Ali became a tenant at King’s Bench Chambers following the completion of his 12 months pupillage. He now has an exclusively criminal practice defending and prosecuting every class of case. He is regularly instructed in murders, serious violent/sexual offences, serious frauds and drugs cases.He is fully computer-literate and understands the inner working of computer substructure, which maybe essential in image download cases.
Andrew is a chancery practitioner specialising in contentious and non contentious trust and probate work and regularly provides advice to executors, trustees and beneficiaries under will trusts and other settlements. Andrew undertakes the full range of Probate, Succession and Trust work , in particular: contentious and non-contentious probate; providing advice to executors, trustees and beneficiaries on estate matters and the execution of trusts generally; Will trusts; applications under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975; and applications under the Variation of Trusts Act 1958. applications under section 50 of the Administration of Justice Act 1985 (to remove or substitute executors) and the Court’s inherent jurisdiction to remove trustees under the principles established in Letterstedt v Broers (1884) 9 App Cas 371. applications for Beddoe orders. applications under section 57 Trustee Act 1925. applications under section 64 Settled Land Act 1925. Andrew is also a member of STEP (the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners) and contributor to Westlaw’s UK Insight on the variation of trusts, the doctrine of renvoi and the power of advancement. Andrew has also written widely on the subject of trusts including for Westlaw and the New Law Journal. Andrew is a member of the Chancery Bar Association and STEP (the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners).
Charlotte has a range of experience in relation to both privateand public law family matters including child arrangement disputes, financialremedy proceedings, care proceedings and disputes under the Family Law Act. Charlotte has a particular interest in financial remedy disputesand regularly represents clients across at all stages of financial remedyproceedings including applications for variation, enforcement and interimrelief. Family Finance Charlotte has undertaken a wide variety of financialdisputes being instructed for both the FDR and final hearing, including a rangeof more unusual or complex matters involving: · Inheritance disputes; · A party failing to provide financial disclosure; · farming; · Applications for maintenance pending suit; Care & Adoption Charlotte is regularly instructed in a range of private law family matters involving multifaceted and difficult issues including allegations of domestic abuse, allegations of sexual abuse by a parent, FII, contested fact finding hearings, parental alienation, instructions of a Rule 16.4 Guardian and instructions of experts. DOLS Care Proceedings Charlotte has undertaken a number of High Court DOLS applications including ex-parte applications. Domestic Violence and Injunctions Charlotte is regularly instructed on a range of non-molestation and occupation orders for both applicant and respondent. Private Law Children Charlotte is regularly instructed in a range of private law family matters involving multifaceted and difficult issues including allegations of domestic abuse, allegations of sexual abuse by a parent, FII, contested fact finding hearings, parent alienation, instructions of a Rule 16.4 Guardian and instructions of experts.
Court of Protection & Mental Health Chris has extensive experience advising and representing adults and families in connection with mental capacity law matters. In 2010 he acted for Mark Neary, father of Steven Neary, in London Borough of Hillingdon v Neary [2011] EWHC 1377 which was the first reported challenge to a DOLS decision by a local authority. He is familiar with the provisions of the Mental Capacity Act 2005. He regularly acts for families, local authorities and the Official Solicitor in relation to litigants lacking capacity. He is very experienced in ‘best interests’ cases relating to welfare, healthcare, residence, contact and deprivations of liberty (DOLS). These are the reported cases I have been instructed on - • OT (A Child) [2009] EWCA Civ 409 • RB (A Child) [2009] EWHC 3269 (Fam) Judicial Review Chris has extensive experience in judicial review and public law claims. He has acted for prisoners, mental health patients and others in claims against public bodies. He has particular expertise in tort actions and Human Rights Act claims, for example, relating to assaults or unlawful detention against public authorities including social services, the police, negligence by mental health professionals, and for misuse of private information. He has also successfully challenged decisions of lower Courts and Tribunals. Chris has acted in a wide range of community care and social welfare cases representing disabled and other vulnerable adults and children in judicial review claims of public authorities. Those cases have involved children in need, children accommodated by local authority’s, access to healthcare and community care support, mental health after-care and challenges to refusals to fund or meet the care needs of individuals.
