Julian Richards

Julian Richards is a Solicitor and Partner of the firm, based at our Oxford office.

He is recognised nationally as a specialist in serious and complex crime and is the Head of the Complex Crime Team at Reeds. His reputation is such that he is regularly instructed in cases of this nature throughout the country.

He has a wealth of experience in dealing with murder, large scale drugs conspiracies and serious sexual offending.

In recent times he has been instructed in numerous large-scale drugs, money laundering and firearms conspiracies, including in numerous cases involving “EncroChat”.

Julian’s practice also revolves around white collar crime and the defence of directors and business professionals facing prosecution by HMRC, the SFO and the FCA, where his ability to identify the relevant issues in these technical and complicated cases, is invaluable. He regularly defends clients who have been prosecuted for multi-million-pound frauds and is currently instructed in a multi-jurisdictional “Ponzi scheme” fraud to the value of £80 million, a tax planning fraud to the value of £132 million, a diversion fraud to the value of £37.5 million and an international money laundering ring to the value of £100 million.

Julian is commercially astute having previously worked for a leading multi-national corporate law firm based in the City of London. His focused and shrewd tactical approach means that he is frequently engaged by corporate clients to provide them with advice in respect of a wide range of issues; from allegations of large-scale trademark infringement investigated by PIPCU and offences under the General Product Safety Regulations 2005, to offences investigated by the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency.

In accordance with the Solicitors’ Regulatory Transparency Rules for motoring offences we confirm that Julian Richards charges Level A hourly rates.

For legal advice and representation from Julian, please contact him using the contact information here, or through our contact page here. Alternatively you can phone 0333 240 7373, or email us at info@reeds.co.uk.

Awards and Recognition of Julian Richards

Julian has consistently been ranked in recent years by the Legal 500 as one of a handful of Leading Individuals specialising in crime in the Southeast.

‘Julian Richards is one of the stars of his generation. He knows every case back to front and inside out. He goes above and beyond in every case.’

(Legal 500, 2024)

‘Julian Richards stands out. He is able and tactically astute.’

(Legal 500, 2023)

 “Julian Richards is a standout tactician in serious crime, rightly enjoys an excellent reputation and is sought out for the most serious and complex cases.”

(Legal 500, 2023)

Specialist Encrochat Solicitor

Julian Richards has been instructed in numerous large-scale drugs, money laundering and firearms conspiracy work stemming from the EncroChat hack. He has become a key thought leader in EncroChat matters.

Julian’s has worked with leading counsel to challenge the admissibility of evidence obtained as a result of law enforcement agencies seeking to rely on material from the EncroChat hack in court.

Julian also represents a number of defendants involved in ongoing proceedings currently awaiting trial, including in cases where issue is being taken with EncroChat evidence.

Julian Richards’ Encrochat Cases

R v DS & Others – prosecution before Chester Crown Court of numerous defendants in respect of a large-scale conspiracy to supply class A drugs nationally. Julian’s client was said to have played a leading role in the conspiracy. The prosecution asserted that the defendant supplied 147.5kg cocaine, 27kg heroin and 86kg cannabis. After detailed analysis of the message logs, the defendant was sentenced based on 19kg cocaine, 8kg heroin and 45kg cannabis. He received a sentence of 13 years’ imprisonment despite only pleading guilty on the day of the trial.

R v YM – prosecution before Liverpool Crown Court of a man accused of obtaining a gun and ammunition in an ongoing gangland dispute whilst being involved in a class A drugs conspiracy. The Court imposed the minimum term of 5 years’ imprisonment despite the aggravating features.

R v PM & Others – prosecution before Derby Crown Court of a 100+kg drugs conspiracy. The group were also prosecuted for a money laundering conspiracy which involved over £18 million being laundered in a 3-month period. Julian represented the head of the conspiracy.

R v CW – prosecution before Oxford Crown Court of a defendant accused of playing a significant role in a large-scale cocaine conspiracy. The defendant was alleged to have personally received 22.5kg cocaine and £450,000 in cash. Sentenced to 5 years’ imprisonment.

