Zoe Johnson KC

Only the second woman ever to have been appointed Senior Treasury Counsel, Zoe Johnson KC is regarded as an extremely accomplished practitioner; she combines tremendous intellect with phenomenal advocacy.

Overview 

An exceptional criminal advocate who is adept at dealing with serious, sensitive and complicated matters; she has the utter respect of the market.

Zoe was Treasury Counsel for 11 years, four of which were as Senior Treasury Counsel.  She is sought out to advise on complex new areas of law and to advise and represent parties involved in grave, sensitive and evidentially complex cases.  For ten years she sat as a Recorder in the Crown Court.

Experience

Zoe Johnson KC defends and prosecutes the most serious, sensitive, demanding and high profile crime. Her 11 years as treasury counsel (the second woman ever to have been appointed senior treasury counsel) gave her vast experience in cases of homicide, terrorism, organised crime, misconduct in public office and sexual offences. She was instructed in the first ever case of terrorist fund raising (R v Oumerzouk), has prosecuted in Islamic terrorist cases, advised in the case of Gary McKinnon (accused of hacking into NASA and the US Department of Defence) and advised in relation to the prosecution of News International. 

Zoe is often asked to advise organisations and individuals. She advised the CPS in the matter of Randox Testing, a company used by police forces in the UK to carry out toxicological testing. They were accused of malpractice possibly effecting thousands of convictions. She was instructed by Fenix International, to advise the company in relation to its operation of the “Only Fans” website, and whether the company could be criminally liable for illegal pornography if the business model was changed so that the EU hosting exemption could no longer be relied upon.

She defended the multimillionaire Carl Hirschmann and the founder of Pimlico Plumbers in their respective assault cases.

She has acted in a number of “honour killings” and hate crimes. Zoe prosecuted in the case of Anthony Russell, a serial killer who was convicted of three murders, a rape, three robberies and a section 18 assault committed over a ten-day period in October 2020.

Zoe has particular expertise in cases with medico-legal features. Since appearing in R v Harris & Others in 2005, she has become adept in allegations of “shaken baby syndrome” and has appeared in many such cases (most recently R v Tautz). Zoe is accomplished in presenting and dissecting psychiatric evidence and has been involved in a large number of contested diminished responsibility, insanity and fitness to plead cases. In 2022, Zoe was instructed in the case of Mariam Benzain, who killed her 5 month old baby son. 

Zoe is instructed in cases of extreme sensitivity, often involving the death of children (e.g R v Tania Clarence, a mother who suffocated her three disabled children and R v Dixie, the murder of Sally Ann Bowman).  Throughout her career as a criminal practitioner both prosecuting as Treasury Counsel and defending in extremely sensitive cases, Zoe has carefully dealt with the most vulnerable of witnesses, including children, people with mental health issues, deaf witnesses, people who need intermediaries, those dealing with extreme grief, people with physical disabilities, women from religious groups too afraid to come into court.  She is extremely experienced in this field.

She has a special interest and expertise in medical gross negligence manslaughter cases and secured the acquittal, at the close of the Crown’s case, of Dr Rudling, a GP accused of failing to recognise a life threatening illness. She has been instructed in three of the most important medical gross negligence manslaughter decisions – Bawa Garba, Rudling, Honey Rose (instructed to advise).

Zoe successfully defended in the first ever prosecution under the Female Genital Mutilation legislation (R v Dharmasena) and as a result has been asked to advise several clients (individuals and religious groups) prior to possible charges of FGM.

Zoe has developed a practice in public law. She has appeared in both civil and criminal judicial review cases. Most recently, she successfully defended an application for judicial review arising from the first ever attempt to waive an order for anonymity. The anonymity order in question was granted for a witness who testified in the case of Ellis and Others, the 2004 Birmingham New Year shootings.  

Zoe's experience of large post-conviction disclosure exercises led to her being instructed to represent Post Office Limited in the appellate proceedings arising out of the Horizon scandal. This case may become the largest ever miscarriage of justice case in English legal history. 

