Jonathan Underhill

Jonathan Underhill

Year of Call: 2008
Email Address: [email protected]
CJSM: [email protected]
Telephone: 01202 292 102 / 020 7583 8055

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Clerk Details

  • Clerk Name: Stuart Pringle
  • Clerk Telephone: 01962 868 884
  • Clerk Email: [email protected]

Public and Regulatory

Regulatory Crime

Jonathan Underhill is regularly instructed to prosecute all types of Regulatory Crime by Trading Standards Departments, Local Authorities and Police Authorities. This detailed knowledge and expertise is invaluable in his robust defence of private individuals and companies; most notably where such cases fall outside of traditional criminal practice.

Jonathan has extensive experience in confiscation proceedings pursuant to the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 and is a member of the CPS Specialist Proceeds of Crime advocate’s panel. As a result, he can provide a complete service to clients from pre-charging advice, through trial, to confiscation proceedings.

Jonathan has expertise in cases involving:

  • Food Safety Act 1990 (and associated regulations)
  • Novel Food Enforcement Regime
  • Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008 (and associated Regulations),
  • Consumer Protection Act 1987
  • Trade Marks Act 1994
  • Offences under the Fraud Act 2006
  • Animal Welfare Act 2006

Local Authority Enforcement and Investigation

Jonathans prosecution and enforcement practice has particular emphasis on all aspects of Local Authority prosecutions and enforcement and covers all areas of Local Authority work including:

  • Right to Buy fraud
  • Tenancy fraud and unjust enrichment orders
  • Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMO’s)
  • Planning enforcement
  • Fly tipping
  • Noise abatement
  • Animal regulations
  • Anti-social behaviour (including Criminal Behaviour Orders and Civil Injunctions)

Licensing

Jonathan is frequently instructed to conduct hearings for private clients and via Legal Expenses insurance in all areas subject to Local Authority Licensing including the licensing of:

  • Hackney carriages
  • Private hire vehicles
  • Liquor licensing
  • Entertainment licensing
  • Closure Orders

His experience extends from conducting review hearings before licensing sub-committees to appeals and trials before the Magistrates’ and Crown Courts.

Notable Cases

Trading Standards

  • R v C Ltd (2020)
    Instructed for the Defence in Electrical Products (Safety) Regulation 2016 involving counterfeit apple products.
  • R v B (2019)
    Instructed to prosecute “Rogue Plumber” under Fraud Act 2006 and CPUTR 2008. Case involved multiple victims over a long time.
  • PCC v. K (2018)
    Long term parking fraud concerning fraudulent parking permits and mis-use of “blue badges”.
  • HB v. MK (2018)
    Multiple outlet breach of smoking ban prosecution – legal argument as to proper application of statute.
  • Operation ‘Foxchase’
    Instructed as led Junior in a complex national secondary ticketing trading standards case.
  • Operation ‘Hugo’
    Trading Standards case involving importation of farmed puppies, featured on BBC programming.
  • Operation ‘Wendelin’
    Multi handed Trading standards prosecution of rouge traders involving 15 complainants.

Trade Marks

  • R v CL (2020/2021)
    Instructed for the Defence in International importation of tobacco in breach of trademark conspiracy case. Case is privately prosecuted by the Japanese Tobacco Corp.
  • R v C (2019)
    Multi Defendant Trademarks Act offences – large sale importation on Isle of Wight.
  • R v. M
    Trading standard prosecution involving Trademark offences against the Premier League, British Legion and Help for Heroes – including issues of international production and importation.
  • R v. A
    Trading standards Prosecution involving several thousand pounds of counterfeit tobacco.

Environmental, Housing and Planning

  • R v H (2021)
    Instructed for the Defence to advise on breach of Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2016
  • R v HM (2021)
    Instructed for the Defence – Fly tipping and waste depositing involving hazardous materials, including asbestos
  • R v C (2020)
    Instructed for the Defence in Fly Tipping case brough by the Local Authority – called upon to assist in drafting evidential representation which led to the case being dropped as no longer being evidentially sustainable, or in the public interest.
  • LBH v E (2019)
    Instructed for the Prosecution – Persistent and serious breach of HMO involving a challenging litigant in personal and multi-day magistrates court trial.
  • HB v. M and A (2019)
    Advertising and Planning enforcement Appeal against conviction and sentence – instructed for the Crown – complete rehearing required – appeal dismissed with full costs awarded to the Crown.
  • HB v. A (2018/19)
    Multi-Property Planning Enforcement and Environmental Breach Prosecution, leading to PoCA application valued at circ. £300,000.
  • HB v. T (2018)
    Multi Defendant Fly-Tipping Prosecution against both individuals and limited companies.
  • HB v. A (2018)
    Multi Defendant, Multiple breaches of Improvement notices over significant periods of time effecting multiple tenants and requiring Local Authority involvement.
  • R(SCC) v. C and Ors
    High Court case stated flowing from a LA noise abatement prosecution – successfully defeated an application for wasted costs against the Local Authority running to approx. £80,000

