Miss Katie Churcher > Chambers of Deni Mathews > Truro, England > Barrister Profile

Chambers of Deni Mathews
KBG Chambers
23 FRANCES STREET
TRURO
TR13DP
England

Work Department

Crime

Position

General Crime

Katie is a criminal barrister who practices on the Western Circuit. Katie has been instructed on high profile sexual offences, high value fraud cases and possession and supply of drugs cases.

In 2021 Katie was lead in her first murder trial at Plymouth Crown Court and represented a defendant charged with historic rape at Manchester Crown Court.

Cases of Note

High Court of Justice (Administrative Division):

Crocker v Devon & Cornwall Police & Plymouth City Council [2020] EWHC 2838 (Admin)

Successfully appealed by way of case stated a point about the proper construction of the joint effect of section 84(5) of the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 and the Crown Court Rules SI 1982 No 1109 (as amended). The issue for the High Court was whether the Crown Court has any power to extend the time for service of a notice of appeal on the other party to the appeal after the appeal notice had been sent in time to the Court office. The Crown Court concluded that Hampshire Police Authority v Smith [2009] EWHC 174 (Admin); [2010] 1 WLR 40, which had considered time limits for appeals against closure orders made under the Anti-Social Behaviour Act 2003 (“the 2003 Act”), meant that there was no power to extend time. The High Court concluded that there was such a power to extend time limits.

Career

Katie joined KBG Chambers following successful completion of pupillage under the guidance of her pupil supervisor, Rawdon Crozier.

Katie was called to the bar in 2013 following which she worked within the litigation department of a national law firm.

She has developed a largely Crown Court practice in all areas of criminal law and is regularly instructed to both prosecute and defend. Katie is a Grade 2 CPS Prosecutor. She has also been instructed to defend cases at Courts Martial.

As with all members of KBG Chambers, Katie is happy to cover all Courts within the South West.

Lawyer Rankings

Regional Bar > Western Circuit > Crime (general and fraud)

(Leading Juniors)Ranked: Tier 3

Katie Churcher – KBG ChambersOne of her strengths is her ability to communicate with vulnerable defendants. She is also excellent in cross-examination.’ 

KBG Chambers is widely regarded as a ‘strong set in the South West‘ for criminal work. Nicholas Lewin  is a ‘brilliant barrister‘ with considerable experience in Crown Court cases – he has a track record of defendants with mental health issues and intermediary needs and, notably, is a retired naval officer with Court Martial experience. Katie Churcher’s practice is evenly split between defence and prosecution work – she is regularly instructed in cases involving serious violence, allegations of historic sexual abuse, and major drug offences and recently acted for the defence in a complex case concerning the rape of a teenage girl by a man previously sectioned under the Mental Health Act. Michael Brown‘s experience includes cases involving rape, firearms offences, drug conspiracies, armed robbery, blackmail, and false imprisonment, while ‘formidable trial advocateAli Rafati is a ‘standout‘ on the Western Circuit for his experience in serious sexual or violent offending, as well as complex drugs and fraud cases.