Call: 2018
John-Paul specialises in public international law, particularly the law governing weapons, means and methods of warfare, together with public inquiries, inquests and investigations.
He came to the Bar in 2018 during a military career spanning more than twenty years. Serving as both a warfare officer, and latterly also a military lawyer practising in public international law, operational law, criminal law and regulatory matters. In that time, he advised senior military commanders, government departments, scientists, engineers and project teams on some of the most demanding legal questions facing Defence.
What distinguishes his practice is the combination of legal knowledge with first-hand understanding of military operations, weapons effects and capability development. Few practitioners at the Bar have comparable experience of conducting legal reviews of new weapons systems intended for use in international armed conflict.
Alongside his advisory work, John-Paul has led complex investigations and reviews. He served as President of Defence Safety Authority Service Inquiries into fatalities and acts as an Independent Chair and Report Author in Domestic Abuse Related Death Reviews, work which involves close examination of multi-agency decision-making, safeguarding arrangements and organisational learning.
His approach is practical and collaborative. Clients value advice that turns complex legal requirements into clear direction for decision-makers, technical specialists and project teams.
John-Paul advises on international humanitarian law (the law of armed conflict), weapons law and the legal assurance of military capability.
During his military career he conducted legal reviews of new weapons, means and methods of warfare under Article 36 of Additional Protocol I to the Geneva Conventions. This included capabilities under development within UK Defence as well as systems intended for transfer to allied and partner nations, including Ukraine.
He worked with scientists, engineers, project teams and senior decision-makers across the full capability lifecycle, from concept development and testing through to introduction into service. His involvement went beyond legal assessment alone: he helped organisations identify legal issues early, shape testing and assurance activity, and build the evidence needed to support a robust weapons review.
A project manager at the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory, whose weapons and munitions project John-Paul supported for two years, said of him: “His willingness to advise in the early stages of development helped shape the effect of the munition to meet the legal requirements of the operation.”
John-Paul has particular knowledge of novel weapon systems, autonomy and artificial intelligence. He advises on the legal questions raised by emerging technology and on the design of trials capable of generating evidence of both legal compliance and operational effectiveness.
This background places him well to advise defence manufacturers, prime contractors, technology firms and start-ups operating in the defence sector. He understands the commercial and technical realities of capability development and works with clients to find lawful, workable routes to their objectives.
John-Paul has also trained military personnel, government officials and capability teams in international humanitarian law, weapons law, self-defence and international human rights law. He sits as an independent reviewer of graduate and postgraduate courses for Leeds Law School and mentors students from Leeds Law School, The University of Oxford and Gray’s Inn.
John-Paul is an accredited Civil and Commercial Mediator, accredited by ADR ODR International since 2018, and is also qualified in online dispute resolution. His background in inquiry work and multi-agency reviews, where he routinely deals with competing accounts and parties with strongly held positions, lends itself naturally to mediation. He is calm, even-handed and focused on helping parties find practical terms they can live with, whether in person or remotely.
John-Paul has led complex investigations, inquiries and reviews involving fatalities, organisational learning and public protection.
He served as President of two Defence Safety Authority Service Inquiries into fatalities, overseeing the collection and analysis of large bodies of evidence, engaging with bereaved families, subject matter experts and senior stakeholders, and producing detailed findings and recommendations.
He acts as an Independent Chair and Report Author in Domestic Abuse Related Death Reviews, examining multi-agency decision-making, safeguarding arrangements, risk management and organisational practice across statutory and voluntary sector bodies.
His work involves absorbing large and complex evidential records, interviewing witnesses, testing competing accounts and producing clear, evidence-based findings and recommendations. He is adept at distilling significant volumes of material into a form that decision-makers can act on.
Having worked as both investigator and inquiry chair, John-Paul is well placed to assist inquiry teams, public bodies, corporate organisations and core participants in statutory inquiries, inquests, investigations and reviews.
This article closes the series by answering the question that […]
For most of my professional life, building major weapons systems […]
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John-Paul is a keen equestrian, surfer and enjoys skiing when possible. Outside of work or spending time with his children he enjoys attending the theatre and opera and reads for pleasure.
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