Park Square Barristers

Crime,

Crime

Charlotte Baines has a wealth of experience prosecuting and defending in serious crime. Her practice encompasses murder, fatal road traffic offences, serious violence, conspiracies involving drugs and dishonesty, firearms offences and serious sexual offences.

Charlotte is recognised as a highly capable advocate and for her ability to engage with clients from all backgrounds. She has a down to earth approach that enables a positive rapport to be built with lay and professional clients.

Charlotte is a very experienced trial advocate. She is particularly skilled at finding the right balance required in dealing with sensitive, traumatic and often complex evidence and effective cross examination. She is an expert in the presentation of such evidence to a jury in a comprehensible and pragmatic manner. Charlotte has significant and invaluable experience in the cross examination of vulnerable and child witnesses and conducting section 28 hearings.

Charlotte has acted as a leading junior in complex cases involving care home abuse, Organised Crime Groups and sexual offending.

She has a breadth and depth of experience in dealing with expert evidence in areas such as pathology, DNA, forensic accounting, drugs analysis, medical evidence and cell site analysis.

Charlotte is well known for her empathetic and understanding approach in cases where witnesses or clients are vulnerable and labour under mental health difficulties. She recognises the complexities that can often arise and is confident in dealing with the challenges such cases can bring. She has advised on psychiatric issues, dealt with experts prior to court attendances and cross examined psychiatrists. She has conducted fitness to plead and fact-finding hearings on behalf of both the Prosecution and Defence.

Charlotte is happy to advise at the pre-charge stage of cases for the Prosecution and Defence. She appreciates that continuity in representation is very important and is always willing to hold pre-trial conferences and meetings as part of the case preparation process.

2000 - Pupil at Wilberforce Barristers, Hull

2001 - Tenant at Wilberforce Barristers, Hull

2011 - Junior of the North Eastern Circuit

2015 - Accredited Advocacy Trainer

2016 - Level 4 Prosecutor

2017 - Vulnerable Witness Advocacy Training Facilitator

2023 - Pupillage Officer, North Eastern Circuit

2024 - Door Tenant – Park Square Barristers

North Eastern Circuit

Criminal Bar Association

Women in Criminal Law

2009 - Pupil Supervisor

2011 - RASSO panel

1999 - University of Hull LLB (Hons) Law & Politics

2000 - Nottingham Law School BVC (Very Competent)