Genevieve Woods practises primarily in criminal and public law, with a particular focus on inquests, inquiries and safeguarding cases.
She is security cleared to SC level.
Genevieve has been named as a “Rising Star” in the field of inquests and inquiries by The Legal 500 and is ranked as Tier 1.
She has broad experience working as counsel in public inquiries, both as part of Inquiry teams and on behalf of Core Participants. She is able to advise individuals and legal persons about seeking core participant status, disclosure requests, obligations arising for witnesses and other matters.
Genevieve also has experience working on non-statutory inquiries and independent reviews, including for individuals, schools and sports governing bodies.
Genevieve is a leading expert in safeguarding law. She has advised schools, charitable, sporting and commercial organisations on safeguarding matters and DBS requirements. She has drafted and reviewed safeguarding policies for a range of organisations and is a contributing author of the COCA Guidance.
She acted on behalf of seven different clients in various modules of the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse, including the Catholic Archdiocese of Birmingham and the Methodist Church of Great Britain.
Genevieve has worked as an independent reviewer into safeguarding disclosures at schools and sports organisations, drafting reports and making recommendations for improvement in the field of child protection.
She acts in contentious safeguarding regulatory proceedings, is DBS-cleared, and has both received and delivered extensive safeguarding training, including to Premier League Football teams.
Genevieve has experience in a broad range of regulatory and health and safety matters, including fire safety cases and hearings before professional regulatory bodies. She has appeared before bodies including the GOC, GDC, ARB, HCPC and others, and she has experience presenting and defending in police misconduct hearings.
She also regularly appears in licensing matters before authorities across the country.
Genevieve has broad experience in Sports Law, including contested proceedings and advisory matters.
She has worked on numerous disciplinary and safeguarding hearings for the LTA, BHA and other sports governing bodies. She has also defended sports coaches and athletes facing allegations of misconduct.
She has undertaken independent reviews in sport, including Rule 17 procedures.
Genevieve regularly delivers safeguarding training to sports organisations, including Premier League Football teams. She is also able to review and amend sports policies for governing bodies and commercial organisations in accordance with best practice.
Genevieve appears in serious criminal cases for both the defence and the prosecution. She is able to provide advice and representation pre-charge, during trial and in relation to ancillary orders, such as confiscation or forfeiture proceedings.
She has worked on complex financial matters, including cases prosecuted by the Serious Fraud Office and HMRC. She represents individuals charged with a broad range of offences, including fraud, money laundering, bribery and blackmail.
Genevieve frequently acts on behalf of individuals seeking to discharge Account Freezing Orders and resist applications for cash and account forfeiture. She has also appeared on behalf of the Metropolitan Police Service in high value and complex applications for forfeiture.
Genevieve advises in cases involving breaches of sanctions and export controls and on internal sanctions compliance policies. She has worked with international corporations, including financial institutions, insurance companies and maritime corporations.
Call 2016
Defence Extradition Lawyers Association
Young Fraud Lawyers Association
Masters of International Human Rights Law (Distinction) Oxon; GDL (Distinction) College of Law; Combined Bachelor of Arts & Laws (Hons 1), Sydney University