Ongoing Cases

R v S & Others – ongoing proceedings before Birmingham Crown Court in which Julian represents one of three defendants accused of conspiracy to murder. The prosecution case is that they were involved in carrying out a shooting commissioned by a major international drugs exporter (based overseas), it being the first of 5 “hits” he had commissioned at a rate of £100,000 per hit.

R v M & Another – ongoing proceedings before Nottingham Crown Court. The defendant is accused of playing a leading role in a large-scale drugs conspiracy and of conspiring to possess automatic weapons and ammunition.

Complex Fraud Solicitor

Julian has extensive experience in fraud and complex fraud cases. Julian frequently defends directors and business professionals facing prosecution by HMRC, the SFO and the FCA. He regularly defends clients who have been prosecuted for multi-million-pound frauds

His ability to strategically identify the issues in technical and complicated cases makes him a standout solicitor in this field. The Legal 500 (2023) describe Julian as “a standout tactician in serious crime, rightly enjoys an excellent reputation and is sought out for the most serious and complex cases”.

Julian Richards’ Fraud Cases

R v S & Others – prosecution before Southwark Crown Court for bribery act offences in the motor sports industry. Both the individual and the Company of which he was the Managing Director were acquitted of all charges after 18 months of Court proceedings and a 5-year investigation prior to that. This marked the first ever acquittal of a corporate defendant for a section 7 offence.

R v V & Others – prosecution before Southwark Crown Court for multi-million pound Gift Aid fraud.

R v R & Others – prosecution before Southwark Crown Court for multi-million pound “boiler room” fraud.

R v P & Another – £17.5 million fraud in respect of the illegal importation of cigarettes.

R v Z & Others – HMRC prosecution before Reading Crown Court of a group alleged to have laundered £25 million to a series of Dubai based companies as part of a sophisticated “MTIC” (missing trader) fraud.

Drug Conspiracy Solicitor

Whilst much of Julian’s recent work involves involves “Encrochat”, he has significant experience of dealing with other, more traditional, multi-defendant drug conspiracies. His attention to detail, and ability to digest large quantities of evidence, is invaluable. Julian has particular expertise in phone and cell site evidence which typically plays a fundamental role in cases of this type. His experience means that he has a unique understanding of the drugs trade which is often relied upon to successfully counter conclusions of prosecution experts as to the quantities of drugs and the roles that they seek to attribute to defendants.

He is currently instructed in a conspiracy before Lewes Crown Court involved the exportation of class A drugs to the USA and Australia, and before Guildford Crown Court in case involving the importation of more than a ton of cocaine.

“Julian Richards is one of the smartest men I know, his strategy when dealing with complex legal cases is impeccable and produces results that are in my opinion unrivalled.”

(Legal 500, 2021)

“Julian Richards [is] highly regarded and ‘extremely good at mastering large and complex cases, with good advocacy skills and exceptional client care’…”

(Legal 500, 2018)

Notable Drug Defence Cases

R v U & Others – national conspiracy to supply cocaine of importation level purity. Julian represented the alleged ring leader, together with the only defendant of the 17 in this case to receive a non-custodial sentence.

R v S & Others – large scale conspiracy heard before Liverpool Crown Court involving 13 defendants. The case involved the supply of high quantities of heroin and cocaine and the production of TFMPP on an industrial scale. Julian’s client was acquitted of all charges.

R v W & Others – 8 defendants prosecuted before Carlisle Crown Court for conspiring to supply cannabis in the largest cannabis factory ever found in the UK. Julian’s client was the only defendant who did not receive an immediate custodial sentence.

Other Examples of Julian Richards’ Work

Homicide Solicitor

R v J – successful defence to murder of a mother accused of repeatedly stabbing her son. Plea to manslaughter on the basis of diminished responsibility.

R v S – successful defence to murder of a young man accused of attacking a cyclist and kicking him to the head causing his death. Convicted of manslaughter.

R v CW – representation of a man convicted of murder whilst represented by other solicitors. The defendant instructed a new legal team that successfully appealed his conviction on the basis that “loss of control” manslaughter had not been left to the jury.