Daniel maintains a full public law practice. Daniel regularly acts in finding of fact hearings in matters of non-accidental injury and sexual abuse. Recent cases include: Re: S & P - Instructed on behalf of a father in care proceedings issued following the death of a child. Re: S and others - Instructed by a local authority to obtain injunctions under the inherent jurisdiction of the High Court against seven males to protect a teenage girl from child sexual exploitation. Injunctions obtained. Re: C&P - Instructed by the children’s guardian to represent a a young baby who presented, at 7 weeks old, with 30 fractures. 2 week fimding of fact hearing. Re: K & J - Represented a father in a 10 day finding of fact hearing in respect of two young children that concerned the injestion of subutex by a one year old and the exposure of both children to a number of illicit substances. Issues included the reliability of hair strand testing and the correct procedure for collection, storage and analysis. Re: O - Represented a mother through the official solicitor in a 10 day finding of fact hearing in respect of allegations of sexual and physical abuse. None of the findings sought by the local authority against the mother were made. Re: W - Application before Baker J in respect of an application to discharge a father with parental responsibility as a party to care proceedings. Re: W - Representated a local authority at final hearing in fraught and complex proceedings. Instructed at very short notice due to the matter being returned from leading counsel. Re: C - Sucessfully persuaded the court, against its initial determination, that it did infact have jurisdiction in respect of a child habitually resident outside of the EU. Re: W - Represented a father accused of causing injuries to his three month old baby. Re: S - Representated a local authority in a case where the mother was accused of causing injuries to her child by shaking him. Re: V - Representated an intervenor in a complex fact finding hearing concerning multiple serious injuries to a baby. Intervenor removed from the pool at pre-trial stage.
Francesca joined KBG Chambers in September 2015 following successful completion of pupillage under the guidance of her pupil supervisor, Deni Mathews. Francesca accepts instructions in all areas of Criminal Law and has developed a busy and successful Criminal practice. Francesca has experience prosecuting and defending the full spectrum of offences and is particularly good with clients who are vulnerable or who have mental health difficulties. She also undertakes Civil work. General Crime Francesca is a Grade 2 Prosecutor and has developed a busy practice regularly appearing in the Crown, Magistrates and Youth Courts across Devon and Cornwall. Francesca covers all types of offences including offences of violence, dishonesty offences, all aspects of drugs offences including POCA, sexual offences and road traffic matters. In the Crown Court she covers all hearings including trials, Plea and Trial Preparation Hearings (PTPH) and appeals for both the Prosecution and Defence. Francesca has a calm and reassuring approach allowing her to build a good rapport with clients and is particularly good with those with mental health difficulties due to her experience in mental health tribunals. Francesca is happy to travel. Regulatory Crime Francesca is regularly instructed by the Local Authority in regards to applications for Criminal Behaviour Orders and Closure Orders. She is involved in the case from the outset providing written advice on prospects of any application or having a face to face conference as well as setting out the further evidence required before appearing on behalf of the Local Authority. Francesca is particularly familiar with legal arguments into Criminal Behaviour Orders in regards to those who have mental health problems.
