Red Lion Chambers

Valerie’s diverse practice spans serious criminal cases involving Health & Safety, Inquests, Inquiries, Fraud, Murder & Manslaughter and Sexual Offences. She also has considerable experience in acting before a number of regulators in Professional Discipline proceedings. She is instructed in the Grenfell Tower Inquiry.

She is appointed by numerous professional and public bodies to do advisory and advocacy work, and has a broad range of clients from across the public and private sectors.

With vast experience in complex and multi-handed cases, she both prosecutes and defends as a leading junior and is public access accredited (meaning she can take on private work directly).

Her defence work includes representing a variety of professionals before their regulatory bodies.

Her broad experience means she is very well placed to advise in cases where criminal and civil law intersect. Her skill in cross-examining experts across a broad spectrum of areas is well recognised.

Valerie is a qualified mediator and a member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators.

Valerie has a particular interest in mental health and is experienced in vulnerable witness advocacy. She delivers training to barristers on this.

Valerie is appointed as a CPS Panel Advocate (Grade 4, highest tier) and to the specialist rape and serious crime group panels. She was also appointed to the Grade A (top tier) list for Specialist Regulatory Advocates in Health & Safety, and to the Panel A list for the Serious Fraud Office.

Since 2004 Valerie sits as a part-time judge for the First Tier Tribunal (Mental Health), and she specialises in child and adolescent cases. She also represents health authorities before the First Tier Tribunal and the Upper Tribunal, in restricted cases.

Since 2022, Valerie is appointed as a part-time assistant coroner for West London Coroner’s Court.

Valerie is Chair of the Regulatory Practice Group at Red Lion Chambers. She is the Wellbeing Director for Chambers.

Valerie has represented the Criminal Bar Association as Wellbeing Director, the South Eastern Circuit on wellbeing and she was a longstanding member of the Bar Council’s working party group on the subject.

Valerie is also an ethics and advocacy trainer for Middle Temple, and she was a lead facilitator for the vulnerable witness advocacy training for the South Eastern Circuit training other barristers.

Part-time First Tier Tribunal Judge (Mental Health) and appointed as a Child and Adolescent Mental Health panel member of the Tribunal

Appointed to Grade A of Specialist Regulatory Advocates in Health and Safety and Environmental Law

SFO Panel Advocate (A List)

CPS Panel Advocate (General Crime) (Grade 4)

CPS Specials Panel Advocate (Serious Crime) (Grade 4)

CPS Panel Advocate (RASSO) (Grade 4)

Legal Assessor to the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (2017 – present)

Legal Assessor to the General Osteopathic Council (2015–2022)

Legal Adviser to the General Pharmaceutical Council (2014–2019)

Legal Adviser to the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (2012 – present)

Legal Assessor to the Nursing and Midwifery Council (2009 – present)

Part-time Judge for the First Tier Tribunal (Mental Health) (2004 – present)

Director/Board member of Inclusion London (2015 – present)

Lead Facilitator for Vulnerable Witness Advocacy Training, South Eastern Circuit (2017 – present)

Wellbeing Director of the Criminal Bar Association (2017-2021)

Recorder (South Eastern Circuit) (2015–2017)

Member of the Bar Council wellbeing working group (2015 – present)

Approved Advocacy Trainer and Ethics Trainer for Middle Temple (2012 – present)

Criminal Bar Association

South Eastern Circuit

Health & Safety Lawyers Association

Association of Regulatory and Disciplinary Lawyers

Mental Health Lawyers Association