Ben Joyes

INTRODUCTION

Ben is ranked in the Legal 500 and Chambers and Partners as a Leading Junior in Extradition and International Crime. He is recommended by the Legal 500 as a “powerful advocate” with a “thorough knowledge of both international criminal law and extradition.” Similarly, Chambers and Partners describes him as “highly intelligent and motivated.”

Ben’s practice is focused upon cases that have an international dimension. He specialises in international criminal and humanitarian law, extradition, business crime and international human rights law.

Ben has acted in some of the most high-profile international criminal cases of the last decade. In England, he regularly represents individuals and requesting states in complex extradition proceedings at first instance and on appeal. He advises multinational corporate clients and prosecuting authorities on investigations involving sanctions and cross-border corruption.

As a result of his background in global investigations and fast-paced international litigation, Ben recognises the value in taking a collaborative approach in complex, document-heavy cases. He has operated in adversarial and inquisitorial systems and, similarly, has experience before tribunals that adhere to both the civil and common law traditions. Ultimately, Ben’s broad international practice ensures that he remains a versatile advocate, both orally and on paper.

Ben is registered with the Bar Council to accept direct public access work.

INTERNATIONAL CRIME

Ben is comfortable dealing with the vast volumes of evidence that are commonplace in international litigation. Experienced operating in hostile conditions, he conducts sensitive defence investigations with care and precision. In both Kenya and Cambodia, Ben interviewed sensitive witnesses and provided legal assistance to police, military and communications experts. He has worked closely with intelligence professionals on the collection and analysis of complex financial and communications evidence. He is currently instructed to advise and represent an individual summonsed by the Specialist Prosecutor’s Office and the Kosovo Specialist Chambers.

Ben has been appointed to the lists of counsel of both the International Criminal Court and the Kosovo Specialist Chambers. He also appears on the List of Legal Consultants of the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia.

EXTRADITION

Ben is a specialist extradition barrister with a busy practice that sees him appear regularly before the English courts at all levels.

Ben recognises the importance of providing prompt advice to achieve the best possible outcome at the extradition hearing. Calling upon his extensive international network, Ben advises on the instruction of experts to provide evidence in court or to progress matters in foreign jurisdictions. Ben has a strong track record representing clients at first instance, and has enjoyed recent success with a broad range of arguments (see notable cases and linked articles below).

Ben frequently appears in leading extradition appeals. Recent notable cases have concerned Art. 3 ECHR and prison conditions in requesting states (Poland, Greece, Romania), s.17 of the Extradition Act 2003 and the availability of specialty protection (Romania) and the applicability of judicial review principles to decisions made by first instance extradition courts.

Ben also advises on matters beyond the narrow focus of extradition proceedings before the English courts, including INTERPOL, transferral of sentence to the UK, withdrawal of requests following successful challenge, and import extradition.  Recent successes arising out of Ben’s advisory practice include both the withdrawal of an EAW/INTERPOL notice by the Gibraltarian authorities, and the rejection of a high-profile Romanian extradition request by a court in Greece.

Ben appears on the CPS Specialist Extradition Advocate Panel (Level 3)

COMPLEX FINANCIAL CRIME

Ben’s white collar practice focuses on cross-border investigations involving business crime and fraud.

He has advised investigating authorities and corporate clients on sanctions and corruption-related investigations initiated by the Serious Fraud Office, Financial Conduct Authority, US Department of Justice and the Office of the Attorney General of Switzerland.

Ben has extensive expertise in disclosure in complex fraud cases. For several years, he was instructed by the Serious Fraud Office to lead a disclosure team in a document-heavy prosecution brought under the Bribery Act 2010 and the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002.

Ben appears on the SFO Advocate Panel (C Panel).

INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS AND CAPACITY BUILDING

Ben has expertise in respect of a number of regional tribunals, including the European Court of Human Rights, Court of Justice of the European Union, African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights, the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights and the Southern African Development Community Tribunal.

Ben provides practical advice on investigations, as he has significant experience managing projects concerned with the documentation and analysis of potential breaches of international human rights law. Once proceedings have commenced, Ben is able to draw upon his considerable experience before the international tribunals to ensure that all applications – whether oral or written – are prepared and delivered with forensic precision.

Ben has significant experience conducting capacity building projects overseas. He recently designed and delivered training courses on human rights, fair trial standards and ethics for the benefit of judges and lawyers based in the Middle East. Ben also spent time at a human rights organisation in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, where he helped to develop a nation-wide trial monitoring project and conducted advocacy concerning land rights and land-grabbing.

WHAT THE DIRECTORIES SAY

"Ben is highly competent in both international criminal law and extradition. A strong advocate who is able to deal with complex, multi-jurisdictional matters, he inspires confidence whether prosecuting or defending." (Chambers and Partners, 2023)

"A highly intelligent and motivated junior" (Chambers and Partners, 2022)

 “He is a powerful advocate and has a thorough knowledge of both international criminal law and extradition where his work being instructed by the requesting state is noteworthy” (Legal 500, 2022)

‘He takes a sensible approach to arguments, and does not take bad points. He can be counted on to take a robust approach. He sees the wider picture, and considers strategic litigation perspectives of his cases.’ (Legal 500, 2021)

He is described as a ‘solid advocate’ with ‘significant experience prosecuting and defending in extradition matters, as well as in international criminal law.’ (Legal 500, 2021)