Jonathan Fisher (barrister)

Jonathan Fisher KC is a London barrister specialising in corporate and financial crime, proceeds of crime, and tax cases[1] He is also a Senior Fellow, and a visiting professor in practice, at the London School of Economics.[2]

In 2023, it was announced Fisher would be leading an independent review into disclosure and fraud, to make it quicker and easier to bring criminals to justice.[3][4][5]

Part 1 of the Review, entitled “Disclosure in a Digital Age”, was published by the Home Office on 20 March 2025.[6] Part 2 of the Review, entitled “Fraud in the Digital Age”, was published by the Home Office on 14 July 2026. [7]

In Part 1, Fisher made 45 recommendations which mirror the disclosure regime’s impact on the full breadth of the criminal justice system. His key overarching recommendations for reform are (1) to modernise existing legislation and reduce administrative burdens by utilising advanced technology, (2) to improve criminal court processes with consideration for an entirely new intensive disclosure regime court pathway, designed for the most complex criminal cases, (3) to enhance disclosure quality by designing a new national learning standard across all law enforcement agencies.[8][9][10] The Government thanked Fisher for his work in providing such a comprehensive review. [11]

In Part 2, Fisher made 47 recommendations aimed at tackling the issue of fraud, including: doubling the maximum sentence for fraud from 10 to 20 years; increasing social media companies’ obligations to tackle fraud; improving protections and incentives for whistleblowers; introducing new criminal offences to tackle the emerging ways of committing fraud; piloting a restorative justice programme for fraud cases; fostering international cooperation with trade agreements and Memorandum of Understandings; and embedding fraud prevention and ethical awareness in the national curriculum. [12] [13] [14] [15] [16] [17]

On 14 July 2026, in addition to publishing Part 2 of the Review, the Government also published its response to Part 1, announcing that it will move ahead with the majority of Jonathan’s recommendations surrounding disclosure.

The response to Part 2 is pending. In its Economic Crime Strategy 2026 – 2029 published on 9 March 2026 by the Home Office, the Government indicated (at paragraph 120, page 50) that it will carefully consider Fisher’s findings and recommendations, “which will help shape a more adaptive, agile and future-focused response to the changing methods and scale of fraud”. [18]

Ranked by the independent legal directories in Band / Tier 1 for Business and Regulatory Crime,[19] Financial Crime,[20] Financial Crime (Corporates),[21] Proceeds of Crime and Asset Forfeiture cases, Jonathan is featured for his work in Tax (Corporate),[22] Financial Services Regulation, Fraud (Crime)[23] and Fraud (Civil).[24]

Fisher was awarded the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy in 2021 by The LSE for his thesis entitled “Mandatory self-reporting of criminal conduct by a company: corporate rights and engaging the privilege against self-incrimination”.[25] Fisher was also awarded the Honorary Degree of Doctor of Laws by UWE Bristol in 2015, in recognition of his outstanding legal expertise and academic contribution to the areas of financial and corporate law.[26] [27]

In May 2011, Fisher was appointed a Commissioner on the Bill of Rights Commission established by the Coalition Government to investigate the case for a UK Bill of Rights.[28]

Fisher was the Vice Chair of the Executive Committee of the Society of Conservative Lawyers between 2022-2025.[29]

In July 2025, Jonathan was elected a Master of the Bench by Gray’s Inn during the Trinity term election.[30]

Selected cases and consultancy work

Fisher has appeared as counsel in a number of cases concerning financial crime, money laundering, and regulatory law.

In R (World Uyghur Congress) v National Crime Agency, Fisher represented the appellant in proceedings concerning the application of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 to cotton products originating from the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region of China and the scope of the National Crime Agency's investigative powers under the Act.[31][32][33]

In NCA v A and Others, Fisher acted as counsel in proceedings for civil recovery of rare and high-value assets. [34] Assets recovered included dinosaur bones worth £12.4 million, high-value London properties and Chinese artworks. [35]

In Ashbolt & Arundell v HM Revenue & Customs, Fisher appeared for the claimants in a judicial review challenging the lawfulness of search warrants obtained by HM Revenue & Customs in the course of a tax avoidance investigation.[36]

Fisher led dialogue sessions for the African Union's New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD) in Nairobi, Kenya, on fiscal leakage and illicit financial flows in the extractive industries. The regional dialogue brought together senior government officials from African ministries responsible for natural resources and finance to discuss tax avoidance, corruption, and fiscal policy in the extractive sector.[37][38]

Fisher provided legal advice to the Gibraltar Government in relation to the Principal Auditor’s report, which was discussed in Parliament in September 2025.[39] [40] [41]

