Doughty Street Chambers

Katy Thorne QC has over 25 years’ experience of defending in the most serious of crime and has a burgeoning inquest practice.

She is ranked in both Legal 500 and Chambers and Partners and has recently been appointed as an Assistant Coroner.

Her specialisms include the most serious violence, including murder and manslaughter, sexual allegations and abuse, child abuse and financial crime. She is frequently instructed in multi handed murders and  is “always thorough and well-prepared” (Legal 500) and, with long experience of representing vulnerable or professional defendants, her client care is second to none.

She is regularly instructed in heavy fraud and money laundering cases.

Year of Call: 1994; Year of Silk: 2018

Her training and experience of working in in banking and insurance early in her career provides her with particular insight into real business life. She has a flair for getting the best out of anxious clients, and in court knows when to ruffle feathers and when to charm. Her recent caseload includes an international conspiracy to defraud which was privately prosecuted by the Premier League, high value bank fraud/money laundering, conspiracy to defraud by false representation and multi-million boiler room fraud. She is always available for pre-charge advice and will actively pursue all available routes to prevent prosecution.

Her clients, whether professionals accused of fraud or sexual offending, parents accused of baby abuse, teenagers accused of gang killings, or Interested Persons in inquests, receive a combination of tactical nous, clever legal arguments, robust advocacy and jury craft to obtain the best possible outcome.

Katy has particular expertise in challenging experts from medical to cell site “Excellent on forensic issues, especially baby-shaking cases and appeal work.” (Legal 500) “She has an exceptional ability to unravel complex medical evidence and deal with expert witnesses” (Chambers & Partners).  She is often sought by professionals who may also face proceedings brought by their regulatory body, particularly where those arise as a result of criminal allegations. In 2015, she published Mason’s Forensic Medicine for Lawyers with Professor Helen Whitwell and others.

Katy’s inquest work has become a larger part of her practice, with experience of representing families in deaths involving suspected suicide, alleged lack of care in hospitals and prisons, and violent deaths.

Katy has a long and established record in second opinion appellate work, including CCRC and ECtHR. Her clients praise her brilliant judgment, her robust court presence, and creative intelligence and being easy to work with.

French

Criminal Bar Association

Association of Regulatory and Disciplinary Lawyers

Criminal Appeal Lawyers Association

Society of Labour Lawyers

Legal Action Group

Liberty

Justice