About Ruth Harris
Ruth joined the firm in 2002 as a qualified solicitor and has been a partner since 2010. She is Joint Head of Financial Crime & Regulatory Team.
Ruth is recommended in Legal 500, 2022.
A large part of her work is within our Business Crime Department, defending complex ‘white collar’ matters. She advises individuals and companies subject to regulatory proceedings, criminal investigation and prosecution. She has defended cases taken by prosecuting authorities such as the Serious Fraud Office (SFO), Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC), the National Crime Agency (NCA) local authorities and the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS).
Ruth has acted for those facing allegations of all sorts of financial impropriety, including:
- Boiler room scams and fraudulent trading including those involving carbon credits, land banking, diamonds and wine investments
- Cheating the public revenue including income tax, VAT and excise duty fraud
- Money laundering including allegations involving money exchange bureaux, companies and private bank accounts
- Fraud on local authorities including through wrongful obtaining of housing or financial payments and fraud on charities
- Manipulation of Euribor and Libor rates
- Fraud allegedly conducted to fund terrorist activity
- ‘Long Firm’ fraud
- Financial misconduct involving foreign jurisdictions
In addition, Ruth is experienced in dealing with the full range of criminal offences, specialising in the most serious and complex. This includes cases involving serious violence and homicide, sexual offences, drug importations, armed robbery and conspiracy matters. Much of her work is on large cases and she expertly manages teams including other solicitors, counsel and experts ensuring all focus is on successfully defending the case. Ruth has her Higher Rights and as a Higher Court Advocate she has acted for clients before the Crown Court on charges including possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life and inflicting grievous bodily harm with intent.
"Ruth Harris is extremely bright, well-organised and focused on her clients’ best interests. She achieves this through a rare ability to work very successfully with members of her own defence team, while delivering the best outcomes for her clients in her effective engagement with the prosecution." Legal 500, 2022
"tremendous at managing large cases and inspires confidence in her clients with her calm demeanour and quick ability to get on top of their case." and as a "magnificent solicitor with all the attributes necessary to be a great fraud lawyer." Legal 500, 2021
Ruth has huge experience in successfully intervening in the investigation stage of a case and preventing prosecution. She recognises that reputation management is often central to her client’s concern. Her ordered approach, attention to detail and approachable manner is appreciated by clients often overwhelmed by the nature and presentation of the case against them
Notable Cases
- R v A: Represented defendant, charged with seven others, in a large-scale trial on allegations of involvement in a boiler room fraud trading in carbon credits and diamonds.
- R v J: Represented defendant accused, along with four others, of money laundering the proceeds of an excise duty fraud.
- R v D: Defendant charged with money laundering in proceedings taken by HMRC. Said to have been dealing in the proceeds of supply of smuggled cigarettes and tobacco by an organised crime group.
- R v M: Represented defendant in these multi-handed proceedings taken by the FCA, alleging the mis-selling of investments.
- R v H: Client faced allegations that he was engaged in a long firm fraud. This was the largest fraud prosecuted by DBIS.
- R v R: Case alleged conspiracy to defraud to fund terrorism – investigation was by the Met Police Anti-Terrorist Branch.
- R v B: Conspiracy to Defraud and money laundering. Central allegation was that charities were set up and dishonestly operated.
- R v P: Part of the team at HJA that represented senior trader for Barclays alleged to have manipulated Euribor.
- L: defended suspect in allegations of laundering proceeds gained through breaching currency regulations in China.
- M: suspect faced investigation by SFO concerning allegations he was involved in the manipulation of Yen Libor.
- S: investigation involving sophisticated VAT fraud using fake companies as front for offending.
- R v S: Murder. Client’s defence was one of diminished responsibility.
- R v F: Attempted Murder by scaring the complainant so badly after assault with a knife (GBH) that he jumped out of the window of a tower-block. False imprisonment of witnesses and perverting course of justice in cleaning the premises to remove traces of offending.
- R v Z: Multi-handed false imprisonment, GBH and kidnapping trial.
- R v E: Advising client serving life for murder, convicted when other solicitors acted for him. Sought leave to appeal on grounds that poor representation makes conviction unsafe.
- R v K: One of numerous defendants facing proceedings relating to allegation of running a cannabis factory and distributing the resulting product.
- R v D: Multiple counts of armed robbery, investigated by the Flying Squad.
Client Comments
- “Ruth was a light in the dark. Thank you so much for all the good advice she gave, all has settled well. Should we need a good solicitor again, yours will be our first choice.”
- “I was lucky enough to have Hodge Jones & Allen represent me this year and received the most wonderful support and encouragement from my solicitor Ruth Harris. I would recommend this firm and Ruth to anyone who needs someone in their corner.”
- “A trustworthy and ethical company to work with. My case was handled by Ruth Harris and she delivered excellent job. She was very attentive, and responsive as well as analytical and professional throughout the time.”
- “Brilliant company. Very reliable and trustworthy. If ever needed would highly recommend!”
"I would like to thank you for all the commitment and interest you have shown from the very beginning of this case and the way you handled it with empathy and professionalism. I am very grateful for the outcome. It has been an extremely tough year for us and I am certainly very happy that you represented us. I would not think twice about recommending you."
Memberships & Appointments
- The London Criminal Courts Solicitors’ Association
- The Fraud Lawyers Association
“I was lucky enough to have Hodge Jones & Allen represent me this year and received the most wonderful support and encouragement from my solicitor Ruth Harris..."
Articles & Publications
- The Justice Gap – Beware the new early guilty plea sentencing guidelines.
Ruth has been quoted in a range of newspapers including The Times, and had articles printed in publications such as Solicitors Journal and the Justice Gap.
Career & Personal Interests
Career
- Hodge Jones and Allen, Partner – 2010
- Higher Court Advocate – 2008
- Hodge Jones and Allen, Associate – 2006
- Hodge Jones and Allen, Solicitor – 2002
- Admitted as Solicitor: 2000
- Training Contract, Edward Fail Bradshaw and Waterson: 1998-2000
Media
- Ruth has appeared on the BBC including on the Victoria Derbyshire Show.
Education
- College of Law, London, LPC; 1997-1998
- University of Westminster, CPE; 1996-1997
- University of Birmingham, (B Soc Sci) Sociology and Politics; 1993-1996