AREAS OF EXPERTISE Confiscation Defence Health & Safety Murder & Manslaughter Prison & Parole Boards Prosecution Regulatory Sexual Offences Violent Crime

Sharmila was called to the Bar in 1997 having obtained a BSc (Hons)  in Cell and Molecular Biology at Kings College, University of London.   Initially Sharmila practiced as a solicitor and was admitted to the Roll of Solicitors where she specialised in criminal advocacy defending the full range of criminal offences.

She obtained her Higher Rights Qualification in 2010 and since then has practised on a consultancy basis for a number of high-profile specialist criminal firms primarily in the Crown Court.

In addition to her Court appearances Sharmila has had a long-standing interest in prisoners'  rights including successfully conducting Judicial Review cases to challenge unjust practices. She represented "prisoners in denial" in HMP Frankland  where prisoners were denied access to IT resulting in a change of policy so that litigants in person were granted access to IT under Article 6 of the Human Rights Act

Sharmila assisted in setting up a prison law department during her period in Olliers Solicitors Manchester follow the landmark case of R v Oyston (challenging the refusal of the Parole Board to grant parole to prisoners who maintain their innocence). 

Sharmila has published articles in the Guardian and has appeared on programmes such as "Newsnight" to raise awareness of prisoner's rights and to encourage discussion regarding discrimination by the Prison Service to "prisoners in denial" 

Recent Cases

R V WJ            Section 18. Successful acquittal where the Defendant who was blind in one eye repeatedly stamped on the complainant’s face causing a fracture to the eye socket. Self defence raised.  

R v SO             Defendant and 4 others charged with kidnap which was fully captured on CCTV. Following robustly challenged hearsay applications under s116(d) and applications to treat the complainant as hostile, the Crown offered an alternative count of affray which resulted in a community order.

R v SE              Looting Hackney riots case where Defendant was convicted of burglary after trial but given a suspended sentence order. 

R v MF             Successful acquittal of Director of an international marketing company charged with digital penetration with a female alleged to have taken place in the Jacuzzi of a private health club covered by CCTV.

BSc (Hons) Cell and Molecular Biology, Kings College

Inns of Court School of Law (ICSL)

Called ot the Bar 1997

Admitted Roll of Solicitors 2002

Higher Rights of Audience",  2010

Police Station Accredited