Deanna Heer KC > Chambers of Miranda Moore KC and Julian Christopher KC > London, England > Barrister Profile
5 Paper Buildings Offices
5 Paper Buildings
TEMPLE
LONDON
EC4Y 7HB
England
Deanna Heer KC
Work Department
General crime; health and safety; professional disciplinary.
Position
She frequently appears before the Court of Appeal in respect of appeals against conviction and sentence and advises the Attorney General on References to the Court of Appeal on questions of law and sentencing. In 2021, following a four-day appeal which involved questioning multiple experts she successfully persuaded the Court of Appeal to uphold the convictions in the case of the so-called ‘Freshwater Five’.
Deanna is also an acknowledged expert in health and safety law and has specialised in this area for many years, appearing in the leading case of R v Tangerine Confectionary in the Court of Appeal.
She is experienced in appearing at inquests, including those involving juries, and is currently instructed in the inquest into the death of Belly Mujinga who died during the Covid 19 pandemic.
She sits as a Recorder of the Crown Court.
Career
Called 1994, Gray’s Inn.
Recorder of the Crown Court 2009
Junior Treasury Counsel 2015
King’s Counsel 2022
Senior Treasury Counsel 2022
Memberships
Criminal Bar Association; Health and Safety Lawyers Association.
Education
LLB Hons.
Lawyer Rankings
London Bar > Health and safety
(Leading Silks)Ranked: Tier 2Deanna Heer KC –5 Paper Buildings ‘Deanna is a very succinct advocate. She knows her cases very well; judges listen to her and like her measured style.’
London Bar > Crime
(Leading Silks)Ranked: Tier 4Deanna Heer KC – 5 Paper Buildings ‘Deanna is a class act. She is charming and persuasive. Her legal knowledge is outstanding. She is fair, hugely talented and has scrupulous integrity. It is always a pleasure to work with her. Her cross-examination is well prepared and to the point. Her legal submissions are focused, clear and on point.’
5 Paper Buildings is widely recognised as a ‘strong set with a good reputation‘ for handling a wide variety of criminal cases, ‘including the more unusual criminal-medical cases‘, for example those involving allegations of toxic poisoning or baby shaking. Deanna Heer KC recently prosecuted two teenagers convicted of the murder of Brianna Ghey, a teenager lured to a park and stabbed to death by the pair in February 2023 – the two defendants (one of whom, owing to mutism, typed his evidence in court) received life sentences with minimum terms of 20 years and 22 years respectively, and the reporting restrictions anonymising the defendants were lifted. In June 2024, Miranda Moore KC led Richard Padley in a murder trial, with the defendant having previously been convicted of wounding with intent after running over the victim, who died of his injuries four years later – the case turned on complex medical evidence concerning cause of death.