Doughty Street Chambers

Stephanie practices in public law, media law, civil actions against public authorities, and inquests and inquiries. A particular specialism is prison law.

Stephanie has a diverse practice spanning public and private law. Much of her work involves representing prisoners or relates to the criminal justice system. Stephanie also practises in media law, including open justice work.

Examples of her recent work include:

• A successful opposed application to lift a reporting restriction under s.45 of the Youth Justice and Criminal Evidence Act 1999, in order to permit the screening of a documentary about domestic abuse on Channel 5.
• Acting for the Claimant in R (Dich) v Parole Board [2023] 1 WLR 4287, in which Parole Board guidance on the ‘at risk’ period for determinate sentence prisoners was found to be unlawful (led by Jude Bunting KC).
• Acting for a group of intervenors in the judicial review by the Scottish Government of the first ever use of Section 35 of the Scotland Act 1998 to block legislation.
• A judicial review on behalf of a prisoner refused release by the Parole Board during the period in which witnesses were prevented from making recommendations. The claim was settled in the Claimant’s favour.

Stephanie’s previous career encompassed policy and strategy roles. She worked at the Howard League for Penal Reform and at the Equality and Human Rights Commission immediately before going to law school. Originally Stephanie trained as a management consultant, working at the Boston Consulting Group from 2013 to 2016 where she advised public, private and third sector clients.

Stephanie sits on the Executive Committee of the Association of Prison Lawyers. She is a trustee of Spark Inside, a charity delivering coaching programmes in prisons.

Bar course (City University, 2021) – Distinction (top of year)

GDL (City University, 2020) – Distinction

MA in Gender Studies (University College London, 2017) – Distinction

Additional Part II in Management Studies (Judge Business School, 2012) – Upper Second

BA in Philosophy (University of Cambridge, 2011) – First (second in year)

Association of Prison Lawyers (member of Executive Committee)

Police Actions Lawyers Group

Administrative Law Bar Association

INQUEST Lawyers Group

JUSTICE

Howard League for Penal Reform