Raj Chada

Partner

Criminal Defence

Falsely Accused of Crime

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About Raj Chada

Raj is the Head of the Criminal Defence, Financial Crime and Regulatory Department. He is one of the country’s leading criminal lawyers with expertise in serious and complex crime, public order and financial crime. He is recommended in Chambers UK, 2024 and Legal 500, 2024 directories.

He is the winner of the Criminal Lawyer of Year Award in 2012, (LALY), awarded by the Legal Aid Practitioners Group. As a Higher Rights Advocate, he has been shortlisted on 3 occasions as “Advocate of the Year” by the Law Society Excellence Awards, being commended in 2017. He has been shortlisted as “Criminal Lawyer of the Year” by the Society of Asian Lawyers in 2017 and 2018.

He has a significant niche expertise in bribery/corruption, having represented several executives and is the author of the Bribery Handbook. He acted in the “Stansted 15” trial which was labelled by the New Statesman magazine as “the most important political trial of our times”. He is one of a handful of specialist human rights specialists who can take on cases with political dimensions, he is s a regular commentator for BBC, Channel 4, Sky News, the Guardian and the Time Newspapers.

"Raj is clearly an expert in protest matters. I am impressed with his ability to see the law in a wider context and the consequences of changes in this ever-developing field." "Raj is an innovative lawyer and one of the top criminal protest practitioners." - Chambers UK, 2025

"Raj Chada has an unrivalled understanding of the growing and complex protest case law. He also leads his team brilliantly, supporting and encouraging the depth of talent." - Legal 500, 2025

“Raj has an absolute wealth of knowledge in this area of law. He is super knowledgeable, strategic and good on thinking about how to approach these matters and frame things to the court.” “Raj Chada is a great lawyer and a good advocate.” – Chambers UK, 2024

“Raj Chada is the standout expert for protest law in the country. He is a consummate all-rounder: utterly fantastic with clients, a real team player, a brilliant strategist and a persuasive advocate on his feet. He doesn’t shy away from tricky arguments or issues, and gives every case his all. Simply the best in the field. Nobody can touch him for expertise and experience. The best of the best.” – Legal 500, 2024

“Raj is a charismatic and committed criminal defence solicitor who exercises his higher rights effectively as well as being a very good litigator.” – Chambers UK, 2023

“He leads the fight back and has been involved in the biggest cases in the market – Raj is constantly evolving the law in the area.” – Chambers UK, 2023

“Raj Chada is just brilliant and knows his way around the criminal justice system to his clients’ advantage.” “He is highly skilled, creative and diverse in his approaches to very complex and challenging cases.” – Chambers UK, 2023

“Raj Chada is a very experienced protest lawyer whose ability to manage clients and barristers yet also stay on top of his own advocacy is fantastic. He is able to take it all on and look after the interests of everyone concerned while at the same time keeping on top of the evidence and legal arguments.” “He is extremely supportive, gives very clear advice and is well informed and detailed in his responses.” – Chambers UK, 2022

“Raj Chada and Mike Schwarz are the best in the business, between them they have been instrumental in every big protester case for the last two decades.”

“Raj Chada, the head of HJA’s criminal team, is a fantastic lawyer who is universally respected. He is also an excellent advocate.”
Legal 500, 2023

“Raj Chada is a brilliant legal strategist, advocate and leader. He is extremely passionate about defending his clients. He is an out-of-the-box thinker and is tactically astute. He is hugely respected across the profession.” Legal 500, 2022

“Raj Chada and Mike Schwarz are standout solicitors, with incredible wealth and depth of knowledge and expertise. Raj Chada’s client management in particular is second to none. He readily earns the trust of clients, a trust which is entirely well-placed. His judgement in criminal cases is also unfailingly sound. Both solicitors are utterly committed to clients. They are entirely at ease in high profile cases, and masterful in managing clients and the media.” Legal 500, 2022

Raj is “as a star. He is calm, clever and hard working. His easy, relaxed manner does not stop him from giving advice to a wide range of clients. He’s deeply committed to his clients – a leader in the field of protester work.” and “Raj is phenomenal – his level of client care is exceptional. He is a tremendous lawyer and a good advocate with a great presence in court.”
Legal 500

Notable Protest/Human Rights Cases

R v Stansted 15 – Represented all 15 defendants accused of terror related offences after a direct action to prevent a charter flight taking off from Stansted airport.

