Overview
Josh specialises in serious and complex crime and maintains a busy practice in matters involving multi-handed conspiracies, organised criminal groups, serious sexual offences, firearms, violence, complex fraud, and drugs. Josh is particularly adept at dealing with cases involving vulnerable complainants, witnesses and defendants.
Having been called to the bar by Middle Temple as a Queen Mother Scholar, Josh was later awarded the Harold G. Fox Scholarship and placed at a leading litigation boutique in Toronto, gaining experience in criminal defence, civil litigation and administrative law.
Josh is a graduate of Harvard Law School where he was appointed as a teaching fellow alongside earning an LL.M.
Recognised for his persuasive and assured jury advocacy, Josh has established a strong reputation as defence counsel. He is known for his approachable manner, forensic eye for detail, and comprehensive knowledge of the law. He is a member of the CPS General Crime Panel at Grade 3 and the CPS Serious Crime Panel at Grade 2.
“Josh’s representation […] has been exceptional. He has been thorough, diligent, proactive, remained calm and considered in approach, and, has absolutely gone beyond even the typically high level of service that Counsel from chambers always provide.” Instructing Solicitor
Crime
Led junior
• R v JS & Ors [2026] – Operation Chippendale – Southampton CC. Led by Russell Pyne. Instructed to defend JS, 18 year old asylum seeker from Afghanistan for participation in an £8.5m conspiracy to evade duty on illegally imported cigarettes.
• R v JH & Ors [2026] – Operation Clementine – Maidstone CC. Led by Rupert Kent. Instructed to defend JH in an allegation involving £3m of fraudulent trading connected to improper sales of solar panels.
• R v RP & Ors [2025] – Operation Cedar – Stafford CC. Led by John Lloyd-Richards. Prosecuting 4-handed conspiracy to supply Crack Cocaine and Heroin. The conspiracy involved the use of children as runners in the operation, and a plan to supply drugs into prison using drones.
• R v AZ & Ors [2025] – Birmingham CC. Disclosure junior to Tim Clarke KC. Case involving the trafficking and rape of a vulnerable child.
• R v S & Ors [2025] – Operation Slope – Basildon CC – led by Oliver Weetch. Prosecuting 6-handed conspiracy to possess a firearm with intent to endanger life and pervert the course of justice, the evidence centring around multiple shootings on a housing estate in South East London.
• R v W [2024] – Oxford CC – led by Rebecca Austin. Prosecuting non-recent child sex offences spanning 40 years and 6 complainants.
• R v M & Ors [2024] – Operation Marble – Basildon CC –– led by Oliver Wellings. Prosecuting 5-handed aggravated burglary, possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life and s18. Night-time house invasion where expensive watches and jewellery taken, the occupant threatened with a loaded firearm and stabbed.
• R v S and Ors [2023] – Snaresbrook CC – led by Russell Pyne, Prosecuting 5-handed possession of firearms with intent, conspiracy to rob. Organised criminal group planning robberies of cannabis farms while armed.
• R v A & Ors [2023] – Birmingham CC – led by Grace Ong – Prosecuting 9-handed violent disorder and kidnap.
• R v P [2022] – Snaresbrook CC – led by Robin Sellers – Prosecuting controlling and coercive behaviour, four complainants.
Junior alone
• R v S [2025] – Aylesbury CC – representing S, a man with complex neuro-diversity connected to Autism Spectrum Disorder who fell asleep whilst driving and caused serious injury to a young woman and her father.
• R v H & Ors [2024] – Chelmsford CC. Prosecuted 3-handed conspiracy to burgle involving the targeting of multiple properties for cash and high value jewellery, culminating in the theft of an ATM machine using a piece of farm equipment.
• R v I & B [2024] – Guildford CC. Defending the first defendant. Concerned in delivery of ½ kilo of cocaine.
• R v M [2024] – Chelmsford CC. Prosecuting county lines crack and heroin operation between London and Braintree.
• R v F [2024] – Portsmouth CC. Defending F a prisoner serving an IPP 8 years beyond the original tariff. Accused of possessing a mobile phone in his cell just prior to parole board hearing. Proceedings discontinued following service of abuse of process skeleton.
• R v B [2024] – Portsmouth CC. Defending B who stabbed his neighbour while living in accommodation for men with schizophrenia.
• R v N [2024] – Winchester CC. Prosecuting. Causing serious injury by dangerous driving. Hit & run incident involving a 94-year-old women.
• R v A & H [2024] – Croydon CC. Defending the first defendant, being concerned in supplying cannabis and possession of £30,000 criminal property.
• R v P-K [2024] – Inner London CC. Prosecuting, criminal property. Defendant involved in receiving proceeds of distraction frauds.
• R v K [2024] – Isleworth CC. Prosecuting. Assault during the course of an Air India flight.
• R v K [2024] – Croydon CC. Causing serious injury by Dangerous Driving. Instructed to defend K who struck a 3-year old with her car.
• R v D [2023] – Portsmouth CC. Instructed to defend D accused of indecent exposure and outraging public decency outside of a primary school.
• R v C, P [2023] – Portsmouth CC. Prosecuting county lines crack and heroin operation between London and Portsmouth.
• R v G [2023] – Portsmouth CC. Prosecuting. Sexual assault of a 17 year-old complainant.
• R v S [2023] – Wood Green CC. – Prosecuting. Defendant receiving proceeds of ‘post-code lottery’ fraud involving an elderly complainant.
• R v F & M [2023] – Woolwich CC – Prosecuting cashpoint robbery of 86-year-old victim;
Reported cases
Sedeqe [2024] EWCA Crim 611 – judicial discretion where D of “effective good character”
Education
- King’s College London – Philosophy (First Class Honours);
- GDL – Distinction;
- BPTC – Very Competent;
- Harvard Law School – LLM.
Memberships
- Criminal Bar Association
- Grade 3 General Crime
- Grade 2 Prosecutor
Awards
- Queen Mother Scholarship
- Harold G. Fox Scholarship
News
Grooming gang convicted – Tim Clark KC led Josh Happé for the Crown
Tim Clark KC and Josh Happé have achieved convictions whilst prosecuting four men in a grooming gang in a six week trial at Birmingham...
2KBW CPS Serious Crime Panel Grade 2 appointments
Congratulations to Matthew Parris, Laura Hollingbery, Edward Warren and Josh Happé who have received their CPS Serious Crime Panel Grade 2 accreditations.
Oliver Weetch and Josh Happé conclude successful prosecution of six-handed case of conspiracy to possess firearms and pervert the course of justice.
The case involved a complex investigation jointly run between the Serious & Organised Crime Unit at Essex Police and Trident within the Metropolitan Police...
Josh Happé’s client acquitted of cannabis supply and criminal property allegation.
Josh appeared on behalf of the first defendant in a 9-day trial at Croydon Crown Court. A search warrant was executed at an address...
Sally Howes QC leads Josh Happé in trial of Father prosecuted and jailed for killing 14-week-old daughter
Christopher Easey denied murdering baby Eleanor in December 2019, claiming that he had dropped her on her head having been distracted by barking dogs. ...
Crime Team
crime@2kbw.com
+44 20 7353 1746