Jo has been supporting clients at every stage of the criminal process since she qualified as a solicitor in 1983. After qualification she joined a West London firm to head the criminal department and was subsequently made a Partner.

Jo became a court duty solicitor and a member of the newly formed 24-hour police duty solicitor scheme which was implemented in 1986 to guarantee free legal advice for suspects attending the police station which also coincided with the implementation of the Police & Criminal Evidence Act 1984. She also served on various duty solicitor panels to ensure that those applying to join the scheme met the relevant standards.
In 1991 Jo joined forces with Glyn Lloyd, who is also a consultant solicitor at IBB Crime with HAL solicitors, and together they ran a successful firm in the West London area for over 20 years. She was involved in the training of many young lawyers who have since gone on to have successful careers as solicitors or barristers.

Over the past 40+ years Joanna has gained considerable knowledge and experience mainly acting in criminal defence but has also acted in a prosecuting role. This has ensured she is able to bring her expertise from both a prosecution and defence perspective. She has dealt with the full spectrum of criminal offences from investigation through to trial preparation. Jo has represented clients at police station and courts for offences including road traffic offences to the most serious and complex offences involving dishonesty, sexual and drug activity, organised crime, terrorism and murder, this list of which is not exhaustive.

Jo is very conscientious and has great empathy and client care skills. She works tirelessly and with tenacity to obtain the best outcome possible for each client whilst not forgetting that every case and client is different and of the utmost importance to the client and to the firm.
Jo has been a consultant solicitor with IBB since 2020.

Notable cases:

R v DP – An HMRC prosecution involving £500,000 worth of tax evasion where the cash had been discovered in a Harrods safe deposit box. Considerable work was done on behalf of client to successfully prove he was not involved and had no knowledge of the fraud committed by the co-defendant.

R v NDF - Client was alleged to have bitten the ear off the victim. He was initially remanded in custody. Joanna managed to get him released on bail and then after considerable work was able to show that the client was acting in self-defence. The jury acquitted the client.

Police v HM & TM - Clients arrested for serious GBH offences on their children where the police were convinced that there was considerable evidence against them. Further investigations eventually uncovered the fact that the medical findings which the police were relying on were incorrect and both clients were exonerated. The police took no further action.

R v RW – The client pleaded guilty to causing death by driving without due care and attention, and faced an immediate lengthy prison sentence. The Crown initially wanted the case to be sent to the Crown Court for sentencing. However, following a plea in mitigation the defendant was eventually sentenced to a suspended prison sentence.

Police v KP – Client was arrested for a very serious sexual assault where it was alleged he sexually assaulted a young girl who was found partially clothed in a distressed state. The client gave a full detailed account, denying that he had taken part in any sexual assault and the police bailed him to return to the police station. After further detailed enquiries, it was considered that there was insufficient evidence to take any further action.