R v DSEi – Represented protestors for a number of years at bi annual arms fair protests at the Excel Centre. Includes R v Ziegler, new leading authority on obstruction of highway and interpretation of article 10 European Convention on Human Rights.

R v F145 – Acted for a number of clients accused of aggravated trespass during sit in at Fortnum and Mason Department store. All apart from one acquitted.

R v Critical Mass – Acted for a number of clients arrested on opening day of Olympics. All clients acquitted after trial and currently pursuing action against the police.

Notable Financial Crime Cases

J v H – Representing Director in company accused of fraudulent trading, in one of largest cases ever brought by BIS.

R v JM – Bank employee accused of assisting others in breaking into bank’s computer system to facilitate large scale theft.

Rv DM – Representing two clients in further fraudulent trading case involving sale and development of land deals R v M.

R v OM/RB – Representing directors in companies accused of bypassing immigration rules for their employees.

R v S – Largest money laundering investigation by Revenue and Customs – involved the use of exchange bureaus in the UK to transfer money back to Colombia.

R v B – Represented senior executive during the BAE bribery investigation.

R v PC – Representing former senior executive in the Securency bribery investigation which spans across a number of jurisdictions.

Notable Serious Crime Cases

R v A – Represented defendant in alleged gang murder.

R v T – Represented defendant in further alleged gang murder; client acquitted.

R v FL – Represented client arrested for attempted murder – case eventually dropped to section s20 GBH.

R v C – Large scale conspiracy to import cannabis in the UK.

R v I – Large scale conspiracy to supply cocaine in street deals in the UK.

Notable Terrorism Cases

R v NS – Client investigated for assisting “Pakistan Taliban” with funding

Client Comments

“Raj Chada and Aneka Thirurajah at Hodge Jones & Allen are beyond excellent. I always felt that my representation was in great hands but, equally importantly, they provide great care communication and assurance throughout. I would have no hesitation in recommending this firm and these solicitors.”

“Ms O’Brien was very helpful on a late evening call in an emergency. Then Mr Chada during a group discussion was very knowledgeable and gave good practical instructions. Thank you.”

“Everyone from HJA was really helpful in resolving things for me – I knew that everything was safe in their hands as I went through the legal system after an arrest for peaceful protest.”

“I found Hodge, Jones and Allen, having first been arrested for peaceful protest, as part of Insulate Britain in 2021. It has continued to guide and to help me, through custody and the courts, ever since. Laura O’Brien and Raj Chada are indefatigable in their efforts to try to see justice done for so many in civil resistance to a dysfunctional and a dystopian UK Government.”

“Great support and initiative from a really good solicitor. HJA handled my protest arrest compensation claim really proactively and got a good result.”

“They are very competent solicitors and will represent you fairly.”

“I was represented by Raj Chada. I would highly recommend him to clients due to his expertise in understanding complex cases relating to and the breadth of his experience with the criminal justice system. He stands out for me as one of the strongest advocates in the country in the area of criminal law and defence due to his sound judgement. He served my case with patience and passion at every turn.”

"Raj Chada acted as both my solicitor and barrister. Raj was excellent in both roles, understanding almost immediately that my case was all about the weaknesses of my interview. He was always very approachable and warm and we worked well together. He won the case for me with an unshowy style in the courtroom and keen attention to detail."

“Meetings were offered at all stages of the process, and my solicitor [Raj] ensured that every step was taken for a successful result in my case, highlighting the incompetency of the other party.”

“Excellent support for my XR trial.”

“Never let me down . Always do their best whatever the situation.”

“I just wanted to say thank you so very much for all you did for my daughter. I was extremely pleased, and hugely relieved, that you were acting for her, knowing your reputation … many many thanks.”