Jacob has substantial experience in the field of National Security/terrorism related work. He continues to act in major criminal prosecutions under terrorism legislation as well providing advice and representation in a range of other jurisdictions, including parole proceedings, the Investigatory Powers Tribunal and international tribunals. Jacob is often instructed to advise companies and individuals in relation to matters related to national security and terrorism legislation and cases with an international dimension.

R v BDN [2024] Central Criminal Court

Jacob acts for individual charged under s.12(1A) of the Terrorism Act 2000 in relation to a protest in the aftermath of the October 7^th attacks on Israel and subsequent invasion of Gaza. One of the first prosecutions under this legislation, the case raises complex issues regarding the applicability of freedom of expression in the context of terrorism legislation. Interlocutory application to the Supreme Court pending (R v BDN [2024] EWCA Crim 1597).

R v ZX [2024] Westminster Youth Court

Jacob acted for a 17 year old boy accused of multiple accounts of dissemination of terrorist material, along with fundraising offences relating to alleged involvement with Islamic extremism. 

R v Ali [2024] Central Criminal Court

Jacob acted alone for the defendant in this breach of terrorism related notification requirements. The case Involved very technical and novel legal argument regarding the applicability of the legislation to crypto currency trading platforms. 

R v King [2023] Central Criminal Court

In this high profile case, Jacob appeared for the defendant who was charged with an offence under s.5 of the Terrorism Act 2006 of preparation of terrorist acts relating to members of the armed forces and plans to go to Syria. Led by Hossein Zahir KC.

R v XB – [2023] Westminster Youth Court

Acted for a 14 year old boy charged with 9 counts of dissemination of terrorist videos and bomb making manuals. 

R v AK [2023] Manchester Crown Court

Appearing alone in this breach of terrorism notification requirements case, due for trial in October 2023. Instructed by Alistair Lyon at Birnberg Peirce. 

Parole Board Proceedings AZ [2023]

Amongst the first parole proceedings to engage the use of Special Advocates. These are highly complex proceedings in which Jacob has been instructed in for over 4 years including several judicial reviews and non disclosure material appeals. The detainee has served over 11 years of an IPP tariff of 4 years and been the subject of repeated attempts to withhold evidence from him. 

R v KAB [2022] Central Criminal Court 2022

Appeared alone for an individual charged with a range of terrorism offences including breach of notification requirements. Instructed by Alistair Lyon, Birnberg Peirce and Partners.

R (El Gizouli) v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2020] UKSC 10

Instructed by Leigh Day & Co, Jacob acted for the NGO, Reprieve in their intervention in this case concerning fundamental issues around the provision of evidence to foreign states by way of mutual legal assistance, where there is the prospect that the death penalty will be imposed. Jacob was led by Mark Summers KC (Matrix).

R v Hussain [2017] Central Criminal Court

Acted for an Imam in a rare prosecution under s.1 Terrorism Act 2006 (encouraging terrorism) and encouraging support for a proscribed organisation, relating to sermons delivered to his congregation in the Midlands. The case involved substantial argument on the validity of expert evidence relating to disputed concepts in the Islamic faith. Jacob was led by Michael Ivers QC.

R v AS [2016] Central Criminal Court

Represented the defendant in a month-long trial charged under s.5 Terrorism Act 2006 in respect of alleged assistance given to British fighters travelling to Syria. Jacob was led by Rajiv Menon QC of Garden Court Chambers.

R v AS [2016] Court of Appeal Criminal Division

Led by Rajiv Menon QC. First sentence appeals before the Lord Chief Justice concerning section 5 of the Terrorism Act 2006 following the guideline judgment in Kahar & Ors: R v Abdallah & Ors [2017] 1 Cr. App. R. (S.) 29.

Jacob is passionate about criminal justice and defends in a wide range of serious criminal matters. As someone with a practice that intersects between serious crime, human rights and international issues, he is able to bring his experience of other disciplines to bear on criminal proceedings. Jacob is regularly instructed in cases of homicide, serious violence and drug supply as well as those involving vulnerable clients and victims of trafficking and exploitation.

R v EE [2025] Central Criminal Court

Jacob acts alone for young defendant charged with attempted murder arising from alleged stabbing. Instructed by Alastair Lyon, Birnberg Peirce.

R v AK [2025] Snaresbrook Crown Court

Jacob acts alone in this s.18 GBH matter relating to an allegation of stabbing. Instructed by Vajahat Sharif, Tuckers.