References

  1. ↑ "Jonathan Fisher QC". Chambers. Retrieved 2 February 2022.
  2. ↑ "Jonathan Fisher QC". London School of Economics and Political Science. Retrieved 27 November 2019.
  3. ↑ "Independent Review of Disclosure and Fraud Offences launched". Gov.uk. 12 October 2023.
  4. ↑ "Review of the criminal disclosure regime". HSF Kramer Notes. 9 May 2025.
  5. ↑ "Jonathan Fisher: Review of Disclosure & Fraud". Olliers. 2025.
  6. ↑ "Disclosure in the Digital Age: Independent Review of Disclosure and Fraud Offences". GOV.UK. Home Office. 20 March 2025. Retrieved 23 July 2026.
  7. ↑ "Fraud in the Digital Age". GOV.UK. Home Office. 14 July 2026. Retrieved 23 July 2026.
  8. ↑ Ring, Suzi (20 March 2024). "AI can help cut time it takes to bring UK criminal cases, says review". Financial Times. Retrieved 27 May 2026.
  9. ↑ Swift, Neil (29 July 2025). "SFO haunted by disclosure burden but is better tech the answer?". FT Adviser. Retrieved 27 May 2026.
  10. ↑ Castro, Bianca (25 March 2025). "Digital disclosure burden threatens to choke prosecutions, KC warns". Law Gazette. Retrieved 27 May 2026.
  11. ↑ "Independent Review of Disclosure and Fraud Offences: Part 1 Report". Hansard. UK Parliament. 20 March 2025. Retrieved 27 May 2026.
  12. ↑ "Fraud in the Digital Age Revealed". Solicitors Journal. Retrieved 23 July 2026.
  13. ↑ "UK fraud report calls for whistleblower rewards". Global Banking & Finance Review. Retrieved 23 July 2026.
  14. ↑ "UK fraud report calls for more whistleblower rewards". MarketScreener. Retrieved 23 July 2026.
  15. ↑ "UK barrister recommends deferred prosecution agreements for individuals". Global Investigations Review. Retrieved 23 July 2026.
  16. ↑ "KC's landmark review calls for SFO to pay whistleblowers". Law360. Retrieved 23 July 2026.
  17. ↑ "Fisher review urges tough action on digital fraud". New Law Journal. Retrieved 23 July 2026.
  18. ↑ "Fraud Strategy 2026–2029: Disrupting crime, supporting victims (web version)" (PDF). GOV.UK (UK Government). Home Office. 2026. Retrieved 27 May 2026.
  19. ↑ "Legal 500".
  20. ↑ "Chambers and Partners".
  21. ↑ "Chambers and Partners".
  22. ↑ "Legal 500".
  23. ↑ "Legal 500".
  24. ↑ "Legal 500".
  25. ↑ Fisher, Jonathan Simon (May 2021). Mandatory self-reporting of criminal conduct by a company: corporate rights and engaging the privilege against self-incrimination (phd thesis). London School of Economics and Political Science.
  26. ↑ "UWE Bristol award Honorary Degree to Jonathan Fisher QC - UWE Bristol: News Releases". info.uwe.ac.uk. Retrieved 2 February 2022.
  27. ↑ Jonathan Fisher QC awarded Honorary Degree of Doctor of Laws by UWE Bristol. UWE Bristol. Retrieved 23 July 2026 – via YouTube.
  28. ↑ "Members - Commission on a Bill of Rights". Archived from the original on 1 October 2012. Retrieved 31 July 2012.
  29. ↑ "ABOUT US". SOCIETY OF CONSERVATIVE LAWYERS.
  30. ↑ Gray’s Inn. “Congratulations to our newly elected Masters of the Bench – Trinity Election 2025.” 17 July 2025. graysinn.org.uk
  31. ↑ "POCA and Corporate Supply Chain Liability Ruling". Chambers and Partners. Retrieved 23 July 2026.
  32. ↑ "R (World Uyghur Congress) v National Crime Agency [2024] EWCA Civ 715" (PDF). Red Lion Chambers. Retrieved 23 July 2026.
  33. ↑ "R (World Uyghur Congress) v National Crime Agency [2024] EWCA Civ 715". BAILII. Retrieved 23 July 2026.
  34. ↑ "Jonathan Fisher KC". Red Lion Chambers. Retrieved 23 July 2026.
  35. ↑ "Jurassic Jackpot: Dinosaur fossils and London flats seized in landmark UK recovery for the National Crime Agency". Burges Salmon. Retrieved 23 July 2026.
  36. ↑ "Anthony Ashbolt and Simon Arundell v HM Revenue & Customs [2020] EWHC 1588 (Admin)". vLex. Retrieved 22 July 2026.
  37. ↑ "International justice: some African countries are hurting". New Law Journal. Retrieved 23 July 2026.
  38. ↑ "Regional Dialogue on Contract Negotiation and Fiscal Policies in the Extractive Industries". YouTube. Retrieved 23 July 2026.
  39. ↑ "'Inaccurate and biased' Auditor's report damaging to Gibraltar, CM tells Parliament in Motion debate". GBC News. 23 September 2025. Retrieved 23 July 2026.
  40. ↑ "Summary Document: The Chief Minister's address to Parliament on the Motion on the former Principal Auditor's 2018/19 Report". HM Government of Gibraltar. 23 September 2025. Retrieved 23 July 2026.
  41. ↑ Summary of the Chief Minister's Statement on the Principal Auditor's Report: Day 1 (PDF) (Report). HM Government of Gibraltar. 23 September 2025. Retrieved 23 July 2026.
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