Date of Call: 1973
Date of Silk: 1991
Jonathan Caplan practices mainly in the following areas:
- Corporate Liability
- Criminal and Civil Fraud
- Health and Safety and Gross Negligence Manslaughter
- Media Law (OFCOM Regulation, Contempt, Defamation, Privacy and Confidence)
- Public Inquiries and Disciplinary Tribunals (including Market Regulation, Professional Discipline and Sport)
His clients include national newspapers and television companies, high profile individuals and numerous companies in the FSTE 100. He has also appeared in the Courts of Hong Kong and Singapore.
He is listed in the Chambers and Partners Guide 2011 in the top tier of Queen's Counsel for Health and Safety, Fraud, and Administrative and Public Law: Public Inquiries. He is also listed as a leading silk for Crime. One Chambers & Partners interviewee remarked that "excellent client-handling skills and an astute technical eye make him one of the most sought after silks of his generation". Sources said that Jonathan is "one of the greats and can hold a jury in the palm of his hand". He is "at the top end of the market for serious fraud work" and is hailed as "sublime, hugely experienced and a man of great charisma" in addition to possessing "an astute, technical eye and a compelling advocacy style". With regard to his 'Crime' recommendation, Jonathan is described as "one of the most popular performers at the Criminal Bar and someone who other barristers unhesitatingly endorse. Whether it be pure crime or cases with a financial angle to them he is "absolute mustard" according to sources." In Administrative and Public Law, he is noted for "always remaining resolutely cool in the most difficult and intensive circumstances."
In the Legal 500 Directory 2010, Jonathan is highly recommended in Crime: Fraud (in the highest tier of only five leading counsel and described as "calm,unflappable and very dedicated....the star silk for criminal fraud") and is also highly recommended in Health,Safety and the Environmment (where he is described as "a gifted tactician").
He won the 2011 Award for Corporate Liability Counsel from Finance Monthly after a poll of thousands of its readers worldwide.
He was on a shortlist of three for Criminal Silk of the year 2010 with Chambers and Partners.