James Ortiz

James has a broad criminal practice and accepts instructions across the full spectrum of offences.

He appears regularly in the Crown Court and has also appeared before the Court of Appeal. After one case, a Circuit Judge commented that James “handled the case with care and precision, always displaying excellent advocacy skills” and his submissions have been described by the Court of Appeal as “clear and concise”.

He is instructed both as a junior alone and as a led junior in serious and complex matters. Recent successes include acquittals in a GBH case involving expert pathology evidence, a money laundering trial concerning multiple bank accounts linked to international fraud, and a non-fatal strangulation case following a successful abuse of process application.

James has experience representing young and vulnerable defendants. He has also prosecuted for the CPS and Probation Service.

• General Crime
• Drug Offences including Supply and Cultivation 
• Fraud and Theft
• Criminal Property
• Aggravated Robbery and Burglary 
• Serious Acts of Violence including GBH S.18  
• Sex Offences
• Proceeds of Crime
• Driving Offences including Causing Serious Injury

R v W

Northampton Crown Court

The defendant faced counts of grievous bodily harm and non-fatal strangulation. The case included complex expert pathology evidence and extensive phone downloads. The defendant was acquitted on both counts.

R v I

Snaresbrook Crown Court
The defendant faced two counts of money laundering contrary to the Proceeds of Crime Act. The allegations involved multiple bank accounts over the course of a year, hundreds of thousands of pounds, and related to a wider international fraud. The defendant was acquitted on both counts.

R v O

Luton Crown Court
The defendant faced one count of affray along with four other defendants. Despite the incident being caught on CCTV and the use of weapons throughout, self-defence and defence of another was successfully advanced.

R v H

Inner London Crown Court
The defendant was successfully acquitted of fraud. The allegation was of a car insurance fraud dating back to 2020. The trial judge described James’ submissions as ‘well made’ and ‘robust’ at the end of the case.

R v H

Milton Keynes Youth Court
The defendant had severe learning difficulties and was charged with robbery alongside a co-defendant on a joint enterprise basis. The defendant was successfully acquitted, while his co-defendant was not.

R v T

Wellingborough Youth Court
The defendant was acquitted of dangerous driving and therefore maintained his good character. The defendant was 16 years old. He was pursued by police while driving a minivan dangerously. The defence was that of duress.

• University of the West of England, BPTC (Outstanding)
• University College London, LLM Jurisprudence (Distinction)
• University of Bristol, LLB (Hons)

• Fluent in French 

• Inner Temple Outstanding Award

• Inner Temple Exhibition Award