William Innes

William is instructed regularly in both the Crown and Magistrates’ court.

William has a busy defence practice in the Magistrates’ Court. He has extensive experience in defending motoring offences, having been instructed in numerous trials and sentencing hearings. He also has broad experience in general crime and has acted in matters involving, for example, sexual offences, fraud by false representation, possession of a bladed article, and section 20 GBH. William also accepts instructions in the Youth Court and has represented defendants in cases involving possession of class A drugs with intent to supply and robbery.

William both prosecutes and defends in the Crown Court and is regularly instructed in appeals against sentence and conviction, sentencing hearings, and mentions. He has been instructed in relation to a range of offences, including theft, fraud by false representation, possession of indecent images of children, and coercive and controlling behaviour.

Recent cases include:

R v NS

William was instructed to cross-examine on behalf of a self-represented defendant at a Magistrates’ Court trial pursuant to section 38(4) of the Youth Justice and Criminal Evidence Act.

The defendant, in the context of a dispute regarding the property of a late relative, was alleged to have committed s20 GBH against his aunt and ABH against both his sister and niece.

Will cross-examined the three complainants, exposing material inconsistencies both within and between each of their accounts.

The Bench acquitted the defendant of all charges, citing the various inconsistencies revealed in cross-examination.

R v AB

William was instructed to represent a defendant in the Magistrates’ Court charged with driving whist the amount of a specified controlled drug in his blood was in excess of the legal limit. Following cross-examination of the healthcare practitioner who had taken the defendant’s blood sample, William successfully secured an acquittal by submitting that the sample was inadmissible, as the Crown could not satisfy the district judge to the criminal standard that the correct procedure had been followed.

R v MN

William was instructed to represent a defendant in the Magistrates’ court charged with failing to stop after an accident, failing to provide information relating to the identity of a driver, and two offences of failing to cooperate with a preliminary requirement.

Will successfully persuaded the Crown to offer no evidence in relation to the charge of failing to stop after an accident.

Thereafter, Will secured an acquittal at trial in respect of the charge of failing to provide information relating to the identity of a driver on that basis that, the defendant, who was not the registered keeper of the vehicle, had provided all the information that it was within his power to provide.

The defendant pleaded guilty to both offences of failing to cooperate with a preliminary requirement. However, with reference to authority, Counsel successfully advanced a special reasons argument on the basis of the defendant’s learning difficulties and evident preoccupation with other matters at the time the requests were made. As a result, the defendant did not receive penalty points and received a financial penalty only.

Will is regularly instructed in the County Court and has extensive experience appearing in Small Claims Track matters. He also appears in interlocutory hearings on the Fast Track and beyond. His previous experience as serious injury paralegal at a leading solicitors firm has provided him with considerable experience of personal injury litigation.

Will has been instructed by the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis in relation to various civil matters, including stalking protection and football banning orders.

Will welcomes instructions in all these areas. He has experience clerking school admission appeals, advising panel members on the applicable legal test.

Will accepts instructions across property and housing law. He is regularly instructed by landlords in residential possession proceedings and also has experience acting for the borrower in mortgage possession proceedings.

Will accepts instructions across family law. He has previously been instructed in relation to Family Law Act 1996 applications and matrimonial finance proceedings.

Certificate of Honour for Performance on the Bar Practice Course, Middle Temple (2023)

The Professor Sir Eric Scowen Prize for Best Overall Results for the MA in Medical Ethics and Law, King's College London (2020/2021)

The Tempany Prize for Best Ethics Essay Result on the MA in Medical Ethics and Law, King's College London (2020/2021)

Philosophy (Honours) Prize for Best Student at Honours Level Philosophy, University of St Andrews (2018/2019)

The Principal's Scholarship for Academic Excellence: Awarded to the 50 Final Year Undergraduate Students with the Best Academic Records, University of St Andrews (2018/2019)

Medal for Performance in History of Philosophy at Second Level, University of St Andrews (2016/2017)

Medal For Performance in Moral Philosophy at Second Level, University of St Andrews (2016/2017

William is passionate about music and is an experienced drummer. He has played across a wide variety of genres, including everything from metal and musical theatre to a Billy Joel Tribute band at the Edinburgh Fringe.

Aside from music, Will very much enjoys film and novels, particularly of the horror variety

"William was really helpful throughout and managed to pull together a very impressive and thorough Skeleton Argument despite short notice and the absence of some key papers. He was able to identify the key issues quickly and apply the law to the facts. 

The matter was not straightforward, in part because instructing solicitors had only been notified of the hearing a few days in advance, but William was calm and professional in his approach and delivered the outcome sought by the client. William’s communication throughout was excellent.  

The client was very impressed with William’s performance and has expressed a desire to instruct him again if there are further hearings. 

I would not hesitate to instruct William again." 

Carla Jones, Partner, Chubb Bulleid Solicitors

"His quiet professionalism and clarity made a huge impact on the successful conclusion of my case. His questions were deep and probing yet his summing up was a thing of beauty which managed to express the extent of our hardship case with both eloquence and humility and which, I am sure struck the final chord with the Magistrates causing them to feel able to hand down the sentence we sought."

Lay Client Testimonial