R v MC – successful defence to murder of a man accused of killing his brother-in-law with a “wheelie bin”. The defendant pleaded guilty to manslaughter but was acquitted at trial of murder. The case involved complex issues of causation including expert evidence from neuro-pathologists.

Serious Sexual Offences Solicitor

R v H & Others – Asian sex gang case tried before the Old Bailey in which Julian represented the only defendant in proceedings who was acquitted of all charges.

R v B & Another – former private school teacher accused of historical sex offences against a pupil. Acquitted of indecent assault.

R v W – defendant pleaded guilty to possessing almost 200,000 indecent images, including those in the most serious category, and distributing a large number of images. The accused was a 67-year-old who Julian recognised had traits of Autistic Spectrum Disorder. This had previously been undiagnosed. Further investigation resulted in a formal diagnosis which led to substantial mitigation being available. The defendant received a community order despite the sentencing guidelines suggesting a starting point of 3 years’ imprisonment.

R v MI – Asian sex gang case where Julian represented a defendant charged with conspiracy to rape and conspiracy to commit indecent assault. Proceedings were concluded after a successful application to dismiss was made in respect of both charges.

R v P – successful defence of a “celebrity” chef accused of sexual assault.

Other Notable Cases

Syed v DPP [2010] EWHC 81 (Admin) – a successful appeal by way of case in which the High Court quashed a decision made by the Magistrates about the scope of the powers of the police to enter premises without a warrant under s.17 PACE 1984. It is cited in many legal texts as one of the leading authorities on the limits of police powers to enter premises without a warrant.

R v C – Julian defended a school caretaker who conducted a letter bombing campaign against various agencies with links to the government, including the DVLA, Forensic Science Service and Capita, as a protest against the “surveillance society”.

R v Jonigk – Julian defended a female accused of harassing the director of a company that offered cut price cosmetic surgery abroad after her procedure was “botched”. The defendant argued that she simply sought to expose the business practices of the company as being unethical. Substantial investigations were conducted to demonstrate that this was so and statements were obtained from doctors in the UK and USA, an investigative journalist and two owners of medical review websites. Julian cross-examined the complainant for two days. The defendant was acquitted at trial in a case which attracted national media attention.

R v J & Others – a modern slavery prosecution in which Julian represented the only defendant in proceedings who did not receive an immediate custodial sentence.

R v B – Julian represented a defendant who was prosecuted for 5 offences, including 2 offences of assault, for his behaviour on the London underground. There was seemingly no explanation for what was on the face of it prolonged disruptive and appalling behaviour. The man was of previous exemplary character. Genetic testing undertaken as part of the investigation led to the identification that the defendant carried a gene for Huntingdon’s disease. This had previously been undiagnosed. Medical evidence was obtained which confirmed that the defendant suffered an epileptic episode which led to the defence of insanity being advanced successfully at trial. The defendant was acquitted of all charges.

R v A & Others – Julian represents a company director in ongoing proceedings before Maidstone Crown Court accused of being part of a group that chartered yachts and transported refugees from “the Jungle” in Calais to the UK for humanitarian reasons.

R v JS & Others – the defendant was prosecuted for numerous offences as part of a six-month long crime spree. This included burgling items belonging to the Queen from the National Horse Racing Museum in Newmarket. Most significantly, he was alleged to be the head of a group that carried out numerous cash machine blowouts through the use of explosives. The defendant had previously received a sentence of 14 years’ imprisonment for his involvement in a shooting. In light of his pleas to the explosives charges, and his previous conviction, the Court was obliged to impose a life sentence unless it considered it to be unjust in all of the circumstances. The Court was persuaded to impose a determinate sentence.

I received an excellent service from both Stuart Matthews and Julian Richards. They were both responsive and helpful and they were successful in winning my exceptional hardship case for... read moreI received an excellent service from both Stuart Matthews and Julian Richards. They were both responsive and helpful and they were successful in winning my exceptional hardship case for a driving ban. Highly recommend Reeds. read less

Harriet Fletcher

04/10/2020