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9 Carmelite Street
London EC4Y 0DR
Tel: 020 7936 6300
Fax: 020 7936 6301
Out of Hours Number:
07760 261 795
Email clerks team
LDE: 226
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| William James Taylor QC |
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EDUCATION
MA (Hons), University of Aberdeen, 1966
LLB, University of Aberdeen, 1969
FRSA
CALLED 1990 Inner Temple
QC (Scot) March 1986
QC (Eng+W) April 1998 |
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CURRENT POSITION
Barrister at law
Advocate
Part-time Sheriff
BACKGROUND
Part-time Sheriff – May 2003
QC (England and Wales) – first person to be awarded rank of Queen’s Counsel in both Scotland and England + Wales
Member of Criminal Injuries Compensation Board 1997-2000.
Temporary Sheriff (Recorder) 1997-2000.
Member of Scottish Criminal Cases Review Commission 1998-2004.
Standing Junior Counsel in Foreign and Commonwealth Office 1979-1986.
Standing Junior Counsel in Dept of Health & Social Services 1978-1979.
Admitted to membership of Faculty of Advocates 1971.
Part-time lecturer Edinburgh University 1969-1973.
Part-time lecturer Glasgow College of Commerce 1969-1973.
PRACTICE
Appeared for the Defence in most areas of crime. In addition to those mentioned below, cases include IRA and UVF
terrorist trials and lengthy fraud trials.
Regularly advises two foreign governments in relation to appearances
before the UK Courts, extradition, international law and human rights
cases both under the European Convention and the International
Convention in The Hague. For example appeared for those parts of R. v
Horseferry Road Magistrates Court, ex parte Bennett which were heard in
Scotland.
Advisory work includes Judicial Review. Advises a leading firm of solicitors in the UK on Scottish and foreign law.
NOTABLE CASES
2002-2003
Rohypnol ‘Date Rape’ trial and numerous other very grave rape allegations.
Baby shaking murder
Several murder trials including contract killing cases.
Several complex fraud trials
2000-2002
The Lockerbie Trial and Appeal
Her Majesty’s Advocate v. Abdelbasset Ali Mohammed Al Megrahi, ‘The Lockerbie Trial’ at the Scottish Court in the
Netherlands – Kamp van Zeist.
Leading Counsel in a legal team comprising 2 silks, 1 junior, 2
Scottish solicitors, 2 English solicitors and 2 Libyan lawyers. Trial
lasted from December 1999 – February 2001. Was the first Counsel
instructed and appeared on behalf of both accused from February 1999 to
July 1999. Then advised on the selection of a second team of 2 silks
and a junior to represent the second accused Al Amin Khalifa Fhimah.
Continued thereafter to represent the first accused, leading another
Queen’s Counsel and a Junior Counsel.
The trial was conducted before 3 Judges sitting without a jury. Lengthy
legal arguments were advanced in the course of the trial involving
various branches of the law:
• Administrative Law and Judicial Review
• Human Rights Law and the European Convention on Human Rights
• International Law of Treaties including Enforceability of Foreign Law in both England and Scotland
• The Law of England
• The Law of Scotland
• The Law of Malta
• The Law of the United States of America
• The law of disclosure in various jurisdictions including South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong and Canada.
OTHER NOTABLE CASES
R v Shaw, Leeds Crown Court
First Terrorist trial to be held fully in camera.
R v. Ismail, Kingston CC.
8 handed £350 million drugs importation trial which lasted 6 months.
R v. Murphy & Others, Southwark CC.
Appeared with Junior Counsel for the Captain of the vessel, one of
several defendants. Trial before Judge Butler and jury. Defendant
acquitted of all charges after 6 month trial.
R v. Keane & Others, Harrow CC.
Trial of eight defendants in a £250 million cannabis importation case.
Represented one of the alleged ringleaders who was acquitted after a 4
month trial.
R v. J. Parry & Others, CCC.
Brinks Mat gold bullion robbery. Appeared for Gordon John Parry charged
with money-laundering. Two trials lasted 18 months – the first halted
by trial Judge Henry Pownall QC.
R v. Kelly, Blackfriars CC.
VAT Fraud – Gaming machines. Defendant acquitted after 4 week trial.
R v. Gamwells, Snaresbrook CC.
VAT & Inland Revenue Fraud – Indictment quashed by Judge after 4 weeks of evidence and following extensive legal
argument.
R v. A, Blackfriars CC.
Companies Act fraud – Insider dealing, fraudulent share dealing. Case dismissed after legal argument.
The Jason Swift murder trial at the Central Criminal Court.
Appeared for the alleged ‘undertaker’. Defendant was acquitted after a
10-day legal argument before the Recorder of London who quashed the
Indictment against him.
Numerous other leading murders, rapes, fraud and money laundering cases.
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