Criminal, Personal Injury, Civil Fraud, Commercial & Chancery, and Regulatory & Public

Call 2013

Appointments:2014Trainer of Expert Witnesses for West Yorkshire Police

2019List C of the Panel of Specialist Regulatory Advocates

CrimeAndrea Parnham regularly appears in the crown court on behalf of the prosecution or the defence. She has been instructed in a wide variety of cases including assaults, drug cases, burglary, robbery, aggravated burglary, firearms, sexual and homicide offences.  She is known for her approachable style when dealing with witnesses and clients, and she takes care to ensure that they fully understand the proceedings of which they are to be a part. Andrea is adept at dealing with cases that involve both vulnerable and intimidated witnesses as well as vulnerable Defendants.

Andrea has been instructed as disclosure junior in large scale operations involving high numbers of both complainants and defendants. She has ably dealt with various complex issues that have arisen pre-trial and during proceedings.

Andrea has had great success arguing exceptional circumstances when representing clients facing statutory minimum sentences, successfully persuading Judges that any sentence could not only be blow the minimum term, but could also be properly suspended.

Andrea has represented several prosecuting authorities including the CPS, the Department of Rural, Health and Welfare, the Child Support Agency, the police, the Environment Agency, Fire Service and HMRC.

Andrea has been instructed for both the prosecution and the defence in several complex confiscation matters including issues such as third party interests, tainted gifts and hidden assets.

Andrea was called to the Bar after an 11-year career in the police service involving operational, investigative and executive roles. She was a detective and attained the rank of inspector. Her previous experience and thorough working knowledge of police policy and procedure has often proved invaluable and has helped shape her exceptional people skills and her forensic approach to detail in cases.

Personal InjuryAndrea has experience in personal injury (PI) claims representing claimants or defendants and is steadily building her practice in this area.

Andrea regularly acts for both Claimants and Defendants in small claims and fast-track trials arising out of road traffic accidents, often including credit hire, She has also appeared in Occupier’s Liability and Highway tripping claims.

Andrea also accepts instructions in other matters, regularly appearing in the County Court in the following areas:

Costs Case Management Hearings Case Management Hearings Interlocutory injunctions Applications to set aside default Judgment/Summary Judgment Applications to strike out proceedings Summary Judgment applications Disposal hearings and MOJ Stage 3 hearings Infant approvals

Civil Fraud

Andrea's ‘first six’ pupillage was under the supervision of Matthew Smith, a specialist in this area. During her time with Matthew Smith she was able to experience a wide variety of cases including staged and contrived accidents, low-velocity-impact (LVI) cases, bogus passenger claims, credit hire and exaggerated credit hire, personal injury and exaggerated PI claims, and all otherwise dishonest claims. This was over a range of settling pleadings, advising on quantum and settlement, case management hearings and fast- and multi-track trials.

Andrea has significant experience in credit hire work predominately defence based but has acted for the claimant as well. This enables her to argue points from both sides and is readily able to successfully counter arguments. She has an excellent eye for detail and has been complimented on her forensic and robust cross examination of witnesses which is often successful in reducing the extent of any award.

Commercial & ChanceryAndrea has undertaken a variety of work in relation to debt recovery, Insolvency Act issues, and property dispute issues. These include:

Bankruptcy hearings Insolvency Act issues Debt recovery Tenant/Landlord disputes Probate matters

Regulatory & Public

Andrea Parnham is has a C-List Specialist Regulatory Advocate. She has a wide-ranging regulatory practise and has prosecuted on behalf of a variety of regulatory bodies. This enables her to turn her hand effectively to many different regulatory regimes for the prosecution or the defence.

Andrea is adept at handling large scale cases and is able to pinpoint the real issues in the cases accurately and comprehensively.

In 2015 Andrea undertook a secondment to the Environment Agency working along prosecutors within the Agency, she gained invaluable experience and knowledge of the relevant law as well as advising on complex issues and appearing in the Magistrates Court.

In 2016 Andrea undertook a secondment with Humberside Police. During her secondment, she worked on a wide variety of police matters from Dangerous dogs to domestic violence protection orders to Police discipline. She advised the police on a wide variety of matters. Andrea developed a particular specialism in Sexual Harm Prevention Orders advising the force on applications for new orders as well as variations to existing orders. Andrea also represented the Chief Constable of Humberside Police in both the crown court and the magistrates court in relation to a variety of matters.

2010Nottingham Trent University, LLB (Hons) (First)

2013University of Warwick, Post Graduate Diploma in Police Leadership and ManagementBPP Law School, Leeds, BPTC (Very Competent)