate.”

Legal 500 2024: Police Law

“There is no weakness in his armoury. He is a first rate lawyer and a persuasive advocate. His tactical judgment is outstanding.”

Legal 500 2022: Crime

Bill Emlyn Jones KC is a specialist in serious crime and fraud, both prosecuting and defending; more often than not as leading counsel.

His practice is predominantly based in London.

In May 2019, the Attorney General appointed Bill as Senior Treasury Counsel at the Central Criminal Court, after 5 years as Junior Treasury Counsel.

Winner of Crime Junior of the Year at the Chambers and Partners Bar Awards 2015.

In addition to Criminal work, Bill has a substantial Professional Discipline practice and appears regularly before Disciplinary tribunals and in Inquests.

Legal Expertise

Crime overview

Now in silk, Bill is highly sought after by both prosecution and defence in high profile and heavyweight cases, typically involving homicide and/or serious organised crime. As Senior Treasury Counsel, he prosecutes some of the Old Bailey’s most challenging and high profile murder cases, and is very experienced in dealing with complex multi-handed trials.  He also has particular experience and expertise in Misconduct in Public Office cases, and is regularly instructed to defend police officers. He is increasingly in demand for private defence work, given his reputation for hard work, good judgment, and excellent client care skills.

Notable Crime cases

R v Robinson & Others

Currently instructed as leading prosecution counsel in connection with the manslaughter of 39 Vietnamese nationals found dead inside a refrigerator lorry at Purfleet, Essex on 23rd October 2019.

R v Matovu & Dunbar

Bill prosecuted another Grindr related murder, the defendant being linked to the notorious Stephen Port. Matovu and his accomplice met their victims via Grindr and other hook-up apps, before drugging them with GHB and stealing from them. Matovu (acting alone) was convicted of murder having administered a fatal dose to one of his victims.

R v Kasim Lewis

Bill prosecuted Lewis for the murder of 22 year old Iuliana Tudos, whose body was found in Finsbury Park at Christmas 2017, and (in separate proceedings) for a second murder of a woman murdered in her own home by Lewis during a burglary.

R v Arshid

Bill prosecuted Mujahid Arshid in the “body in the freezer” case; Arshid had kidnapped his niece and a second female victim, taken them to an empty house where he raped them before murdering one and attempting to murder the other.

R v SH

Bill and Alex Cameron QC represented one of three men tried for the murder of a man whose body was recovered in ten pieces from an Essex Lake - of the three only Bill's client was acquitted of murder.

Professional Discipline overview

Despite his appointment as Treasury Counsel, Bill has maintained his practice defending in Professional Misconduct cases, his speciality being the defence of police officers at Misconduct Hearings and before the Police Appeals Tribunal. Many of these have involved IOPC (IPCC) investigations into high-profile complaints against the police, including death in custody cases.

Notable Professional Discipline cases

PC RG

Bill represented one of five officers all cleared of any wrongdoing in connection with the arrest and detention of Sean Rigg who tragically died in custody in Brixton Police Station, resulting in a ten year investigation by the IPCC (IOPC). The appropriate authority and two of the co-accused officers were represented by Queen’s Counsel.

PC MY

Bill represented one of four TSG officers accused of all manner of Misconduct after a wide-ranging complaint made by a surgeon arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence of drugs, prompting a seven year investigation by the IPCC. All four officers were cleared of any wrongdoing.

Inquests & Inquiries overview

Bill’s police practice has often led to his instruction in Inquests associated with deaths in custody, deaths in the context of police pursuits, deaths occurring in the course of arrests.

Notable Inquests & Inquiries cases

Inquest touching the death of MS

Representing five Thames Valley police officers involved in a pursuit of a suspect vehicle, which crashed resulting in the driver's death.

Inquest touching the death of JB

Representing a police sergeant whose management of a fatal road accident scene was suggested to have caused a second fatal accident.

Inquest touching the death of LC

I quest concerning the death of a barrister's clerk killed in a fight in a Fleet Street nightclub. Bill represented an police officer who, off duty, had been in the club at the time - and had been charged with and subsequently acquitted of murder. Bill also represented him in the criminal proceedings.

Murder & Manslaughter

R v Thomas & Gilmaney [Old Bailey]
Bill prosecuted two young men responsible for a three hour crime wave, two-up on a moped, robbing pedestrians of their mobile phones and valuables. Five of their victims were stabbed, one fatally; they were arrested after a high speed pursuit through North Kensington.

R v Das [Old Bailey]
Bill appeared to prosecute in this dreadful case involving a hammer attack on two 16-month old babies, leaving one (the defendant’s son) dead and the other seriously injured.

R v Bulhan [Old Bailey]
Bill prosecuted the Russell Square killer, who ran amok with a knife stabbing 6 tourists, leaving an American woman lying dead.

R v Stephen Port [Old Bailey]
Bill prosecuted the Barking based “Grindr serial killer”, who met and murdered four young men he met using gay dating social media; he lured them to his flat where he overdosed them with the ‘date rape’ drug, GHB, in order to satisfy his fetish for having sex with men whilst they were unconscious.

R v Warnock [Old Bailey]
Bill prosecuted the ”cold case” murder and rape of teenager Yiannoulla Yianni, who was found dead in her Hampstead home in the summer of 1982. Her killer, having escaped justice for over 30 years, was caught when arrested for possession of child pornography and required to give a DNA sample which provided a match with material preserved from the scene of the original crime.

