Jonathan Crow QC
Attorney General to HRH the Prince of Wales
Called: 1981
Silk: 2006
Areas Of Practice
1981-1998: As a junior specialising in company/commercial litigation, Jonathan was heavily involved in cases such as Guinness, Polly Peck and Barlow Clowes, as well as numerous shareholder disputes, and media and entertainment cases. He also appeared overseas, in the Sea Containers takeover dispute and in the litigation following the insolvency of Bermuda Fire and Marine. Chambers & Partners described him as an “absolute star”, and ranked him in 4 categories – company law, financial services, chancery and insolvency. The Legal 500 described him as “brilliant” and “outstanding”, ranking him as one of the top 3 juniors at the Bar, with recommendations in commercial litigation, company law, banking and insolvency.
1998-2006: During his tenure as First Treasury Counsel (Chancery), Jonathan was retained exclusively by the Government. His practice widened to include all aspects of public law, with an emphasis on human rights and freedom of information. Although by convention he remained a junior, his practice was effectively that of a silk throughout. He has appeared 20 times in the House of Lords, and on numerous other occasions in the Court of Appeal and in the European Court of Human Rights.
2006 onwards: In 2006, Jonathan returned to private practice as a silk. On announcing his retirement as First Treasury Counsel, the Attorney General said that Jonathan was a barrister “of the very highest calibre” who had given “outstanding service to the government in many cases of the greatest public importance”. Jonathan now combines his wider experience in public law with his previous specialisation in company/commercial litigation.
Cases Of Interest
Jonathan has appeared in well over 100 reported cases covering a wide range of topics. Recent cases in the House of Lords and in the European Court of Human Rights have included issues as diverse as legal professional privilege (Three Rivers (No. 6)), employment (Serco v. Lawson), discrimination in inheritance tax (Burden v. UK), religious attire in schools (Denbigh High School), adverse possession (Pye v. UK), deaths in custody (Amin and Middleton) and assisted suicide (Pretty). Other cases range from corporate insolvency and directors’ duties to money laundering and ASBOs, from misfeasance and asset recovery to employment law, pensions, and the liability of expert witnesses (Meadow v. GMC). More recondite issues have also arisen concerning listed buildings and market law. A fuller list of cases is available on the printer friendly cv. A number of Jonathan’s decisions as a Deputy High Court Judge on points of company law have also been reported.
Appointments
1994 Treasury Counsel (Chancery)
1998 First Treasury Counsel (Chancery)
1998 Bencher of Lincoln’s Inn
2001 Deputy High Court Judge
2006 Attorney General to HRH the Prince of Wales
Professional
Commercial Bar Association
Chancery Bar Association
Administrative Law Bar Association
Insolvency Lawyers Association