Joel undertakes all types of criminal work. In 2017 Joel was appointed as Junior Treasury Counsel at the Central Criminal Court. In 2024 Joel was appointed Silk.
Joel is ranked as a leading junior in both crime and extradition in Chambers Guide to the Bar, and the Legal 500. He is ranked as a “star individual” in the Chambers UK extradition guide.
In the field of general crime, Joel’s practice comprises mostly homicide, as well as appearances in the Court of Appeal and High Court, and judicial review proceedings. As junior Treasury Counsel he advises and represents the Attorney General and Solicitor General in unduly lenient sentence appeals.
A regular practitioner in the field of extradition, Joel has represented both individuals and foreign governments in a number of high-profile cases against individuals accused of serious crime including murder, terrorist offences, market manipulation and large-scale fraud. Joel has appeared at all levels from first instance hearings to the Supreme Court.
Joel was shortlisted for the “crime junior of the year” award at the Chambers and Partners UK bar awards 2020.
USA v. Julian Assange: Junior counsel to the US government in the largest and highest profile extradition case since the Pinochet proceedings and, possibly, ever. The proceedings concern allegations that the requested person violated US criminal law by seeking, obtaining and publishing classified and sensitive materials via the Wikileaks website, in conspiracy with Bradley (now Chelsea) Manning and others. Assange was discharged at first instance, but the government of the USA successfully appealed. Mr. Assange’s application for leave to appeal against the subsequent decision to extradite him is to be heard by the High Court in February 2024. News story here.
USA v. T (2022-3) leading counsel for the USA in high profile extradition proceedings concerning allegations of fraud.
Germany v. V (2021) leading counsel for the Government of Germany in extradition request concerning large scale VAT fraud.
USA v. O (2021) counsel for UK citizen accused in the USA of sexual offending. Discharged on the basis that extradition was barred by forum.
India v. S (2021) leading junior representing defendant in extradition proceedings concerning terrorism linked conspiracy to murder. Successful argument as to prima facie case.
Belgium v. K (2021). Junior counsel in extradition proceedings concerning allegations arising from Cum/Ex trading.
Australia v. S (2021) representation of defendant facing historic sexual allegations with delay of over 40 years.
Poland v. R (2020) representation of Polish government in proceedings concerning independence of judiciary and impact of Polish judicial reforms.
Slovakia v. T (2019). Successful representation of a victim of modern slavery who faced extradition to Slovakia.
G and others v. Hungary (2019). Leading counsel for the government of Hungary in longstanding litigation concerning prison conditions.
Y & Y v. Turkey (2019) counsel for a requested person in a Turkish request raising issues as to compatibility of the Turkish prison estate with international human rights standards.
Di Benedetto v. Italy, Alexander v. France [2018] Q.B 408, Divisional Court guidance on “correcting” invalid European Arrest Warrants through the provision of extraneous information.
Georgiev and others v. Bulgaria [2018] EWHC 359 (Admin). Leading counsel for the Bulgarian government in long running litigation concerning prison conditions.
Bermuda v. D (2017). Counsel for the requested person facing extradition to Bermuda following an allegation of gang related murder.
Sarao v. USA (2016). Junior counsel representing the requested person in the so-called “flash crash” extradition proceedings.
Paraguay v. S and G (2016). Counsel for a requested person in a case concerning the first extradition request to be received from Paraguay.
Bucnys and ors. v. Lithuanian and Estonian Ministries of Justice [2013] 3 W.L.R 1485. Supreme Court. Junior counsel for the Appellant Bucnys. Meaning of a “judicial authority” for the purposes of s.2 of the Extradition Act 2003.Bucnys and ors. v. Lithuanian and Estonian Ministries of Justice [2013] 3 W.L.R 1485. Supreme Court. Junior counsel for the Appellant Bucnys. Meaning of a “judicial authority” for the purposes of s.2 of the Extradition Act 2003.
