Introduction
From starting her career at St Philips as a pupil through to taking silk in 2025, Jennifer Josephs KC has become and remained a popular and well respected criminal practitioner. She prosecutes and defends in the most serious and often high profile cases.
She is regularly instructed in cases involving multiple Defendants, serious and organised crime, child homicide, child abuse/neglect, and serious sexual offences. She has particular experience in defending clients who are especially vulnerable, often through age or mental illness. She has a friendly and pragmatic approach, which wins the confidence of both lay and professional clients on both sides.
Jennifer is an approved advocacy trainer for the Midlands Circuit, and a facilitator for the vulnerable witness advocacy training programme.
Jennifer has been commended in both Legal 500 and the Chambers UK Bar Guide for many years.
Homicide (Murder and Manslaughter)
Jennifer has extensive experience of murder cases from gangland shootings to baby shaking allegations.
Noteable cases include:
Organised Crime and Terrorism
Jennifer is regularly instructed to prosecute multi-defendant cases of the highest level, including drug importation, firearms, money laundering, organised violence and terrorism. She has a great ability to assimilate large and often complex evidence and translate it into a sensible and understandable form for the jury.
Her knowledge and experience as a leading prosecutor in this field has also made her barrister of choice for a number of defence firms.
Noteable cases include:
- R v Brian Pitts and others – 2024 – leading the prosecution in a multi-defendant case involving the production and supply of millions of counterfeit Xanax tablets; BBC News: https: /www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c3ggdew76gzo
- R v A and others 2024 – leading the prosecution for an attempted murder involving 2 gangs, with a firearm being used as well as other weapons.
- R v Walker and others – prosecution of drugs conspiracy, gang supplying drugs around the country, admission of bad character, gang rap videos. https://www.coventrytelegraph.net/news/coventry-news/gang-jailed-huge-drugs-operation-27190834
- R v H – 2019 – Birmingham – prosecution of conspiracy to acquire a loaded
- R v F – 2018 – Chester – defence of a student accused of dealing drugs at a music
- R v C (2017) – Birmingham – Defence in a multi-defendant drug dealing conspiracy involving the large scale supply of Class A drugs.
- R v Sodhi and others (2017) – Wolverhampton – Prosecution of 4 men involved in a £9.7 million money laundering
- Operation Coughar (2013-2014) – Birmingham – leading junior, prosecuted 50 Defendants involved in drug dealing, at the time the largest operation of its kind.
- R v Laing and others (2012) Junior Counsel for the Prosecution in the Birmingham Riots, where police were shot at by gang members.
Serious Sexual Offences
Jennifer regularly represents both Prosecution and Defence in this involved and challenging area of law. She is a vulnerable witness handling advocacy facilitator. She has particular experience in representing young and vulnerable Defendants, often in inter-familial allegations.
She also has regularly appeared in cases involving the downloading of illicit material. She has a good understanding and knowledge of dealing with allegations of sexual offending over the internet, something that is very much on the increase these days. She has been instructed in cases of large scale sexual offending by gangs as well as individual offending involving severe breach of trust.
Noteable cases include:
- R v Bayliss and Doyle – 2025 – leading for prosecution men involving child prostitutes from 1990s https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c62zkerkl74o
- R v LM – 2023 defending young vulnerable man with learning difficulties who had abused members of family.
- R v C – 2023 – prosecuting man who raped and kidnapped partner.
- R v PC – 2018 – defending man accused of sexually abusing several members of his family, both historic and recently
Fraud, Business and Financial Crime
Jennifer’s attention to detail and commitment are essential in this complex area of law. She prosecutes and defends at all levels, dealing with clients from all walks of life in both private and publicly funded cases.
Notable work has included advising commercial clients and their lawyers in related criminal proceedings and prosecuting company directors for tax fraud.
- R v C – 2025 – successfully defending Company Director in allegations of fraudulent trading and misconduct in course of winding up.
- R v May and others – 2019 – leading for prosecution in HMRC and VAT fraud.
Appointments and Memberships
King’s Counsel, 2025
Criminal Bar Association
Testimonials
“She is a superb counsel, undertakes complex cases and manages the finer details with ease.” Chambers & Partners 2025
“Jennifer is very highly rated and an excellent defence and prosecution advocate.” Chambers & Partners 2025
“Jennifer is very well respected, always well prepared and popular with judges.” Chambers & Partners 2025
“Jennifer is a talented advocate with a persuasive manner. She is intellectually able, diligent, and astute in terms of the strategy and tactics of a case. She is highly respected by the judiciary and by her colleagues at the Bar.” Legal 500 2025
“Jennifer is exceptional. She prepares diligently and works hard constantly. She is able to communicate with clients and solicitors in a way that instils confidence and trust.” Chambers & Partners 2024
“Jennifer is brilliant. She is hard-working, really thorough and has great preparation and delivery.” Chambers & Partners 2024
“Jennifer has excellent advocacy skills. She makes persuasive presentations and always grasps the details of her case.” Chambers & Partners 2023
“Jennifer is an experienced and dedicated senior junior. She commits fully to each case she is involved in and has a very good technical grasp of the relevant law. She shows excellent tactical awareness and works well as a key member of any team. Her advocacy is effective and measured. She has the respect of both the judiciary and her opponents.” Legal 500 2023
“A very experienced and capable advocate who more than holds her own against silks.” Legal 500 2021
“Very fair and an excellent advocate.” Legal 500 2020
“A high-performing junior.” Legal 500
“She has the makings of a future silk.” Legal 500
