Jason Lartey – Criminal Defence Solicitor & Solicitor Advocate
Managing Director, Lartey & Co Solicitors | President of the London Criminal Courts Solicitors' Association

Jason Lartey is the founder and Managing Director of Lartey & Co Solicitors, a specialist criminal defence firm based in London. He is an experienced criminal defence solicitor and Solicitor Advocate, specialising in serious and complex crime, murder and manslaughter, sexual offences, criminal appeals, miscarriages of justice and extradition.

Jason qualified as a solicitor in 2012 and has since represented defendants in some of the most serious and high-profile criminal cases before the courts of England and Wales. He holds Higher Rights of Audience and continues to work as a frontline practitioner alongside his role managing the firm.
His practice encompasses cases from the earliest stages of a criminal investigation through to proceedings before the Crown Court, Central Criminal Court (Old Bailey), Court of Appeal and complex extradition proceedings.

Jason has particular experience in cases requiring detailed analysis of forensic, pathological, medical, CCTV, telephone and expert evidence, as well as cases where the reliability of an original investigation or conviction is challenged.

President of the LCCSA
In November 2025, Jason became President of the London Criminal Courts Solicitors' Association (LCCSA), becoming the first Black male President of the Association since it was founded in 1948.

The LCCSA represents criminal law solicitors practising in and around London and regularly engages with government, the judiciary and criminal justice agencies on issues affecting the operation of the criminal courts.
Jason has used his presidency to advocate for criminal defence practitioners and for those who rely upon a properly functioning criminal justice system.
He has been particularly prominent in the campaign opposing proposals to significantly restrict the right to trial by jury. Jason has argued that the Crown Court backlog is the consequence of years of underinvestment in the criminal justice system and that restricting the right to jury trial does not address the underlying problems facing the courts.

Under his presidency, the LCCSA has been at the forefront of the national debate surrounding the proposed reforms, including working alongside other practitioner groups, engaging with Parliamentarians and leading a demonstration outside Parliament opposing the proposed restrictions on jury trial.

In January 2026, Jason appeared as a guest on BBC One's Politics London, discussing the Crown Court backlog, pressures facing the criminal justice system and the proposed changes to jury trials. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cg7yylr0jyeo
His views have also featured across the national and legal press. The Times profiled Jason in an interview entitled “Juries don't cause backlogs – underfunding does”, while the Law Society Gazette subsequently featured him following the LCCSA's demonstration outside Parliament.


https://www.thetimes.com/uk/law/article/jason-lartey-juries-dont-cause-backlogs-underfunding-does-9m6l6dk0x
https://www.lccsa.org.uk/the-lccsa-criminal-practitioner-groups-unite-to-fight-lammy-on-juries/
https://www.lawgazette.co.uk/news/law-firm-chief-proud-to-be-lccsas-first-black-male-president/5124994.article

Alongside his public advocacy, Jason is actively involved in discussions concerning practical reform of the criminal justice system. This has included engagement with policymakers and criminal justice stakeholders, including attending meetings at the Mayor's Office for Policing and Crime (MOPAC), bringing the experience and perspective of frontline criminal defence practitioners to discussions concerning the future of London's criminal justice system.

Notable Cases
R v Patryk Pachecka & Others – Murder conviction overturned
Jason represented Patryk Pachecka in the successful challenge to his murder conviction. Following the original conviction, the defence undertook extensive further investigation and obtained fresh pathological and scientific evidence challenging the evidential basis of the original prosecution.
In 2021, the Court of Appeal quashed Mr Pachecka's murder conviction and ordered a retrial.

Following a six-week retrial at the Central Criminal Court (Old Bailey), Mr Pachecka was unanimously acquitted of both murder and manslaughter and released after having spent approximately four years in custody.
The case reflects Jason's particular experience in criminal appeals, miscarriages of justice and cases involving complex forensic and expert evidence.

R v Simon Levy – Murder and rape proceedings
Jason represented Simon Levy in high-profile murder and rape proceedings which attracted extensive national media attention. Jason's involvement reflects his extensive experience representing defendants accused of murder, rape, serious violence and other grave criminal offences, including proceedings subject to significant public and media scrutiny.

Lauri Love v Government of the United States of America – Extradition
Jason acted as supervising solicitor as part of the legal team representing Lauri Love in his successful challenge to extradition to the United States.
Mr Love was accused by US authorities of cyber-attacks against US government agencies and faced extradition to stand trial in America.
The case attracted considerable national and international attention and ultimately resulted in the High Court overturning the extradition order. It was the first successful use of the forum bar before the High Court following its introduction into UK extradition law. The case became an important authority in extradition law and reflects Jason's experience in complex extradition proceedings, human rights arguments and cases involving international jurisdictions.

Criminal Defence & Access to Justice
Despite his responsibilities as Managing Director of Lartey & Co and President of the LCCSA, Jason remains a frontline criminal defence solicitor.
He continues to represent clients facing criminal investigation and prosecution and brings that day-to-day experience to his wider work concerning criminal justice policy and reform.

Jason believes that every person facing the power of the state is entitled to a strong, properly prepared and fearless defence, irrespective of the allegation they face. His practice combines extensive experience of serious criminal litigation, Crown Court advocacy, criminal appeals and extradition with a wider commitment to protecting access to justice and the fundamental safeguards of the criminal justice system.

Despite all of his professional achievements, Jason remains a devoted Manchester United supporter proving that even the soundest judgment has its limits.