R v Carl Cooper (2024) Leading counsel for the Crown. The defendant was convicted after trial before a High Court Judge of double murder, having killed two of his ex-partners. The body of one of the victims has never been found. The defendant was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 35 years. News story here
R v. Mirza, Adan, Gouled, Mohamed & Ohanweh (2023) Central Criminal Court. Junior counsel to the Crown. Double murder and double attempted murder trial. Allegation of gang linked revenge shooting in which two people were killed and two others shot. News story here
R v. Amina Noor (2023) First successful prosecution concerning the offence of assisting a non-UK national to inflict female genital mutilation overseas. Junior counsel to the Crown. The case involved the removal of a child’s clitoris in 2006. Instructed to advise pre-charge and was junior counsel at trial News story here
R v. Marten & Gordon (2023) High profile case of a couple who “went missing” with their baby child over Christmas and New Year 2022/23. They were later found by police, having existed ‘off grid’. The child was found dead. The defendants face charges of causing or allowing the death of the child, gross negligence manslaughter and child neglect, amongst others. Junior counsel to the Crown. News story here
R v. Gustavson and others (2024) Junior counsel to the Crown. Prosecution involving (amongst other charges) a conspiracy to commit GBH arising from the “null” subset of the extreme body modification scene. The defendants arranged for victims to have their penises or testicles removed or cut (consensually). None of the defendants are medically qualified. Often the procedures were filmed and uploaded to a website (www.eunuchmaker.com) for subscribers to watch. News story here
R v. Carl Cooper (2024) Junior to the Crown. Double murder allegation. The defendant is alleged to have killed two of his ex-partners. The body of one of the victims has never been found. News story here
R v. H (2023) sole prosecution counsel in murder trial arising out of a domestic dispute.
Operation Intervention (2023) junior counsel to the Crown in five handed murder and perverting trial.
Operation Tarfia (2023) junior counsel to the Crown in double murder trial.
Operation Tenbruy (2023) junior counsel to the Crown in murder trial. Elderly victim’s body discovered shortly before trial.
Operation Ryegate (2022) junior counsel to the Crown in 8 defendant murder and perverting the course of justice trial.
R v. H & S (2022) junior counsel to the Crown in murder trial concerning the death of a baby child.
R v. A and others (2021-2) junior counsel to the Crown in five handed murder trial.
Operation Shenton (2021) junior counsel to the Crown, murder by stabbing of teenager.
R v. Jaffer and Lewis (2021) counsel for the prosecution of two serving police officers for misconduct in a public office involving taking and dissemination of photographs at a murder scene.
Operation Saxonstreet (2021). Junior counsel to the Crown in high profile double murder.
Operation Ridgeview (2021) junior counsel to the Crown in prosecution for murder and wounding against background of gang violence.
Operation Rolpa (2021) junior counsel to the Crown in prosecution for murder and perverting the course of justice arising out of a shooting at a snooker club.
R v. Chang (2021). High profile prosecution of former principal dancer at English National Ballet for sexual offending.
Operation Riocreek (2020). Junior counsel to the Crown in allegation of murder by scopolamine poisoning.
Operation Marnock (2020). Junior counsel to the Crown in prosecution for double murder with a firearm.
Operation Ramnad (2019) Central Criminal Court. Junior counsel to the Crown in six handed case concerning an allegation of murder of a delivery driver by six youths who had tried to steal his moped.
Operation Raton (2019) Central Criminal Court. Junior counsel to the Crown in high profile murder of a 17 year old girl.
Operation Nacton (2019) Central Criminal Court. Junior counsel to the Crown in six handed murder and perverting prosecution arising from a “drive by” shooting.
Operation Rapla (2019) Central Criminal Court. Junior counsel to the Crown in prosecution of a 16 year old defendant for murder with a knife.
R v. P (2019) Central Criminal Court. Junior counsel to the Crown concerning the death of a baby caused by a carer by means of a “shake/throw”.
Operation Pinemartin (2019) Central Criminal Court. Junior counsel to the Crown in the first ever successful FGM prosecution in England and Wales.
Operation Glout (2019) Kingston Crown Court. Leading counsel for the Crown in the prosecution of a UK based cyber-criminal for infecting online advertising with ransomware, and for linked blackmail and money laundering offences.
Operation Mapledurham (2019) Central Criminal Court. Junior counsel to the Crown in prosecution of a father alleged to have murdered his baby son.
Joel is a member of the Criminal Bar Association, the South Eastern Circuit and the Extradition Lawyers’ Association