R v Lewis & ors [2024] Woolwich Crown Court

Jacob acted alone for in this multihanded firearms, kidnap and blackmail case. The case involved issues arudn trafficking/exploitation and the correct approach to sentencing. Instructed by Will Russell, GT Stewart. 

R v X [2022] Cambridge Crown Court

Jacob acted alone in this case involving allegations of multiple counts of rape and sexual assault by a former friend of the defendant. The Defendant was acquitted of all charges after a trial. Instructed by Powell Spencer and Partners.

R v Briceno Garcia [2022] Central Criminal Court

Led by Clare Wade KC, Jacob acted for the defendant charged with a double murder during the first national Covid 19 lockdown.

R v Sikander [2022] Central Criminal Court

Led by Stephen Kamlish KC, Jacob acted for the first defendant accused of murder following a vehicle pursuit across London. The case was preceded by a lengthy abuse of process argument relating to prosecution reliance on witnesses said to be guilty of offences in the course of the fatal incident.

R v Yussuf [2020] Central Criminal Court

Led by Michael Ivers QC, Jacob acts for a young man accused of murder in an alleged attack relating to a dispute over a former girlfriend.

R v Deol [2019] Reading Crown Court

Acted for the sole defendant charged with manslaughter arising from an allegation of baby shaking after the so called ‘triad’ of injuries were discovered following the tragic death of a very premature baby. The defendant was unanimously acquitted after a three-week trial before Mrs Justice Whipple. The defence did not call any expert witnesses and relied on cross-examination of the leading experts in the field to demonstrate the child had been in a collapsed state by the time she was found by the defendant. Led by Rajiv Menon QC.

Jacob is regularly instructed as lead junior or junior alone in a wide range of matters relating to white-collar and financial crime. These have included duty evasion, banking fraud, VAT fraud, as well as forfeiture and confiscation. Jacob regularly provides advice to individuals and organisations on issues such as search and seizure, judicial review of prosecuting authorities, including the SFO and foreign proceedings. In the past he worked on the Rolls Royce bribery investigation for the SFO and has delivered seminars on issues such as search warrants and Unexplained Wealth Orders.

R v T  2025 [Harrow Crown Court] 

Jacob acts alone in this multi handed duty evasion fraud listed for 6 week trial in May 2025. 

India v Nirav Modi [2020 -24] City of Westminster Magistrates Court

Instructed as part of a team acting for the requested person in this high profile part 2 EA Act, white-collar extradition case concerning an extradition request by the Government of India relating to an allegation of a $1bn banking fraud. The case involved working with teams from a variety of jurisdictions and a range of complex issues from witness interference to foreign bankruptcy proceedings. 

R v Milton & Ors [2023] Snaresbrook Crown Court

Jacob appeared at trial in this £1m multi handed boiler room fraud tried at Snaresbrook Crown Court. An appeal is due to be heard by the Court of Appeal in 2025. 

R v AX & Ors [2020] Snaresbrook Crown Court

Acting for one defendant in this multi handed case concerning allegations of conspiracy to commit trademarks offences and money laundering. 

Jury take just 30 minutes to acquit after four-week conspiracy to defraud trial

R v KT and Ors [2018] Blackfriars Crown Court

Acted as junior alone in a multi handed conspiracy to defraud TFL involving the misuse of staff privilege cards.

After a four-week trial, the defendants were acquitted by the jury after just 30 minutes of deliberation.

Prosecution offer no evidence after extensive disclosure failings regarding cross-border issues

R v H & Ors [2018] Kingston Crown Court

Jacob appeared as lead junior for the first defendant in one of the largest prosecutions for VAT and duty evasion. The case collapsed after two years following the discovery of significant non-disclosure by the Crown and abuse of process argument on behalf of the defendants relating to the issue of cross border surveillance.

Admissibility of foreign proceedings challenged

R v S [2018] Blackfriars Crown Court

Major international conspiracy to defraud case involving the manufacture of devices used in card skimming. Led by Ali Bajwa QC, Jacob acted for the lead defendant in the four-week trial which raised significant issues regarding the Crown's approach to major disclosure exercises.

R v Delap & Ors [2025] Court of Appeal

Jacob appeared for a number of the Appellants in high profile conjoined appeals before the Lady Chief Justice regarding the correct approach to custodial sentences in cases of peaceful, disruptive protest arising from actions on the M25 and elsewhere. Judgment awaited. Instructed by Raj Chada, Hodge Jones and Allen.

