Lee Harris

Lee has an extensive and varied criminal law practice, acting for both the prosecution and defence. He practises in all areas of serious crime including homicide, offences of grave violence, serious sexual offences, drug offences, terrorist offences, as well as large scale and high value financial crime. He has been involved in lengthy complex trials, and cases involving multiple defendants. He appears regularly in the Crown Court and has appeared in the High Court and Court of Appeal.

Lee is a Level 3 prosecutor on the CPS Advocate Panel, and was appointed to the Counter-Terrorism Specialist Panel in 2019.

Lee was appointed as Recorder of the Crown Court in 2020.

Lee has represented parents in private law Children Act proceedings for many years, including cases of complexity involving allegations of physical and sexual abuse. He also acts in public law care proceedings for parents and guardians, in cases  involving complex and challenging issues. His work with vulnerable victims and witnesses in criminal cases also gives him a unique insight into and understanding of the complexities of Children Act proceedings and their effect on families and children.

In all cases, he is able to argue his client’s position strongly in court, while also giving them realistic and accurate advice. He is also adept at negotiating with opponents to obtain the best outcome for client.

CPS Advocate Panel Level 3 advocate
CPS Specialist Counter-Terrorism Panel advocate
Recorder of the Crown Court

R v B
Appeared for the Crown, successfully defending an appeal against conviction, in which it was asserted by the defence that the conviction was unsafe due to perverse verdicts by the jury in the original trial.

R v C and others 
Appeared on behalf of the DPP in a successful appeal, following a conviction of several high profile protestors, which determined the meaning of ‘land’ for the purposes of the offence of aggravated trespass.

R v E

Represented the defendant in an allegation of a murder of a married couple in the presence of their three year old child. The trial involved considerable complexity and a vulnerable defendant with considerable physical and mental health difficulties.

R v R and others
Successfully prosecuted eighteen defendants involved in a £1m fraud and money laundering operation. The case spanned three separate trials over several months. POCA proceedings also followed in respect of each defendant

G v S 

Represented a mother in complex and protracted private law proceedings in which the father faced a linked criminal prosecution involving allegations of sexual assault against children. The family proceedings lasted almost two years.