Hollie became a tenant in April 2017 following a pupillage under the supervision of Deni Mathews. She gained exposure to a wide range of criminal proceedings in both defence and prosecution work as well as Court of Protection proceedings and Appeals before the First Tier Tribunal (Mental Health). Hollie is a Level 1 CPS Prosecutor and regularly appears in Youth, Magistrates and Crown Courts throughout the South West, both prosecuting and Defending in a wide range of cases. She has received the Vulnerable Witness training. She has a particular interest incases which involve juveniles and persons with mental health difficulties (whether defendant or victim). Hollie also regularly prosecutes on behalf of local authorities for Education Act offences, environmental and nuisance offences and those involving anti-social behaviour. Hollie routinely advises on and acts in proceedings relating to Criminal Behaviour Orders and Closure Orders. Notable Cases: R v A - prosecuted a Defendant with mental health problems for offences involving weapons. All parties were anxious that the matter be resolved efficiently without putting a vulnerable defendant and victims through a trial if possible and Hollie undertook extensive research of the Firearms Act to ensure the suitable offence was charged. The Defendant received a Hospital Order with a Restriction by way of sentence. R v B – represented the prosecution in an appeal to the Crown Court by a defendant convicted of assaulting his 5-year-old son by strangulation. The Appeal lasted two days and involved live evidence by two young children with the assistance of an intermediary. The conviction was upheld. R v N – successful appeal against conviction for failing to provide an evidential specimen of breath at the Crown Court. The appeal involved
Matrimonial Finance Jade has a developing practice in financial remedies/ancillary relief matters and accepts instructions from both private and publicly funded clients. Jade regularly represents clients across all stages of financial remedy proceedings from providing bespoke advice regarding settlement or tactical approach through to final hearing. Jade has particular experience in cases of modest means where the pension is the main asset. Where negotiation is possible, Jade strives to help her clients find creative solutions to their dispute, helping them to move forward in their lives. Children (Private Law) Jade represents clients in all types of applications under section 8 of the Children Act 1989, including child arrangements orders (live with and spend time with disputes), specific issue orders and prohibited steps orders. She conducts all hearings from initial hearing through to fact finding hearing and final hearing. Jade has experience in all areas of private family law including issues of relocation and has a particular interest in the making and discharging of Special Guardianship Orders. Jade is regularly instructed in cases involving allegations of domestic abuse including coercive and controlling behaviour. She is experienced in handling hostile cases where contact has broken down or there are allegations of parental alienation. Jade’s background in volunteering with the Personal Support Unit provides her with valuable experience in dealing with litigants in person. She is often thanked for her upfront and collaborative approach. Where negotiation is possible, Jade strives to help her clients find creative solutions to their dispute, helping them to move forward in a manner that serves the best interests of their children. Children (Public Law) Jade accepts public law instructions to represent parents, guardians, interveners and local authorities from first hearing through to fact-findings and final hearings. Jade has particular experience in conducting cases which have an international element and require the involvement of external agencies. She has recently been instructed in cases involving family members and parents in Nigeria, Australia, Poland and Ghana. Jade frequently deals with the variety of issues which arise during proceedings including threshold, separation, neglect, non-accidental injury, concerns in respect of interim and final care plans, special guardianship orders, supervision orders and care and placement orders. Jade has recently been instructed to represent interveners in several Fact-finding hearings involving Non-accidental injuries. Jade’s background in working with vulnerable members of local communities helps her to build good relationships with lay client parents. Jade regularly represents parents who require additional support and is adept at explaining complicated matters in plain and simple language.
Jennifer joined Chambers in 2016, and has been practising as a barrister since 2014.Before this time, Jennifer practised as a solicitor advocate at an established Plymouth firm for a number of years. Jennifer accepts instructions in both private and public law children proceedings, whilst continuing to maintain a strong civil practice, focusing primarily on landlord and tenant and housing law. Jennifer also undertakes family and immigration pro bono work for the Bar Pro Bono Unit and Devon and Cornwall Refugee Support. Jennifer is qualified as a Public Access barrister and therefore is able to take instructions from members of the public directly in suitable cases.
Jonathon accepts instructions from both private and publicly funded clients. His areas of expertise include: • Ancillary relief/financial order applications including big asset cases and those where the assets are complicated such those involving pensions (particularly armed forces schemes), business interests, farming partnerships and property subject to trusts; • Schedule 1 Children Act 1983 applications; • Non-molestation, occupation and transfer of tenancy order applications under the Family Law Act 1996; • Child Support Agency Tribunals. Recent cases include advising and representing: both armed forces personnel and their former spouses in applications where the pension is the largest single asset, parties who jointly ran a business during their marriage; and a party in an application under s37 of the Matrimonial Causes Act 1973 to stop a party from disposing of the lump sum received from a pension on retirement.
