Overview
Josh specialises in serious and complex crime. He has both prosecuted and defended at a level far in advance of his year of call. Since joining 2KBW Josh has built a busy practice in matters involving multi-handed conspiracies and organised criminal groups, serious sexual offences, firearms, violence, fraud, and drugs. Josh is particularly adept at dealing with cases involving vulnerable complainants, witnesses and defendants.
Josh was called to the bar by Middle Temple as a Queen Mother Scholar. He 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.
Prior to the bar Josh was a teaching associate at Queen Mary Law School leading seminars on jurisprudence and legal theory. He is also a graduate of Harvard Law School where he was appointed as a teaching fellow alongside earning an LL.M.
Josh is a Grade 2 prosecutor with an established reputation as a persuasive jury advocate. He is also well-regarded as defence counsel with an approachable manner, forensic eye for detail and comprehensive knowledge of the law.
Crime
Led junior
• R v S & Ors [2025] – Operation Slope – Basildon CC – led by Oliver Weetch. 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. Non-recent child sex offences spanning 40 years and 6 complainants.
• R v M & Ors [2024] – Basildon CC – Operation Marble – led by Oliver Wellings. 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 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 – 9-handed violent disorder and kidnap.
• R v P [2022] – Snaresbrook CC – led by Robin Sellers – Controlling and coercive behaviour, four complainants.
• R v N & Ors [ongoing] – Birmingham CC – Disclosure junior led by Tim Clarke KC – 4-handed rape.
• R v A & Ors [ongoing] – Snaresbrook CC – led by Suki Dhadda – 6-handed conspiracy to supply crack cocaine and heroin.
Junior alone
• 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 country 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 2 Prosecutor
Awards
- Queen Mother Scholarship
- Harold G. Fox Scholarship
- Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer Pro Bono Community Scholarship
News
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