Rebecca Hadgett
Rebecca Hadgett has a broad practice across the main areas of Chambers’ areas of expertise, with a focus on crime, financial crime, extradition, professional discipline and public law.
Rebecca appears regularly in the criminal courts for both defence and prosecution. She represents individuals in relation to a wide range of serious offences, including those involving violence, firearms, sexual offences, fraud, money laundering, public disorder and drugs. She represents clients in a range of related matters, including advice for victims of crime, pre-charge advice for suspects and ancillary orders post-conviction. As well as appearing regularly for the Crown Prosecution Service, Rebecca acts for other prosecution authorities and public bodies, such as Transport for London and the Information Commissioner’s Office. Rebecca has recently gained additional experience acting and advising in relation to private prosecutions. Rebecca has represented a number of vulnerable clients with learning difficulties and mental health conditions. As a result, she has significant experience instructing and examining experts on these issues and dealing with matters of fitness to plead. She has completed specialist training on dealing with vulnerable witnesses. Rebecca also advises on appeals against sentence and conviction. During the 2021-2022 academic year, Rebecca supervised undergraduate students at the University of Cambridge in criminal law.
Rebecca appears in and advises on matters across the spectrum of financial crime and POCA, for both the defence and prosecution, including in complex frauds, confiscation, forfeiture, restraint, and civil recovery proceedings. Rebecca appears in and advises on matters across the spectrum of financial crime and POCA, for both the defence and prosecution, including in complex frauds, confiscation, forfeiture, restraint, and civil recovery proceedings.
Rebecca appears on behalf of both requested persons and judicial authorities in extradition cases, at first instance at Westminster Magistrates’ Court and in the Administrative Court on appeal. Rebecca is also able to advise on cross-border evidence gathering, mutual legal assistance and Interpol red notices.
Rebecca has developed a successful practice in professional discipline and regulatory proceedings. To date, Rebecca has gained significant experience representing police officers facing gross misconduct proceedings. More generally, Rebecca is able to provide advice, drafting and advocacy services for individuals facing professional misconduct hearings and to individuals and companies seeking assistance with regard to their obligations under a range of regulatory regimes.
Rebecca is developing an extensive practice in public and administrative law. She has had significant involvement in a number of public inquiries, having been instructed as junior counsel for the Metropolitan Police Service on the Public Inquiry into Undercover Policing and on an ad-hoc basis by the Archdiocese of Birmingham in connection with the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse. Rebecca has also assisted in a number of judicial review proceedings, with a focus on matters relating to the investigation and prosecution of criminal cases. She has an interest in matters dealing with the scope of police or other investigatory body powers, particularly those concerning search and seizure. She accepts instructions in such matters on behalf of both public bodies and individuals. Rebecca also has experience advising on applications to withhold disclosure of material on the basis of public interest immunity
Rebecca acts for interested persons in inquests and is experienced in inquests which engage the state’s Article 2 obligations under the European Convention on Human Rights. She advises on potential liability arising from coronial proceedings, and on both public and civil law remedies available following inquests
Rebecca acts and advises in civil matters arising from or associated with criminal or coronial proceedings. Rebecca also appears in applications for civil preventative orders, including Closure Orders, Sexual Risk Orders and Sexual Harm Prevention Orders, both in the Magistrates’ Court and on appeal to the Crown Court.