Ms Olivia Beesley > Exchange Chambers > Liverpool, England > Barrister Profile

Ms Olivia Beesley

Work Department

Criminal; Regulatory

Position

Olivia was called to the Bar in 2018. She completed a criminal pupillage and secured tenancy in a Birmingham set. After three years of practising, she returned to her hometown of Liverpool. She enjoys a practice of both defence and prosecution work. Olivia is a Grade 3 Prosecutor for the CPS and on the specialist panel for Rape and Serious Sexual Offences (RASSO). Her work includes Crime and Regulatory cases. She is approachable, pragmatic and brings an affable flair to her work.

Olivia is regularly instructed in a wide range of cases including;

• Drugs offences
• Sexual offences
• Dishonesty offences including burglary and robbery
• Assault and other violent offences
• Proceeds of Crime Applications
• Motoring and vehicle offences

Over the course of 2020 and 2021, she appeared in the Court of Appeal as part of a team representing a Sub-Postmaster. This appeal focussed on lack of disclosure from the Post Office during a succession of trials. Both Category 1 and Category 2 Abuse was argued.

Recently, she secured a unanimous acquittal in a multi-handed Conspiracy to Supply Class A trial in Inner London Crown Court. The 8-day trial involved cell site analysis evidence, focussing on her 28-year-old client’s movements in early 2020.

In her Regulatory practice, Olivia has experience in prosecuting on behalf of City and District Councils. Recently she was seconded to Birmingham City Council; assisting in court, as well as behind the scenes with charging decisions and advices. Her work with Local Authorities includes but is not limited to, Trading Standards, Environmental, Health and Safety, Food and Hygiene, Licensing and Nuisance.

Beyond this, she has experience in Health and Care Professional Council work. Olivia has represented the Registrant, a paramedic, in a five-day Final Hearing. The Panel found that Fitness to Practice was not impaired, and no sanctions were imposed. She also represented a social worker in allegations of dishonestly in deprivation of liberty cases at Social Work England.

Olivia has been briefed in several Mental Health Tribunals, concerning s.2 Mental Health Act. She has found success in this area, and has previously secured a discharge from hospital for her clients.

Career

Called 2018

Memberships

• The Honourable Society of the Inner Temple
• Criminal Bar Association

Education

• BA Theology and Religion, The University of Birmingham (2015)
• LLB Law, The University of Birmingham (2017)
• LLM Law, The University of Law, Birmingham (2018)
• Bar Professional Training Course (2018)

Scholarships

• Inner Temple Exhibition Award 2017
• Inner Temple Duke of Edinburgh Award 2017

Leisure

Olivia grew up in Liverpool and has a passion for the city. She is particularly interested in Theology, which she studied as an undergraduate. She enjoys unwinding by drawing, and being out and about in the city.