R v RG & Others [2025] Crown Court at Basildon
Grace Cowell represented a client found not guilty at trial of a £1.5 million conspiracy to steal motor vehicles.
Area of Law: Crime
— Read moreGrace Cowell
Call: 2018 [email protected]
Specialist in
CrimeFamilyPrison LawPublic LawCivil Actions Against Public AuthoritiesInquests & Public Inquiries Team
Experience
Grace is a skilled practitioner who brings thoroughness and empathy to each of her cases. She has been described by her clients as “the only person I would turn to”.
Criminal practice
Grace’s recent cases include successful defence of murder as junior counsel as well as acquittals whilst acting alone in cases of section 18 GBH, robbery, firearms trafficking and multi-kilogram drugs conspiracies. Her current instructions include attempted murder, death by driving and large-scale importation of drugs into the UK. She is instructed in ongoing appeals in relation to terrorism and serious violent crime.
Grace has particular interest in crimes committed within the prison establishment. She is also experienced in protest related matters, acting for defendants in relation to a variety of different causes.
Grace is experienced in appeals and parole hearings and has been successful in the Court of Appeal in relation to an appeal against sentence. She has drafted advices and grounds of appeal against convictions and sentences, as well as CCRC referrals, in complex cases involving murder, manslaughter, and serious sexual offences.
Actions against prisons and the police
Grace’s criminal practice, in particular her experience of crimes within the prison establishment, provide a strong foundation for her civil practice. Her current instructions include acting as junior counsel in civil claims on behalf of prisoners in the context of extremist oppression enforced by prisoners against other prisoners.
Family practice
Grace accepts instructions in a wide range of family law matters, including public and private law children cases. She is experienced in working with cases involving allegations of physical abuse, death of a child, emotional abuse and neglect. Grace represents parents and guardians throughout proceedings and is sought after by clients due to her approachability; she has been described as “fighting my corner brilliantly”. Grace is frequently instructed in care proceedings involving Deprivation of Liberty Orders and serious mental health concerns.
Further to her practice, Grace has written about international humanitarian law, criminal justice, and prison law reform for the International Review of Contemporary Law, the Socialist Lawyer magazine and the Justice Gap. Her interest in criminal law reform stems from her work during her Masters dissertation, focussed on rape law reform in the UK.
Education
Bar Professional Training Course, City Law School (Outstanding)
LLM in Bar Professional Training, City Law School (Distinction)
LLB Law, University of Bristol, (First Class Honours)
Professional Memberships
Executive Committee of the Haldane Society of Socialist Lawyers
Young Legal Aid Lawyers
Inner Temple
R v AHJ [2025] Crown Court at Southwark
Grace Cowell represents client unanimously acquitted of robbery charges on the basis of duress.
Area of Law: Crime General Crime
— Read moreR v H [2025] Crown Court at Southwark
Grace Cowell recently represented a man charged with armed robbery. The Crown offered no evidence after conducting a full review and discontinued the case.
Area of Law: Crime
— Read moreMinimum term sentence secured
Grace Cowell acted as junior counsel for Defendant in rival drug dealer murder case. Client sentenced to minimum term of 15 years.
Area of Law: Crime Serious and Organised Crime
— Read moreR v ZC [2024] Crown Court at Sheffield
Grace Cowell successfully defended client in a murder trial. Grace’s client was granted an intermediary throughout the trial and was alleged to have jointly murdered her friend, with her ex-partner. Z
— Read moreR v OR [2023] Crown Court at Wood Green
Grace successfully represented a client at trial charged with section 18 GBH, arguing mistaken identification. The client was unanimously acquitted by the jury despite a positive police station...
— Read moreR v MA [2023] Crown Court at Basildon
Grace acted as junior counsel alone in multi-handed seven-week firearms and drug trafficking case. She successfully resisted the Crown’s bad character application in relation to her client, who was...
— Read moreR v TF [2023] Crown Court at Snaresbrook
Grace recently argued for a sentence of six years in relation to a conviction after trial of section 18 GBH in an incident of multiple stabbings. The prosecution placed the matter on the sentencing...
— Read moreR v WB [2023] Crown Court at Southwark
Grace successfully argued that the court should impose a suspended sentence order in relation to an individual who was charged with conspiracy to supply multiple kilograms of class A drugs.
— Read moreR v AC [2023] Crown Court at Croydon
Following a detailed written application to dismiss one count of stalking with fear of violence, the Crown withdrew the relevant charge the following day.
R v P and S [2022] Crown Court at Sheffield
Grace represented two defendants charged with racially aggravated section 20 GBH. Both clients received suspended sentences; the judge attributing the suspensions to Grace’s persuasive advocacy.
— Read moreR V TW [2021] Crown Court at Bristol
Grace represented a client charged with multiple drug trafficking offences spanning a period of four months. Following a positive NRM referral and Grace’s written representations, the Crown declined..
— Read moreR v A [2021] Crown Court at Reading
Crown discontinued 4x assault against emergency worker; Grace Cowell defending client with serious mental health difficulties.
— Read moreR v B [2021] Crown Court at Woolwich
Grace represented a client at a two-day sentencing in a multi-handed cocaine conspiracy.
R v A [2021] Crown Court at Wood Green
Grace represented a client was charged with possession of bladed article. Crown offered no evidence following written representations.
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4Aug 2025
Grace Cowell and Kitan Ososami make a successful submission of no case to answer in protest trial
Grace Cowell and Kitan Ososami represented two defendants charged with failing to comply with s.14 Public Order Act conditions.
Area of Law: Crime Protest Rights
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JUDGMENT RECOMMENDS SPECIALIST JUDICIAL TRAINING ON DEALING WITH SEXUAL VIOLENCE IN FAMILY CASES
The Family Division of the High Court has handed down judgment concerning the judicial use of rape myths in a fact-finding trial in Children Act 1989 proceedings. The appeal has led to a recommendatio
— Read more