Jeremy Asher

Solicitor
T: +44 (0)1392 333824
F: +44 (0)1392 336824
j.asher@ashfords.co.uk

Jeremy is a Solicitor in Ashfords' Criminal and Regulatory Team and has specialised in criminal and regulatory law for the thirteen years since he qualified in 1998.

His main practice is advising on and representing businesses and individuals in relation to a wide range of regulatory offences including defending prosecutions brought by the Environment Agency, Health & Safety Executive, Trading Standards as well as Crown Prosecution Service.  He also advises clients in the defence of all aspects of criminal law, from motoring offences in the Magistrates Courts (including consideration of domestic and European road traffic legislation as appropriate) to more serious types of offences in the higher courts including triable either way and indictable only offences including conspiracy to defraud, conspiracy to supply Class A drugs, cases of Perverting the Course of Justice, murder , rape and assault.

Jeremy has developed particular expertise in relation to fatality cases and disaster management, having advised on more then 20 such high profile cases since he qualified, including the recent M5 disaster.  These cases include murder, corporate manslaughter (including advising businesses and Local Authorities on corporate manslaughter risk), gross negligence manslaughter, as well as causing death by dangerous driving.  Since many of the cases Jeremy deals with generate enormous amounts of publicity, Jeremy is used to dealing with the press and advising clients in this regard.

With regard to the prosecution of cases, Jeremy has experience of prosecuting benefits fraud cases on behalf of a South West local authority, and has also prosecuted on a behalf a national utility company under the Water Resources Act and Environment Permitting Regulations. 

He also advises other departments in the firm in relation to the criminal aspects of Company and Marine law and Insolvency regularly offering advice to companies wishing to limit liability.  This advice can encompass both prosecution and defence and frequently includes advising in relation to interview under caution..

Jeremy is also experienced in handling appeals on behalf of defendants including advising upon and presenting appeals against conviction and sentence in the Crown Court and Court of Appeal..

Jeremy conducts most of his own advocacy, including the presentation of not guilty trials and appeals save for in circumstances where higher rights of audience are required or he is not available.

Recent experience & successes:

• Represented clients facing allegations under the whole range of Road Traffic legislation ranging from death by dangerous driving to minor road traffic offences;
• Successfully saved the license of a client who undertook a police car at speed driving a £1m sports car;
• A wealth of experience of presentation of not guilty cases in local magistrates court as well as the presentation of other more serious types of offences at other courts including triable either way offences and the handling of appeal cases;
• Provision of general legal advice on domestic road traffic law and experience of European regulatory issues as well as other legislative issues. 
• Defence of several companies prosecuted by the Environment Agency under the Environmental Permitting Regulations;
• Defence of cases Prosecuted by the Health & Safety Executive and advice to businesses and individuals under investigation under the Health & Safety at Work etc Act 1974;
•  Defence of cases Prosecuted by Trading Standards including under the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2009 and under the General Food Regulations 2004;
• Defence of allegation of money laundering under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 in the Crown Court (sum estimated at £100,000);
• Defence of a Company Director charged with Blackmail;
• Defence of an allegation of bribery in public office;
• Defence of allegation of conspiracy to supply counterfeit currency the in the Crown Court (sum estimated at $20 million);
• Defence of a number of cases of perverting the course of justice in the Crown Court;
• Defence of companies under investigation from HMRC including successfully persuaded HMRC to take no action against a business that had failed to obtain an Export Licence saving the company £60,000 in potential penalties;
• Successfully prosecuted a multi-national plc for breach trade effluent  consent on behalf of a water utility company where the cost of repair reached £1 million;
• Successfully prosecuted companies in breach of stand pipe regulations;
• Successfully prosecuted numerous benefits fraud cases on behalf of a local government authority;
• Defending in a high profile corporate manslaughter case;
• Defending speeding offences, in particular drivers liable to disqualification under the totting up procedures (12 or more points), and have successfully avoided disqualifications on the basis of exceptional hardship;
• Defence of VOSA prosecuted offences on behalf of various defendants, most particularly overloading and tachograph offences;
• Appeal against the decision of the Traffic Commissioner to revoke a HGV driver's licence under s115 & s116 Road Traffic Act 1988;
• Prosecution of cases under the Water Supply (Water Fittings) Regulations 1999
• Defence of numerous defendants for various offences of benefit fraud under the Social Security Administration Act 1992;
• Firearms licensing & defence of associated offences;
• Planning enforcement and defence of associated offences; and
  
• Licensing.
  

"incredibly hardworking"
Legal 500, 2011 Edition