John Traversi is an established criminal law practitioner, defending and prosecuting in a wide range of cases. He has defended in high level drugs conspiracies, human trafficking cases, fraud and revenue cases, murders and serious violence and sexual offending.
His cases have often involved a transnational element, where his language skills have been of particular use.
Over recent years he has worked with members of the 9BR international team on a variety of projects. In March 2021 he was co-author with Steven Kay KC of “Kazakhstan: Questions About Government, Justice & International Arbitrations”. In May 2021 he was part of the 9BR Chambers international team that produced A Report on the Lundin Case commissioned by the Board of Directors for Lundin Energy. Currently he is engaged in the provision of international legal services to the Government of South Sudan challenging international sanctions designations and an arms embargo imposed by the UN, EU, UK and US on individuals and entities.
Background and Expertise
He is often asked to advise on proceedings abroad by UK nationals who have found themselves in trouble in foreign civil law jurisdictions.
He is a grade 4 prosecutor, on the serious crime and fraud panels.
Notable Cases
R v O, 2017
Defended multi-handed class A supply conspiracy.
R v Binford Ltd
Defending in Isle of Man pharmaceutical fraud case.
R v Ibanez Cantero
Importation of 77kg of cocaine.
R v Sanchez Gonzalez
Importation of 100kg of cocaine.
R v Castro Peitado
Possession with intent to supply 44kg of cocaine.
DrugsR v S and J, 2018
Prosecuted theft of £500,000 inheritance.
R v F and others, 2017
Prosecuted multi handed £1,000,000 credit card conspiracy.
R v Fleming and others
Defending in four-month duty evasion trial.
R v C and others
Prosecuted solicitors’ office manager over a £6m mortgage fraud. Extensive Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA) proceedings seeking a £10m benefit order.
Financial CrimeR v S, L and F, 2018
Prosecuted serious firearms and drug dealing conspiracies.
R v S and others
Prosecuted serious firearms and drug dealing conspiracies.
R v SS and others
Prosecuted multiple weapon shoot out on Broadwater Farm Estate
R v R and others
Prosecuted shoot out on World’s End Estate.
FirearmsR v F and H, 2021
Prosecuted two defendants charged with modern day slavery, assault and drugs offences. Following a two week trial defendants were sentenced to 17 and 12 years imprisonment.
Isleworth Crown Court
News report here
R v G and others, 2019
Prosecuted class A cuckooing/county line case.
R v Joyce and others
Defended in modern slavery case where victim had been held in servitude for more than 40 years.
CrimeLundin Oil Company, 2019-ongoing
Universal jurisdiction proceedings in Sweden alleging war crimes committed in Sudan 1997-2003 against Lundin Oil Company, its Chairman and CEO. The matter is currently at the investigation stage.
Read more here
International CrimeR v K and L and others
Defending in a case of human trafficking for sexual purposes, one of the first such cases involving eastern European defendants.
International Human RightsR (ex parte Corbett) v Secretary of State for Justice and National Offender Management Service
Challenging the imposition of a “polygraph test” as a condition on release from prison of a sex offender.
Investigations and InquiriesR v P, 2019
Prosecuted a child rape case.
R v Z, 2018
Prosecuted rape allegations, 4 day disclosure hearing.
R v J
Defended allegation of marital rape over 20 years. Origins of complaint in Poland and evidence taken from there.
Rape and Sexual OffencesR v A and others, 2019
Prosecuted 6 handed violent disorder.
R v A, 2018
Prosecuted historic allegations of child abuse going back many years.
ViolenceNews
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Achievements
- South Eastern Circuit
- Criminal Bar Association
- Appointed to list of defence counsel at:
- International Criminal Court
- Special Tribunal for Lebanon
- International Tribunal for Rwanda
- CPS Panel (Grade 4)
- CPS Serious Crime Panel (Grade 4)
- CPS Fraud Panel (Grade 4)
- MA Modern Languages and History, University of Oxford
- Downside School
- Oral trials in Mexico 2006 - 2008 training judges and lawyers in Mexico on oral trial techniques.
- Jury trials in Kazakhstan 2006 - training judges and lawyers in jury trial techniques
- Admitted to list of defence counsel at ICC and STL