Jonny graduated from the University of Glasgow in 2007 with an Honours degree (LL.B) in Scots Law and in 2008 with a Postgraduate Diploma in Professional Legal Practice. Jonny practiced as a solicitor for 17 years before calling to the Bar gaining extensive experience in Sheriff Courts throughout Scotland as well as in the High Court of Justiciary. He was appointed as Director of a leading criminal defence firm in 2019.
Jonny was granted extended rights of audience in the criminal courts in 2017 and has been instructed in cases for offences including attempted murder, sexual offences, drugs offences and cases involving serious and organised crime. He has been instructed as junior Counsel in a number of trials including those in which the principal charge was murder. He has appeared in the Sheriff Appeal Court and High Court of Appeal. Jonny was appointed as an Ad Hoc Advocate Depute in 2022 which provided him with invaluable experience in prosecuting cases.
Jonny was elected President of the Edinburgh Bar Association in 2022, having served a term as Vice President. He had the privilege of representing the interests of solicitors in Edinburgh and working in partnership with other Bar Associations across Scotland. During his term as President he gave evidence to the Criminal Justice Committee of the Scottish Parliament in relation to the Victims, Witnesses and Justice Reform (Scotland) Bill.
Jonny tutored in Criminal Court Practice at the University of Edinburgh Diploma in Professional Legal Practice between 2018 and 2023.
HMA v Duane Bingham [2024]: The accused was charged with attempted murder using a motor vehicle. After trial the accused was convicted of the lesser charge of assault and received a non-custodial sentence.
HMA v Florin Vasile [2023]: Trial where the accused was alleged to have committed the offence of rape. The accused was acquitted after trial.
HMA v Malcolm McDougall [2023]: Acted as Ad Hoc Advocate Depute in a complex trail with multiple allegations of attempted murder and domestic offending which were to be proved by mutual corroboration. The accused was represented by Kings Counsel with junior Counsel. The accused was convicted of all matters which went before the jury.
HMA v Rhys Bennett [2023]: Indictment where their principal charges were rape and murder. The matter resolved by way of Section 76 indictment. Acted as junior to Iain McSporran KC.
Sandeep Sandhu v HMA [2024]: Solemn appeal against sentence where the appellant’s original sentence was quashed and replaced with a reduced custodial term.