Qualifications and Professional Associations
- [MA (Oxon)]
- Called to the Bar by the Lincoln's Inn 1975
- Member of the Criminal Bar Association
- Member of the South Eastern Circuit
- Appointed Queens Counsel 2006
Areas of Specialisation
Rod Johnson was appointed Queen’s Counsel in 2006. For over a decade, he has practised almost exclusively as leading counsel for the defence in large, complex and high-profile cases specialising particularly in cases involving drugs, fraud and money laundering.
Rod has particular expertise in cases of exceptional complexity, both factual and legal, and has achieved notable success in cases involving issues of disclosure, public interest immunity and allegations of corruption by investigating authorities.
Notable Cases:
R v Bradley - In December 2007 at Liverpool Crown Court, Rod successfully defended his client charged with gangland murder and contract killing after a brilliant half time submission decimating the prosecution case.
R v Barton - Rod defended the main instigator in a 5 handed murder at the Old Bailey, where the defendants were alleged to have committed a premeditated multiple stabbing and beating of an individual in his private residence.
R v Haase & Others – Rod successfully represented Barry Oliver, who was acquitted of allegations of involvement in gun and drug running at Liverpool Crown Court, in a case involving complex PII issues and allegations of corruption by customs officers.
R v Wren & Others – Rod successfully represented Mr Wren in this massive fraud trial in which, 6 months into the trial, he persuaded the Judge to stay the proceedings as an abuse of process on the grounds that it was too complex for a jury to understand.
R v Green & Others
– Rod represented Mr Green both in his trial for a multi-million pound fraud and also in the subsequent confiscation proceedings which ended in the High Court as a leading authority on the way in which frozen assets can be used to fund legal representation.
R v Barnett & Others – Rod represented the main defendant in a multi-party cut-throat defence in relation to a huge VAT conspiracy.
R v Zamora & Others – Conspiracy to supply class A drugs