R v MW [Winchester Crown Court]
Bill acted for the defence (with Patrick Gibbs QC) in the tragic case of a killing by a paranoid schizophrenic who was found to be unfit to stand trial.

Terrorism

R v Ali, Hussain, Rahman & Aziz
Bill prosecuted “the three musketeers” trial, involving a foiled jihadi bomb plot in Birmingham.

R v Mustafa Abdullah
Bill prosecuted a gun-obsessed Londoner who returned from Syria in possession with training videos designed to educate would-be Jihadis in the use and maintenance of firearms. Photographs recovered from his telephone showed him in camouflage gear, armed with an assault rifle.

Organised Crime

R v CP & Others [Blackfriars Crown Court]
Leading prosecuting counsel in multi-million pound, international money laundering case

R v MR & Others [Snaresbrook Crown Court]
Junior counsel for the defence of man alleged to be second in command of a prolific gang of armed cash-in–transit robbers.

R v Asif & Others [Reading Crown Court]
Leading prosecution counsel in multi-handed heroin importation.

Misconduct in Public Office/Police work

R v SS
Bill successfully defended an officer of the National Crime Agency charged with historic sexual offences.

Operation Elveden [Old Bailey]
Bill represented four police officers prosecuted for selling stories to News International newspapers.

R v PC MP [Southwark Crown Court]
Successfully defended Metropolitan Police Officer who was accused of sexually assaulting a member of the public under the pretence of searching her for drugs.

R v PC SW [Kingston Crown Court]
Defended one of 5 TSG officers alleged to have racially abused and assaulted a group of Arabic youths in the Edgware Road, London. All five were acquitted.

R v PC NT [Northampton Crown Court]
Instructed alone to defend a West Midlands officer accused, but acquitted, of laundering money from a multi-million pound VAT missing trader fraud. Prosecuted by former Solicitor General, Sir Derek Spencer QC.

Key contacts

“One of the best Treasury Counsel KCs of his or any generation.”  Chambers UK 2024:  Crime

“He has a wonderful court manner with the jury and the judge. He’s a real class act.”  Chambers UK 2024:  Crime

“… one of the most respected and formidable prosecutors in the country. His mastery of detail is unsurpassed and juries love his easy going and straight forward manner.”  Legal 500 2024:  Crime

“… a class act, a trustworthy and scrupulously fair opponent. He is a skilled and extremely effective advocate.”  Legal 500 2024:  Police Law

“A brilliant advocate who is excellent in terms of his application of the law and completely charming as an opponent.”  Chambers UK 2023:  Crime

“There is no weakness in his armoury. He is a first rate lawyer and a persuasive advocate. His tactical judgement is outstanding.”  Legal 500 2022:  Crime

“A highly effective and intelligent advocate.”  Legal 500 2022:  Police Law

“In the top echelon in terms of legal ability. He is incredibly well prepared, detailed in cross-examination and at the top of his game. You’ll struggle to get a better prosecution brief than him.”  Chambers UK 2021:  Crime

“Quite simply, the most sought after junior at the criminal bar for a big and serious case. He has the full package: clever, hard-working and a brilliant jury advocate. He will undoubtedly go on to be a star of the criminal bar.”  Legal 500 2021:  Crime

“A high effective and intelligent advocate.”  Legal 500 2021:  Police Law

“An exemplary advocate, who is hard-working, conscientious and good on client care. He has a keen and ready understanding of the way instructing solicitors operate.” Chambers UK 2020: Crime

“One of the best juniors at the Bar both for prosecuting and defending… A superb advocate with a great intellect.” Chambers UK 2019: Crime

“He has it all.” Legal 500 2019

“First rate… Totally dedicated, incredibly well prepared, and someone whose client care skills are exemplary.” Chambers UK 2018: Crime

“Excellent. Thorough, charming and effective.” Chambers UK 2017: Professional Discipline

“A first-choice junior – everyone has complete confidence in him… He has flawless advocacy and client care skills.” Legal 500 2017

“He is a supreme intellect and a jury-friendly advocate who exudes calm.” Chambers UK 2016: Crime

“He has a lovely manner, he is excellent on technical points and he is down to earth. Clients like him and judges like him.” Chambers UK 2015: Crime

“A man with a high level of intellect, he cross-examines with devastating effect. ‘He is charming and goes an extra mile’ to defend police officers.” Chambers UK 2015: Professional Discipline

“One of the most highly recommended juniors, he is ‘supremely gifted as a criminal lawyer’. Judges always listen to his submissions attentively.” Chambers UK 2014: Crime

“Breathtakingly good… Organised, hard-working, light on his feet and very clever, he is somebody who is tipped to go very far in the future.” Chambers UK 2013: Crime

  • LLB (Hons) Soton (1993)
  • Senior Treasury Counsel (2019)
  • Junior Treasury Counsel (2014)

I, William Emlyn Jones 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 clerks@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 been 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;
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  6. ombudsmen and regulatory authorities;
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I retain personal data for no longer than 7 years after the case has come to an end, unless the case has resulted in the imposition of a prison sentence of longer than 7 years, in which case I will retain the data for the duration of the sentence(s); 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 25.05.2018

Data Protection Policy

Legitimate Interests Assessment

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