Jonathan Kinnear KC

Criminal Defence

Jonathan has a very significant indirect tax practice, specialising in VAT, excise and other customs duties and has appeared in many of the most complex cases across the full range of jurisdictions, the Tax Tribunals, the Administrative Court and the Civil Division of the Court of Appeal. In 2016 and 2017 he appeared in the two leading Court of Appeal decisions in respect of the application of the Kittel principle and the jurisdiction of the UT on appeal.

Notable Cases:

Advising a partner of a big four accountancy firm in respect of a criminal investigation by the SFO.

Advising a Lloyds of London insurance broker in a bribery and corruption investigation by the SFO.

Advising a partner at a big four accountancy firm in respect of the SFO investigation in respect of G4S.

SFO v P

Acting for a company director in a prosecution brought by the SFO in respect of the theft of a pension fund.

R v M

Represented a company director charged with supplying large quantities of cocaine and using his business to assist in the laundering of the proceeds.

R v B

Acting for a company director in respect of charges relating to the indecent images of children.

R v X

Represented a 16 year old charged with murdering another young girl with a comb.

Criminal Defence

Jonathan has acted for the Financial Reporting Council (FRC) in respect of a number of its most serious cases in respect of accountancy regulation.

Notable Cases:

• Acted for the FRC in the investigation and proceedings under its Scheme for the accountancy profession into the conduct of a Member of the ICAEW and of HWCA Limited, the former auditors of Worthington Nicholls Group Plc until 4 December 2007.
• Acted for FRC in proceedings against EY in respect of their audit of the accounts of Farepak the failed Christmas savings club. EY were fined £750,000 and ordered to pay costs of £425,000. The former audit partner AF was reprimanded and fined £50,000.
• Acting for the FRC into the investigation into the conduct of KPMG Audit plc as auditors to BAE Systems plc.
• Advising a partner of a big four accountancy firm in respect of investigations by the SFO and the FRC.