James Turner

James Turner qualified as a Solicitor in 1997 and has specialised in criminal defence ever since.  He joined Tuckers Solicitors in 2000 to open the Birmingham branch office.  He was made a partner in 2005 and is one of the senior partners in the practice.

James has been a Duty Solicitor since 1998 and is presently a member of the Birmingham central court and police station duty solicitor rotas.  In addition to managing the Birmingham branch James represents clients at all stages of the criminal process from interview under caution by the Police and other investigatory bodies, through proceedings at the Magistrates’ Court, Crown Court and Court of Appeal.  He is Higher Court Advocate enabling him to represent clients at the Crown Court.

James is a member of the firm’s Quality Team which strives to ensure that the firm’s high standards are maintained.  He is a member of the Legal Aid Agency Peer Review Panel, involving him in regular reviews of the quality of work conducted by other firms carrying out publicly funded criminal defence work.

James is the former Chair of the Criminal Law Committee of Birmingham law society and remains a committed member of the committee.  He was the 2018-2019 President of Birmingham Law Society during the Society’s 200^th year.  James is also a member of the Society’s Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Committee and Gender Sub-Committee.  He is a serving member of the Birmingham Law Society Council.

 Work type

James provides representation with a focus on cases pending before the Crown Court for the most serious types of offences including murder, manslaughter, terrorism, conspiracy to defraud, organised crime, serious violent and sexual offending, regulatory infringements including matters prosecuted by the Health and Safety Executive and other statutory bodies.

Recent cases

R v G Ltd:  Representing both the company and managing directors of a manufacturing business prosecuted for breaches of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and PUWER regulations.  Successfully negotiated pleas to on a basis which involved prosecution of the company rather than individual directors and resulting in a fine.

R v SAB Ltd:  Advised both the UK and European directors of a holding company responsible for manufacture of equipment distributed in the UK, arising from alleged use of the machinery by a UK based customer outside the terms of the safety guidelines provided and bypassing guarding mechanisms specified in manufacture.  Successfully avoided the prosecution of the manufacturer and its directors.

R v DS: successfully represented the defendant charged with manslaughter arising from the death of a person involved in the production of controlled drugs in residential premises.  The process involved a deflagration which in turn destroyed a four apartment block.  James represented the defendant throughout the investigation process and court proceedings, securing his release on bail and acquittal at the eventual trial.

R v E: successfully represented the defendant one of a large number of defendants charged with conspiracy to defraud arising from the processing of waste material provided for recycling by the music industry.  This contracted very high cost case resulted in a multi week trial resulting in the acquittal of the defendant.

R v H: representation of the defendant as the sole individual charged with what were alleged to be a series of robberies and burglaries committed at dwellings, involving a team of individuals attending properties in the daylight hours.  The defendant was identified as a member of the team by a combination of CCTV and mobile telephone cell site material.  Successfully mitigating the defendant’s position by provision of expert reports to establish mitigation arising from the defendant’s health and securing a sentence of only 12 months imprisonment for all matters charged.

R v MA: represented the MD of the defendant business alleged to have been involved in large scale blackmail giving rise to the business having acquired over a million pounds of contracts over a period over a decade.  James advised during the interview process, was present during the police search of the defendant business premises to ensure that no material subject to legal professional privilege was seized.  At the conclusion of the investigation process neither the business nor the individual director faced any charges.

R v D: represented the defendant charged with money laundering and mortgage fraud.  Ongoing representation in relation to proceedings under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002.  Complex proceedings involving valuation and revaluation of assets, the assertion of constructive trusts affecting the defendant’s realisable assets, pending resolution in 2022.

Testimonials

Legal 500 and Chambers & Partners

Tuckers Solicitors LLP rank in the West Midlands in Tier 1.  James Turner is a named as a leading individual:

“James Turner is an exceptional advocate”

‘Tuckers is a market leader when it comes to crime. The lawyers are always involved in the highest profile cases and that is because its reputation is stellar. Clients come back to Tuckers because the level of service they receive from the receptionist to the solicitors/in house advocates in the case are nothing less than exceptional.

‘James Turner – When you say Tuckers Birmingham, you think James Turner. He built the Birmingham reputation for this firm. He is the hardest-working solicitor I have had the pleasure of working with. He knows every case like the back of his hand and is the oracle of knowledge on all things going on in the criminal justice system‘.

‘Very personable and professional. Exceptionally efficient at providing all necessary information to allow for a timely completion of instructions. Just nice people to work with!’

‘Extremely responsive; Can be trusted to provide excellent care and attention to clients we refer. James Turner – very responsive, easy to work with, a lovely yet very professional approach with clients we refer; very experienced and knows his stuff inside out’.

‘Tuckers is a well organised firm that manages its case flow and communications in an effective manner. The lawyers are easy to deal with and are always professional’.

‘In my view James Turner is the best criminal solicitor in Birmingham. He leads well and ensures that his high standards are followed by his staff’.

‘Well established and widely known, Tuckers continues to thrive because it refuses to cut corners.’

‘James Turner and Alex Walsh are my go to people, excellent knowledge, great with clients, and always get a great result’.