Anna joined as a tenant in September 2024, following the successful completion of her pupillage with Chambers.
Anna is an approachable and persuasive advocate who has been commended by professional and lay clients for her attention to detail, client care, presentation of evidence and high standard of work throughout cases. These qualities ensure Anna secures excellent results across her practice areas.
Anna accepts instructions in criminal defence and both private and public family matters. Anna’s criminal practice includes defending clients accused of violence, sexual, drug and driving offences in the Crown, Magistrates and Youth Courts. Her family practice involves child arrangements, domestic violence allegations and applications to relocate.
Anna is a qualified Youth Court advocate who has completed the Advocacy for Children in Conflict with the Law course with the Inns of Court College of Advocacy and has attended further training in youth justice delivered by the Youth Justice Legal Centre. Anna is keen to further develop her practice in the youth courts.
Anna’s professional journey is a testament to her adaptability and determination. Anna previously had a career in IT as a finance systems analyst, specialising in SQL coding. During her legal studies, Anna also dedicated her time to voluntary work with Hertfordshire Law Clinic, the Witness Service, and Shelter. Anna was awarded the inaugural High Sheriff of Hertfordshire’s Community Award in recognition of her commitment to voluntary work within the community.
Headline practice area:
Criminal law & family law (public, private, and domestic abuse)
Cases of interest:
R -v- L – (Central Criminal Court)– Represented a client facing a re-trial charged with ABH. The jury acquitted the defendant in under 40 minutes following a 6-day trial, in which the defendant did not give evidence. The Crown’s application for a post-acquittal restraining order was also successfully opposed.
R-v- O – (Croydon Crown Court) – Secured a Suspended Sentence Order with a Mental Health Treatment Requirement treatment plan attached for a stalking conviction that had been committed to the Crown Court for sentence and avoided activation of a previous Suspended Sentence Order. Diagnosed mental health conditions, menopause and trauma from past abuse contributed toward this client’s compelling mitigating circumstances.
R -v- O (Maidstone Crown Court) – Secured an absolute discharge for a burglary conviction committed to the Crown Court for sentence and dismissal of a breach of bail charge following compelling submission in mitigation.
CPS -v- K (Peterborough Magistrates’ Court) – Instructed to represent a vulnerable client who had been the victim of cuckooing.
Education
LLB (Hons) – First Class Honours, University of Hertfordshire, 2022
LLM Bar Practice Course – Distinction, University of Hertfordshire, 2023
Awards and scholarships
- Ann Goddard Scholarship, Gray’s Inn (2024)
- Best Performing Student on the LLM Bar Practice Programme, University of Hertfordshire (2023)
- High Sheriff of Hertfordshire’s Community Award (2023)
- Stella Cacoyanni Soulioti Scholarship, Gray’s Inn (2022)
- Anthony Trower Scholarship, University of Hertfordshire ( 2022)
Memberships
- Gray’s Inn
- Criminal Bar Association
- Family Law Bar Association
- HerBar
- South Eastern Circuit
- Women in Criminal Law
- Women in the Law UK
- Young Legal Aid Lawyers