John Burke

John Burke is a criminal and human rights practitioner with substantial trial experience gained in both the United Kingdom and the United States. He regularly appears in court prosecuting and defending criminal cases and is a CPS Level 1 Panel Advocate.

John’s practice encompasses crime, extradition, immigration, and human rights law. He is frequently instructed by the Crown Prosecution Service and by solicitors acting for defendants, and he is increasingly instructed in extradition matters, an area which combines his interests in criminal law and international human rights.

In 2023, John was instructed as external counsel to His Majesty’s Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate (HMCPSI) to assist with an inspection reviewing disclosure compliance by the Serious Fraud Office. This work formed part of a report commissioned by the Attorney General and published in 2024.

John is recognised as a meticulous and formidable advocate. Clients describe him as “exceedingly prepared for trial,” “highly skilled in advocacy,” and “a masterful cross-examiner.” He has secured acquittals for defendants in contested criminal trials and convictions for the Crown, including in cases where the prosecution’s sole witness became hostile by the time of trial.

Before transferring to the Bar of England and Wales, John practised for several years as an Assistant District Attorney in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, where he prosecuted a wide range of serious criminal offences. He acted as lead counsel in over thirty jury trials and numerous bench trials, and regularly handled complex legal issues relating to disclosure, evidence, and search and seizure. He later established his own practice, defending juveniles and adults in criminal proceedings and representing families in care and protection cases against the local authority.

John was awarded a Pegasus Scholarship in 2019 by the American Inns of Court. As one of only two American lawyers selected annually to study the legal systems of England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland, he went on to become the first Pegasus Scholar in the programme’s thirty-year history to join the English Bar as a practising barrister.

He completed his pupillage at Legis Chambers, during which he organised and delivered a well-attended lecture on the civil proceedings brought against Prince Andrew in New York. John was interviewed on the subject by national and international media, including The Telegraph and Pakistani television, and later published an article in Counsel Magazine analysing the litigation and advocating settlement.

In addition to his professional practice, John is currently undertaking a Master of Science course in International Human Rights Law at the University of Oxford, further deepening his expertise in extradition and cross-border criminal matters.