Professor Cooper is one of the most prominent Criminal Silks in the United Kingdom and has defended in some notable criminal cases in Gibraltar. He is occasionally instructed by Hassans when admitted as a Barrister in Gibraltar for the purposes of appearing as counsel in particular Gibraltar proceedings and registered for such purposes with the LSRA. These cases have included the defence in the Marrache Trial and the successful defence of Real Lishman for murder. He also advised the Captain of the ship, Grace 1 following it’s controversial seizure by the Gibraltar authorities.
His extensive and high profile work in the UK includes, representing the majority of bereaved families in the Manchester Arena Bomb Inquiry, the Judicial Reviews into the death of Dr David Kelly, the Government Weapons Inspector, challenging the UK Government deal with the DUP to stay in power and the Deepcut Barracks death investigations.
He regularly appears in courts up and down the country and most recently represented defendants in the most high profile cases of the last decade, including, the successful defence in the Ashley Dale murder, for Cashman in the Olivia Pratt-Korbel shooting and the so called tik tok murder trial. His extensive and respected Appeal Court practice includes advising on appeal in the Essex Boy murders. He will soon be appearing to lead for the defence in the Yorkshire murder trial of three children and an adult.
John has extensive experience in financial crime and represented the small shareholders in BCCI during that successful litigation and advised on the Northern Rock case in respect of a breach of European Protocol’s. As a former lawyer in the magic circle law firm, Clifford Chance, Professor Cooper has advised on high profile commercial contracts, including those relating to the appropriate regulation of telecommunications in Canary Wharf, London.
Professor Cooper has been an advisor to high profile politicians and was Special Advisor to a former Shadow Attorney General and a Chair of the Home Office Select Committee. John advised the Mayor of London in the John Worboys Parole Board Judicial Review. He has been involved in both Government and Law Commission Reports, including those considering the law of Murder, Manslaughter and Infanticide, Expert Evidence in the criminal courts and Offences on the Social Media. He is presently engaged with the Law Commission on its latest Report on the law relating to Murder. He has a particular caseload challenging the highest echelons of the British Armed Forces on behalf of Service People, including the Hercules, Nimrod and Puma fatal explosions, advising in the Gordon Gentle Case in relation to land mine deaths and Re Biddis, successfully challenging the Armed Forces attack on soldiers pay.
He is not afraid of challenging the Establishment and led the High Court case for the Occupiers outside St Paul’s Cathedral and the HS2 Tunnel protesters at Euston Station.
John was a top Class A rated Attorney General prosecutor and a senior leading counsel for the Crown Prosecution Service.
He is a Bencher at Middle Temple and a Freeman of the City of London as well as being recently awarded the Alumni Achievement Award for impact upon the law by his former University who honoured him with a Professorship. He has held significant positions in the Bar Council including that of Vice Chair of the Bar Council Public Affairs Committee and Director of Education for the South East Circuit.
Professor Cooper has written widely and has a number of legal textbooks to his name and was a columnist for The Times for ten years.