General Crime Katie is a criminal barrister who practices on the Western Circuit. Katie has been instructed on high profile sexual offences, high value fraud cases and possession and supply of drugs cases. In 2021 Katie was lead in her first murder trial at Plymouth Crown Court and represented a defendant charged with historic rape at Manchester Crown Court. Cases of Note High Court of Justice (Administrative Division): Crocker v Devon & Cornwall Police & Plymouth City Council [2020] EWHC 2838 (Admin) Successfully appealed by way of case stated a point about the proper construction of the joint effect of section 84(5) of the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 and the Crown Court Rules SI 1982 No 1109 (as amended). The issue for the High Court was whether the Crown Court has any power to extend the time for service of a notice of appeal on the other party to the appeal after the appeal notice had been sent in time to the Court office. The Crown Court concluded that Hampshire Police Authority v Smith [2009] EWHC 174 (Admin); [2010] 1 WLR 40, which had considered time limits for appeals against closure orders made under the Anti-Social Behaviour Act 2003 (“the 2003 Act”), meant that there was no power to extend time. The High Court concluded that there was such a power to extend time limits.
General Crime Michael maintains a busy crown court practice and appears for both prosecution and defence in all areas of criminal law. Michael is routinely instructed to attend trials, Plea and Trial Preparation Hearings, sentences and appeals. In recent years he has been instructed in more serious and complex cases including rape, historic sex, significant ‘county line’ drug conspiracies, armed robbery, arson with intent to endanger life, blackmail, false imprisonment and high-value fraud. He has recently received instructions as a led junior in a multi-handed murder, involving both cut-throat defences and extensive forensic evidence in the form of pathology, neuropathology, DNA and collision reconstruction. His experience includes, but is by no means limited to, the following: • Animal Cruelty • Arson • Blackmail • Criminal damage • Drugs • False imprisonment • Firearms • Fraud • Handling stolen goods • Motoring • Murder • Public order • Robbery • Sexual offences • Theft • Violence Michael is well-versed in Proceeds of Crime Act proceedings and asset forfeiture. Michael has undertaken the vulnerable witness training and is experienced in dealing with ground rules hearings and intermediaries. Michael is a Category 3 Prosecutor for the Crown Prosecution Service and a member of the Criminal Bar Association Regulatory and Environmental Recent instructions have seen Michael prosecute and defend in the following: • Maritime regulatory breaches • Fisheries offences • Breach of local planning regulations • Non-attendance at school. Michael is keen to expand this area of practice. Cases of note R V H (AND OTHERS) [2021] Michael was a led junior instructed to defend a man charged with murder and conspiracy to commit violent disorder. The Defendant, alongside three others, was alleged to have conspired to have a ‘straightener’ at a local beauty spot. There were no eye witnesses. The prosecution relied largely, but not entirely, on extremely complex expert evidence from a pathologist, neuropathologist, forensic biologist and a vehicle examiner in order to piece together what happened on the night of the murder. Michael was heavily involved in the preparation of his client’s defence, which included liaising with the defence’s own experts in pathology, forensic biology and accident reconstruction. R V J [2021] Michael successfully defended a young man charged with two counts of rape. The Defendant and the female, both university students, met on a night out. The two of them had been drinking throughout the evening, although the Defendant remained comfortably within his limits. The Defendant effectively ‘blacked out’ and recalled nothing from a certain point that night. The case raised questions concerning non-insane automatism (drink-spiking) and consent. Michael examined thousands of pages of unused material. These included hundreds of texts and social media exchanges that the complainant had engaged in both in the lead upto, during, and following, the alleged rape. Michael was able to successfully deploy this material in cross-examination in order to show that the complainant had, in fact, consented to sexual intercourse and/or that the Defendant would, at the very least, have had a reasonable belief that she consented. The Defendant was acquitted after a week-long trial. RV N [2021] Michael was instructed by the Complex Case Unit and successfully prosecuted a Defendant charged with an extensive class A drug supply operation. The Defendant was charged with six counts of supplying a class A drug (cocaine). The case against him was that he was essentially running his own drug’s operation in the West Country and relied heavily upon the evidence of an undercover police operative, together with mobile phone data and bank account activity. The matter was complicated further by the fact that the Defendant was facing similar charges for a drugs conspiracy in the West Midlands. Michael was required to review highly sensitive unused material in order to ensure that neither investigation would be prejudiced by disclosure of the same. Michael successfully argued against the Defendant’s basis of plea and was able to resist