Jonathan Grimes

Chambers UK 2011: "an energising force."

Jonathan is a criminal law specialist with broad experience who is as comfortable fighting his client's corner in the police station as he is picking over the fine detail of a complex fraud, health and safety case, or public inquiry. 

General Crime

He joined Kingsley Napley in 2002 after completing his training with Claude Hornby and Cox, a respected West End niche criminal practice where he gained invaluable experience, particularly in police station practice. Since joining Kingsley Napley he has continued to represent clients facing a very wide range of criminal allegations up to and including murder. He recognises that the seriousness of an offence is not necessarily measured in the penalty that might be imposed but rather in its impact on his client’s life – whatever that may be - and this is reflected in the care and rigor which he applies to all cases. In relation to general crime he has been described by Legal 500 as "tenacious and very hard working". 

Business Crime

Additionally he has considerable expertise in the representation of those under investigation for alleged financial wrongdoing. He represented the former Deputy Managing Director of Independent Insurance plc in an SFO prosecution at Southwark Crown Court following the collapse of the company in 2001 with debts of hundreds of millions of pounds, and recently represented a party in HMRC Operation Tangelo, an investigation into large scale excise diversion fraud. Some of these cases have been international in scope and Jonathan has dealt with requests for Mutual Legal Assistance (MLAs) from foreign governments. He is ranked up and coming in Chambers and Partners where he is described as "tactically astute and clever."

Corporate Manslaughter and Health and Safety

Jonathan is a member of the firm's Corporate Manslaughter and Health and Safety Investigations Team. He has represented companies and individuals during the initial police and Health and Safety Executive investigation, through to the conclusion of cases at inquests or in the criminal courts. He has also acted in cases investigated by Fire and Rescue Authorities, the Marine and Coastguard Agency, the Civil Aviation Authority and Air Accident Investigation Branch. Publicized examples of this work include a fatal accident at the Milford Haven LNG terminal, and an explosion at a construction site in Welwyn Garden City in which a construction worker was killed. He regularly comments in the media on the topic.

Public Inquiries

Jonathan represented a number of soldiers and former soldiers who were witnesses in the Baha Mousa Public Inquiry, which reported in September 2011. This was the first public Inquiry brought under the Public Inquiries Act 2005. It was charged with investigating the circumstances surrounding the death of Baha Mousa, a civilian detainee arrested and detained by the British Army in 2003, and the mistreatment of others held with him. In particular it explored the apparently widespread use of certain techniques (such as hooding and the use of stress positions) which were outlawed in 1972.

He was also involved in the representation of an individual in The Turks and Caicos Commission of Inquiry into allegations of corruption.

Other work

He has previously represented British soldiers in connection with the Police Service of Northern Ireland Historical Enquiry Team cold case review following fatal shootings during the troubles. He has also represented a number of UK Border Agency Officers in incidents arising out of arrest operations.

 Professional societies

• The Law Society
• London Criminal Courts Solicitors Association
• Young Fraud Lawyers Association - Former Education Secretary
• Health & Safety Lawyer's Association 

Recent Articles, bulletins, and press comment

• Health & Safety Matters - The Corporate Manslaughter Act: why only 2 prosecutions after 4 years? (1 May 2012)
• "The M5 crash: a difficult and emotionally charged prosecution", Times Online 10 November 2011 
• Comment on BBC about extension of Corporate manslaughter to Custody Providers (1 September 2011)
• Extension of Corporate Manslaughter Act to Custody Providers (13 July 2011)
• Second Company Charged with Corporate manslaughter (7 July 2011)
• First Corporate Manslaughter Conviction and Sentence upheld by Court of Appeal (11 May 2011)
• Corporate manslaughter Offence to be extended to custody providers (9 May 2011)
• Comment in Guardian on Cotswold Conviction (22 February 2011)
• Comment in Telegraph on Cotswold Conviction (18 February 2011)
• Comment in Real Business on Cotswold Conviction (17 February 2011)
• Comment on BBC on Cotswold Conviction (17 February 2011)
• Corporate manslaughter conviction for Cotswold Geotchnical Holdings Ltd (17 February 2011)
• Health and Safety: A risky business – considering the impact of health and safety regulation on retailers and the licensed trade (1 February 2011)
• First corporate manslaughter trial gets under way (28 January 2011)
• Identity Charade: Were Corporate manslaughter laws dead on arrival – Solicitors Journal (14 December 2010)
• Lord Young’s report on health and safety (28 October 2011)
• Health and Safety: Minimizing the risk – recent health and safety convictions within the licensed industry (19 October 2010)
• £400,000 fine upheld in non-fatal fire - New Look (17 June 2010)