Specialist in

Experience

Grace is a skilled and thorough practitioner who brings empathy and a holistic view to each of her cases. She has been described by her clients as “the only person I would turn to”.

Criminal practice
Grace’s most recent cases include successful defence of murder as junior counsel as well as acquittals whilst acting alone in cases of section 18 GBH, firearms trafficking and multi-kilogram drugs conspiracies. She is currently instructed as junior counsel in a murder trial and junior alone in a multi-handed fraud.

Grace has particular interest in crimes committed within the prison establishment. She is experienced in protest related matters, including representing one of the defendants in the “Whole Truth Five” Just Stop Oil case.

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.

Civil and Inquests
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.

She is experienced in inquests, with particular expertise in cases involving the criminal justice system. Most recently she represented the family at an inquest involving domestic abuse.

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 Criminal Bar Association

Executive Committee of the Haldane Society of Socialist Lawyers

Young Legal Aid Lawyers

Inner Temple