Food and Hygiene

  • R v FF Ltd (2021)
    Instructed for the Defence – Multiple alleged breaches of EU Directive including HACCP failures and allergen issues
  • R v EH Ltd (2019)
    Instruction for the Defence to provide advice and representation concerning Food Condemnation Proceedings, Novel Food Regulations and their applicability to SARM following the National Food Crime Units classification of such as a Novel Food for the purposes of enforcement.
  • LBH v. K (2018)
    Persistent and escalating breach of environmental legislation pertaining to fast food and animal waste in central London.
  • R v. X (2017)
    Instructed for the Defence in food hygiene case involving breaches of European and Domestic regulation.
  • R(BDBC) v. FF and Ors
    Multi handed Food safety case involving multiple breaches of Regulatory provisions, hygiene improvement and prohibition orders.

Animal Welfare

  • R v HH (2021)
    Instructed for the Defence – Dangerous dogs case involving multiple dogs and injuries to the public
  • HCC v R and R (2019/ 2020)
    Instructed for the Defence in relation to Animal Welfare and Pets Licencing– including dealing with and reducing a confiscation order originally sought by the Prosecution in the sum of £1.3 Million.
  • DCC v G (2019)
    Instructed for the Prosecution on Dangerous Dogs matter, requiring detailed evidential analysis of multiple accounts, and a full consideration of the test of evidential sufficiency under the Code for Crown Prosecutors.
  • HTS v G (2018)
    Instructed for prosecution dealing with sentencing and application for Animal Deprivation and Disqualification Orders under the Animal Welfare Act 2006 relating to two large farms with cross species orders consideration of conflicting veterinary evidence.
  • Articles

    • Enforcing the Novel Food regime - Part 1: Overview and Rationale

      21st Jul 2020

      Enforcing the Novel Food regime - Part 1: Overview and Rationale
      In the first of a short series of bite size articles, Jonathan Underhill takes a deeper look into the enforcement of the Novel Food regime and seeks to identify and breakdown the powers made available to those agencies, who are tasked with securing compliance.

      View Article

    • What are the new Enforcement and Prosecution Powers of Local Authorities and their effect on Business under the Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions (England) Regulations 2020?

      15th Apr 2020

      What are the new Enforcement and Prosecution Powers of Local Authorities and their effect on Business under the Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions (England) Regulations 2020?

      View Article
  • Recommendations

    “Not having been in court before, I found myself in a situation that was very unfamiliar. However, I was instantly put at ease straight away from the approach of my barrister, Jonathan Underhill. He was extremely professional, understanding and took on board everything I wanted to get across in the court room. The attention to detail and the communication filled me with confidence that Jonathan was the right person to get the desired result for myself.

    I would highly recommend Jonathan’s services, I couldn’t have asked for a better representation, he kept me calm and positive throughout my trial, and we ended up getting the correct outcome, not guilty! Thank you again”
    JS – Defence Client

    “You have been nothing short of brilliant… thank you…”
    R Cassidy – Levales Solicitors

    “I would not hesitate in instructing Mr Jonathan Underhill in all manner of Regulatory matters. He has an almost encyclopaedic knowledge in all key regulatory areas, including Environmental, Licensing, Housing and Planning offences.  His preparation is meticulous with close attention to detail. He is extremely approachable and is great at communicating to a wide range of clients, which has always led to positive feedback and requests to instruct him in future matters. He has an amazing ability to advocate complex issues in law, in a way that is easy to understand for Magistrates, Jurors and Judges. His Advocacy is simply exceptional. He is and will continue to be my first choice of Counsel.”
    C Smith – Criminal Litigation Lawyer (London Local Authority)

    “I am indebted to Mr Jonathan Underhill…for his realistic and concise submissions… Mr Underhill was utterly realistic in his submissions to this court, which he advanced with commendable brevity and good sense”
    HHJ Jeremy Richardson QC – In the High Court

    “I was very impressed with Jonathan Underhill ~ and he had a glowing report from our environmental health manager for his advocacy at the recent noise trial he did for us”
    Local Authority Solicitor

    “I would not hesitate in instructing Mr Underhill – cases are always thoroughly prepared, time and care taken with clients and outcomes reported back promptly. The client feedback has been excellent and often accompanies with a request that he represent them again. The quality of his representation is first class.”
    Lindsey Taylor (Solicitor) - Watkins and Gunn Solicitors

    “I have found Mr Underhill to be an excellent advocate who is always well prepared and courteous to all. I have had positive feedback from clients in cases he had conducted on my firm’s behalf. I would not hesitate to instruct him.”
    Paul Lewis (Partner) - Quality Solicitors HPJV

    Very clearly presented - a dry subject made interesting. Very useful info. Excellent trainer.
    Nikki Hutt, West Sussex County Council

    Very informative, clear, concise but with a level of relaxed delivery and humour. I enjoyed Jonathan's 'style'.
    Dee Plum, West Sussex County Council

    • Expand recommendations
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