Jonathan Laidlaw QC

Private Prosecution

Formerly a First Senior Treasury Counsel, Jonathan Laidlaw QC has been described as the leading and most sought after silk in this area, following the success of the Allseas case – the biggest fraud case brought by way of a private prosecution. He now advises both individuals and major companies (both here, in the US and in Russia) as to the viability of both bringing and defending against private prosecutions following commercial litigation in London.

In recent years Jonathan Laidlaw QC has advised a number of successful claimants in Commercial Court proceedings in respect of the bringing of private prosecutions including Highland (the Texas hedge fund) and Allseas SA in their successful prosecution of Paul Sultana following two long trials at Southwark Crown Court. More recently he acted for an accountant whose case, brought by way of private prosecution, was stayed for abuse and for the CEO of the casino in the Summit Partners case which resulted in all those charges being dismissed.

He presently acts for, amongst others, Oleg Deripaska and the Bank of Beirut in their on-going private prosecutions.