R v HM [2025] Central Criminal Court

Jacob acts for one of the 18 defendants in this significant prosecution for aggravated burglary and criminal damage relating to an alleged Palestine Action attempt to damage a factory belonging to Elbit Systems. The case will be heard over 3 trials, presided over by a High Court Judge in 2025/2026. Instructed by Simon Natas, ITN Solicitors. 

R v Owens & Ors [2024] Isleworth Crown Court

Jacob acted alone for lead defendant, acquitted after trial of all counts relating to a Palestine Action direct action protest on a central London building linked to Israeli arms manufacturers. Instructed by Rosa Potter, Kellys Solicitors. 

R v Trowland & Decker [2023] EWCA Crim 919

Important appeal concerning sentencing powers under the new statutory offence of public nuisance (s.78 PCCSA 2022) in the context of direct-action protest. The appellants blocked the Dartford Crossing for 37 hours and the case received international attention. Media coverage can be found here.

The Stansted 15 – activists prosecuted under law introduced after Lockerbie bombing

R v Thacker & Others [2018] Chelmsford Crown Court

Jacob acted alone for one of the defendants in this two month trial on a charge under s.1(2)(b) of the Aviation and Maritime Security Act 1990. The case involved the novel use of a law primarily aimed at terrorism related incidents at airports against 15 activists who sought to prevent a plane used to deport migrants back to various parts of Africa from taking off. The case attracted significant media attention including coverage in BBC and Guardian.

Jacob regularly provides advice and representation to individuals and NGOs on issues involving human rights, national security, corruption and environmental abuses. Jacob is also instructed to advise on appeals to the Privy Council. He is a former member of the Executive Committee of the Bar Human Rights Council. In recent years he has been instructed to advise international organisations on issues relating to funding, terrorism and freedom of expression laws. He is able to combine domestic expertise in  arrange of crime and crime related areas with international experience to assist a variety of clients. 

For many years Jacob has maintained a keen interest in issues arising from the War on Terror and the detention of individuals at Guantanamo Bay. In 2015 Jacob was a Pegasus Fellow at the Centre for Constitutional Rights (CCR) in New York where he worked on habeus corpus petitions for remaining Guantanamo Inmates and the CCR's attempts to secure prosecution at the ICC of those involved in the Bush era torture program. In 2020 Jacob spent a week at Guantanamo Bay as an international observer at the trial of US v Mohammad et al (the 9/11 trial).

Jacob has also previously worked at the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague for the senior legal advisor to President Song on issues of international criminal law and judicial review, particularly in the detention context. Following this, Jacob worked at the Independent Jamaican Council for Human Rights in Kingston, Jamaica where he assisted with civil actions against the police and capital appeals.

AB v Security Services [2024]

Instructed in an application to the Investigatory Powers Tribunal regarding the actions of the Security Services relating to a Guantanamo detainee in the aftermath of 9/11.

Looker v Spain ECHR Application No.51568/19

Jacob acted for Reprieve in its third-party intervention before the European Court of Human Rights regarding the issue of death penalty assurances relating to a British National whose extradition is sought by Thailand.

KK & ors v AML - (England & Wales High Court QBD)

Instructed by Leigh Day & Co, Jacob acted on behalf of 142 villagers situated around a large iron ore mine in West Africa. The claimants seek damages for personal injury, death and other damage allegedly caused by the actions and negligence of the British company that owns the mine, following local protests about their operations. The case involves complex issues around the Act of State doctrine and Rome II regulations. Led by Richard Hermer KC of Matrix Chambers. Media coverage can be found here.

PSC v HP

Instructed to draft an opinion on the legality of operations of a major international company in the Occupied Territories and potential issues relating to International Humanitarian Law.

Advising a major NGO on human rights/pubic law issues surrounding the introduction of a register of beneficial ownership in the UK.

The Republic v Mkwinda & Tomasi

Successfully acting for the appellant in an appeal in Malawi in which death sentences were commuted to life.

Jacob is developing a practice representing core participants in Public Inquiries and Inquests having been instructed in the Covid Inquiry since Module 2 hearings began in 2023. In the past he has acted pro bono in Inquests touching upon deaths in psychiatric care.

Covid 19 Inquiry

Jacob acts for the Northern Ireland Covid Bereaved Families for Justice at the Covid 19 Inquiry. Led by Brenda Campbell KC and Peter Wilcock KC, he has appeared in Modules 2, 3, 4 and 5 and is instructed by PA Duffy solicitors, Belfast.