attempts by the Defence to ‘tie up’ the local matter with that due to be charged in the West Midlands. This resulted in the Defendant being sentenced at the top end of significant role in the sentencing guidelines for running his own separate, and distinct, drug’s operation. The Defendant received a custodial term of 45 months. R V T [2021] Michael was instructed to defend a young man charged with committing sexual activity with a child. The Defendant was aged twenty-eight and the child fifteen at the time of the commission of the offence. A psychological report revealed that the Defendant suffered from Autistic Spectrum Disorder, learning difficulties and a low IQ (within the lowest 1% of the population). Crucially, the Defendant was also assessed as suffering from defects in understanding and responding to subtle cues so as to regulate social interaction, suggestibility (per the Gudjonnson criteria) and a tendency to display compliance (to an extreme degree) to the perceived will or wishes of others. These factors had a direct bearing on his ability to engage in the trial process and also on the nature of his defence. Michael worked with an intermediary to ensure that the Ground Rules and s28 hearings(the latter of which involved the cross-examination of a vulnerable child witness) were navigated with ease. Michael successfully relied on Court of Appeal authority in submitting that the disparity in the Defendant’s chronological age (with that of the complainant),compared to their respective ‘mental’ ages, was such that the case fell more comfortably within the lowest category of culpability in the sentencing guidelines. The success of that submission resulted in the Defendant receiving a suspended sentence. Had that submission not been successful, the Defendant would have received a custodial term of some years.
With increasing experience with clients with complex mental health issues and intermediary needs, Nick prides himself in putting people first often at the expense of judicial disapproval and with a modest background is able to communicate with even the most demanding and difficult clients. Nick has also developed a very successful practice in regulatory crime, particularly involving the farming community, and has a deep understanding of POCA proceedings – in the past few years he has resisted several multi-million claims with total benefit assessments in each case in the low tens of thousands. Nick has also shown a particular flair for analysis of phone and other forensic evidence which has proved extremely useful in the many multi-handed conspiracy cases he has had considerable success in.
Rawdon acts in a wide variety of property-related cases and represents clients in the Courts, Lands Tribunal, in Land Registry adjudications and also on mediations. His familiarity with other specialist areas of law, such as professional negligence and trusts of land and experience of ancillary relief, are of particular use in a field in which overlaps with those disciplines are common. Specific areas of expertise Sale of land Boundaries, easements and rights of way Claims for Possession Restrictive Covenants Adverse Possession Torts affecting land Proprietary estoppel Rawdon appears for and advises both landlords and tenants in cases involving residential, business and agricultural/farm business tenancies and has been involved in some of the leading cases on leasehold holiday homes and service charges. Specific areas of expertise Leasehold holiday homes Service Charges Construction of Leases Leasehold enfranchisement and/lease extensions Claims for breach of covenant and derogation from grant Claims for Possession Catering concessions - Lease/Licence Estoppels giving rise to security of tenure
Sancho is a confident and versatile advocate who appears regularly in the High Court, County Courts and Tribunals and has appeared in the Court of Appeal. He accepts instructions throughout the Country. Sancho is enthusiastic in his approach to his work and thrives on finding effective and creative solutions to difficult issues and challenging cases. He is very approachable and believes in providing helpful, meaningful and practical advice to his clients. Sancho has an exciting practice, split primarily between Planning and Environmental, Property, Construction and Commercial Litigation. He regularly acts in complicated, high value and high profile cases in each of these areas. He also conducts personal injury cases and general civil litigation including trusts, probate, estates, professional negligence, judicial reviews, and public law. Sancho is authorised to accept direct access instructions
Tom is a barrister specialising in personal injury and clinical negligence matters. Tom’s personal injury practice involves him undertaking hearings on both the fast and multi track. He advises on liability and quantum, settles pleadings and drafts schedules and counter schedules of loss. Tom’s practice involves advising on matters of: Employers’ Liability Health and Safety at Work Occupiers’ Liability Highways Act New Roads and Street Works Act Animals Act Road traffic Product liability CICA appeals In addition to trials on the fast and multi track Tom appears at case management conferences, application hearings, costs hearings and CRU appeals. Tom’s experience with CICA appeals has seen him obtain significant 6 figure awards for his Clients. He accepts instructions on a CFA basis and is happy to work to tight deadlines.