Zoe has also represented the Crown Prosecution Service at the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse. Zoe was instructed to advise an individual facing possible liability arising out of the Grenfell Tower Inquiry.

Zoe’s experience of corporate crime and professional discipline means that she frequently represents professionals facing criminal charges; she recently successfully defended a doctor accused of multiple sexual assaults.

Zoe's understanding of the criminal law and its application in our courts is exceptional. As an advocate, she is recognised for her intellect, advocacy and ability to deal with the most difficult cases with both poise and sensitivity.

Notable Cases 

R v Ellis and Others 2018/2019
Zoe Johnson KC appeared for the respondent in the first ever application to discharge an anonymity order.

Independent Inquiry into Child Sex Abuse 2019
Zoe Johnson KC represented the CPS in the Westminster and Children outside the UK strands of the inquiry.  

R v Bawa Garba  
2016– Zoe Johnson KC defended the doctor charged with gross negligence manslaughter.

R v Rudling 2016 
Zoe Johnson KC secured the acquittal of this GP accused of failing to act on the signs of a life threatening illness.

R v France (2015)
Zoe Johnson KC led the prosecution of the case against Sun journalist Anthony France, for aiding and abetting a police officer to commit misconduct in public office.

R v Clarence (2015)
Zoe Johnson KC prosecuted a mother that had killed three of her children, who all had spinal muscular atrophy.

R v Dharmasena (2015)
Successfully defended in the first-ever prosecution under the Female Genital Mutilation legislation.

R v McInerney & Others (2013)
Zoe Johnson acted for the prosecution of 14 males accused of the murder of Andrew Jaipaul as a result of North London gang rivalry.

Seminars

Webcast on FGM and the law, with Kingsley Napley - 2019

The lessons to be learnt from the Bawa Garba case, for the MDU - 2018

Reviews

Legal 500 2025: Crime – Tier 2

Legal 500 2024: Crime – Tier 2

'Zoe is simply a class act. She has outstanding judgement and is tactically very shrewd. Her written work is always of the very highest standard and her personable manner inspires confidence in clients. Her advocacy and cross-examination is disarming and extremely effective. She is at the very top end of the criminal Bar.’ Legal 500 Crime (2024)

Chambers UK 2023: Crime – Band 1

Legal 500 2023: Crime – Tier 2

'She does a tremendous job. Focused, insightful and with an eye for detail, she is very effective.' Chambers UK Crime (2023)

‘Zoe is an extremely able advocate on paper and orally. Authoritative and highly-regarded.' Legal 500 Crime (2023)

'She is always incredibly well prepared and has a great view of a case.' Chambers UK Crime (2022)

'Intellectually sharp, very committed and deeply thoughtful. She has great instincts, superior judgement and a huge intellect.' Chambers UK Crime (2021)

'Zoe is a star of the Bar. She brings first rate intellectual acuity to her work. She is a superb advocate, and commands the attention of the court. She has instinct and judgement in spades which together her other attributes means she is the total package. Clients love her.' Legal 500 Crime (2021)

‘Truly superb on any case with medical issues involved.’ Legal 500 Crime (2020)

‘A barrister with a real gift who has a great understanding of medical cases.’ Chambers UK Crime (2019)

‘She has a firm, clear advocacy style which comes over extremely effectively with juries without overawing them.’ Legal 500 Crime (2018)

‘She has real gravitas in court: she commands the room and makes her arguments with really impressive articulation.’ Chambers UK Crime (2018)

‘She has a fine intellect and a capacity for hard work, as well as very effective forensic skills.’ Legal 500 Crime (2017)

‘She is just awesome. She’s so bright, so hard-working and she’s got such good judgement.’ Chambers UK Crime (2017)

‘A compassionate, dedicated and persuasive advocate.’ Legal 500 Crime (2015)