Julia Flanagan.
What others say:
- 'Julia is a star counsel who is inevitably destined to be silk before too long if she so chooses. She is very clever legally and tactically as well as incredibly approachable. Julia is hugely respected by her peers, with silks actively asking to work with her.' Legal 500 - Crime, Leading Juniors 2025
Practice profile:
A highly experienced, innovative and hard-working advocate, Julia is a leading London junior who specialises in sexual crime, crime related to the most serious violence and financial crime. Julia is predominantly privately instructed and she has appeared successfully in both the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeal.
Instructed in serious and complex cases, she acts as both leading and junior counsel and is accustomed to dealing with the most sensitive cases involving vulnerable defendants and witnesses. She has successfully defended clients in trials involving multi-handed violence, sex, fraud and serious organised crime.
Julia appears on behalf of medical and other professionals in regulatory proceedings and is accustomed to dealing with the national press in relation to resisting pre-trial publicity.
Present and Recent Instructions:
• R v B. Partner in law firm accused of rape. Acquitted.
• R v C. Soldier accused of assault and suffocation of wife. Acquitted.
• R v K. Consultant physician accused multiple counts sexual assault in hospital. Acquitted.
• R v S. Client accused masterminding large scale drugs conspiracy. Guilty plea. Ongoing.
• WCC v WFW Ltd. Represented company for mitigation and sentence in respect of serious breaches Food Safety and Hygiene Regulations.
EXAMPLES OF UPCOMING PRIVATE WORK
• R v C. Medical professional accused multiple charges sexual assault of employees.
• R v B. Solicitor accused ‘date rape’.
• R v L. Businessman accused leading role in large scale importation fraud and money laundering. Trial 2025.
• R v O. Businesswoman accused assault upon police officer.
• R v S. Client overseas national. Accused rape in UK.
• R v P. Advising well known national DJ in respect of appeal.
I am also instructed in a number of substantive hearings representing medical professionals accused of regulatory breaches.
Practice Areas:
Julia is an expert in the field of sexual offences and has successfully represented many professionals accused of such offences. She deals with a range of offences, from gang rape, kidnap and torture to familial sexual offences against children. She is innovative in her approach, having, for example, successfully run the defence of sexsomnia and is meticulous in her preparation of each case. She is well versed in the use of the S28 provisions, successfully defending her clients notwithstanding the court-imposed restrictions on cross-examination and the use of pre-recorded video testimony.
Over the past 30 years, Julia has developed a huge amount of expertise in representing defendants accused of the most serious offences, ranging from large scale conspiracies to import Class A drugs to offences of murder and manslaughter. She has an expertise in managing high volumes of evidence and data and dealing with complex issues of disclosure.
Notable cases:
Sexual cases and offences against children
R v B, B, B and B. 2023
Luton Crown Court. B and family members acquitted of rape, sexual and physical abuse of 3 relatives, one of whom had significant learning difficulties, as did B himself. Evidence and background so complex that the prosecution had the assistance of a disclosure counsel and was represented by King’s Counsel plus two junior counsel at trial.
R v B. 2023
Croydon Crown Court. Secured acquittal of care home worked accused of penetrative sexual activity and assault of a child and an adult at a care home for the physically and mentally disabled. Particularly complex issues in respect of mental capacity and consent, requiring expert evidence and expert cross-examination.
R v B. 2020
Kingston Crown Court. Secured acquittal of defendant accused of repeatedly raping his vulnerable daughter. The complex mental health issues of all parties were significant issues in the case. S28 provisions in respect of cross-examination and pre-recorded video testimony applied.R v H. 2020
Wood Green Crown Court. Secured acquittal of recently arrived asylum seeker, accused of the stranger rape of teenage girl.
R v I. 2019
Kingston Crown Court. Secured acquittal of defendant accused of grooming and raping a child. Although significantly older than the complainant, in this case it was the defendant who suffered from learning difficulties. Issues as to the admissibility of telephone evidence. The court applied the S28 provisions, which necessitated pre-trial legal argument.
R v D. 2018
Inner London Crown Court. Secured acquittal of defendant charged with stranger rape. Complex legal issues in respect of the potential use of similar previous accusations against the defendant and a previous acquittal for similar alleged offending.
R v F. 2018
Croydon Crown Court. Secured acquittal of defendant charged with Causing or Allowing Serious Physical Harm to a Child, by allowing his infant child to consume Class A Drugs, causing the child’s life to be threatened. Mr F and his wife, the co-defendant, blamed each other for the crime. There were complex issues in respect of the admissibility of voluminous material from previous family proceedings, covert recordings, bad character and expert evidence.
Serious crime cases
R v T and 13 others. 2023
Kingston Crown Court. T pleaded guilty to being involved in a large-scale conspiracy to supply 386 kilos of cocaine and to laundering £13 million. Basis of plea negotiated and agreed resulting in excellent sentence for the client.
R v T 2022
Southwark Crown Court. Secured acquittal of businessman, visiting UK from overseas, accused of serious Arson and assaults, in respect of well- known hotel in Park Lane.
R v C. 2020
Wood Green Crown Court. Secured acquittals in respect of the charges against a prison officer of conveying class A drugs into prison, notwithstanding alleged/ disputed admissions made by the client during disciplinary proceedings.R v H. 2019
Kingston Crown Court. Secured Acquittal of defendant charged with Arson with Intent to Endanger Life. Accusations of a revenge arson attack on 2 adults and a child, whilst they were asleep at night. Complex issues in respect of expert forensic evidence.
R v O. 2019
Wood Green Crown Court. Multi- handed trial, involving gang violence, namely Violent Disorder and Applying a Corrosive Substance with Intent to do Grievous Bodily Harm. Acid was used as a weapon against multiple, seriously injured victims.
R v A. 2019
Aylesbury Crown Court. Multi-handed Supply of Class A drugs trial, involving issues of Modern Slavery, making the case complex both evidentially and legally.
R v G. 2019
St Albans Crown Court. Secured advantageous basis of plea for defendant in respect of multi-handed Conspiracy to Facilitate Unlawful Immigration, namely people trafficking over the Channel, by a serious organised criminal group.
R v F. 2017
Woolwich Crown Court. Secured acquittal of defendant in multi-handed trial involving allegations of kidnapping and serious violence, against the background of offences in respect of the supply of Class A drugs. This case involved the lengthy cross-examination of experts in respect of cell-site data and telephone data.
R v A. 2016
Central Criminal Court. Secured acquittal of defendant in respect of Conspiracy to Cultivate Cannabis. Multi- handed case in which achieving a successful defence was made more complex by the jury being informed of the defendant’s long standing criminal record in respect of the supply of prohibited drugs.
R v V. 2020
Kingston Crown Court. Currently instructed in multi- handed large scale money laundering operation.
R v B. 2020
St Albans Crown Court. Currently instructed in multi- handed, very high value Fraud against a Local Council, involving expert medical as well as financial evidence.
R v J. 2018
Central Criminal Court. Secured acquittal for client in multi-handed money laundering case, in which he was accused of laundering the proceeds of drug offending.
R v S. 2017
Secured not guilty verdict for defendant charged in multi-handed pharmaceutical fraud.
R v F. 2015
Croydon Crown Court. Leading counsel in a large-scale, multi-handed immigration fraud, involving the false provision of legal services and the corruption of an employee of the immigration services, in order to facilitate the fraud.
