25 Bedford Row

Lisa is a specialist criminal defence practitioner. Recognised as a leading individual in heavyweight crime and VHCC cases, she is sought-after to defend in cases involving serious violent and organised crime, including murders, where she frequently takes on advocacy roles. Lisa is regularly instructed as junior alone in attempted murders, kidnaps and serious sexual offences. She is instructed as a leading junior in major drug trafficking offences.

Lisa has developed particular expertise in medico-legal cases, especially those involving medical/insanity defences, contested fitness to plead hearings and is sought after for cases involving complex baby deaths.

Lisa is frequently instructed in large-scale frauds and money-laundering offences, including as leading junior.

Lisa is an Advanced Advocacy Trainer of the Inner Temple and an accredited trainer on the ICCA ‘Advocacy for Children in Conflict with the Law’ course. She is a skilled and sensitive court advocate and cross examiner and is highly adept at dealing with both complex legal challenges and difficult witnesses.

Lisa is highly committed to the defence of those she represents, which has resulted in numerous successful appearances at all levels including in the Court of Appeal. She has a busy Court of Appeal post-conviction referral practice, including advising on appeal against convictions and sentences.

Lisa sits as a Fee-Paid Judge in the Mental Health Tribunal and Employment Tribunal. She is also a Governing Master of the Bench of the Honourable Society of the Inner Temple.

Called 2006 Bernard Sunley Award (Knights of the Round Table) Pegasus Scholar, 2015-16 (Meredith Connell, Auckland, NZ; Crown Law, Wellington, NZ) Vice President of the Association of Women Barristers Criminal Bar Association Working Group on Court Capacity Joint Chair of the Policy Committee, Women in Criminal Law Accredited Trainer, ICCA 'Advocacy for Children in Conflict with the Law' course. Advanced Advocacy Trainer, Honourable Society of Inner Temple Lead Scholarship Interview, Honourable Society of Inner Temple Master of the Bench, Honourable Society of Inner Temple Fee-paid Judge of the Employment Tribunal (England and Wales) (July 2024). Fee-paid Judge of the First-Tier Tribunal, assigned to the Health, Education and Social Care Chamber (July 2024).

Association of Women Barristers (Vice President) South Eastern Circuit Criminal Bar Association Women in Criminal Law (Committee Member)

MA Medical Ethics & Law, Kings College London LLB, Cardiff University

Recent Case Highlights

R v Patterson – Attempted Murder and Firearms – Junior alone. Acquitted of all counts. R v Nguyen (Op Unveil) - £850,000 Money Laundering Conspiracy involving people smuggling, drug trafficking and sham marriages. Instructed to take over role as leading counsel during trial at request of lay client. R v Kirkman – ‘Baby-Shaking’ case representing mother. Avoided imprisonment. R v Bell – ‘David Beckham’ stalker case. Avoided conviction.