Specialist in
Experience
Described as an ‘outstanding junior,’ and as a ‘new talent, rising star,’ Paramjit’s work is focused on Criminal Appeals and cases of homicide, human trafficking, modern slavery and immigration offences. She is known for the representation of vulnerable applicants at appellate level – often in relation to mental health vulnerabilities, individuals who have been survivors of domestic abuse, sexual abuse and victims of trafficking.
The Observer in 2019 described Paramjit as being a ‘new talent, rising star’ for her work ‘representing society’s most vulnerable, fighting human trafficking, modern day slavery and immigration crime.’ Her published article through the Criminal Bar Association on duress and section 45 Modern Slavery Act 2015 was referenced in a House of Lords debate on proposed amendments to the Domestic Abuse Bill. Paramjit has provided updates and seminars on Modern Slavery to a variety of organisations – including the Judicial College (in 2022 and 2023) and the Criminal Bar Association (2022 webinars.)
She is cited in Legal 500 as ‘a highly talented barrister. Her expertise in trafficking and modern slavery are among the best of any lawyer in England and Wales. She is a joy to watch in action.’
Paramjit is the contributing author to the chapter on Modern Slavery and Immigration Offences in the leading Criminal Practitioner Text, Blackstone’s Criminal Practice.
She has written a response chapter on the issue of Coercive Control in Criminal Law Reform Now (May 2024 collection) and contributed to a landmark book on domestic homicides (Women who Kill, Criminal Law and Domestic Abuse – October 2023). Paramjit has been a speaker at the Law Commission Project Launch on Domestic Homicide at Northumbria University in May 2024 and at the Criminal Appeal Lawyers Association event on ‘Women’s Justice – A practitioner’s guide to best practice.’
Criminal Appeals
Paramjit has a high-profile practice in Criminal Appeals. She works throughout as a team leader with instructing solicitors to provide effective and clear representation– from points of merits advice to substantive appeals before the Court of Appeal. Her recent work as fresh counsel includes advising on murder convictions, advising on merits of appeal against sentences involving complex fresh psychiatric evidence and cutting-edge modern slavery and human trafficking appeals. Some examples of her cases include:
- R v S -A’R (October 2024) – S-A’R. Notification requirements – purported order of Judge set aside. Appeal allowed, with Court reconstituting as Divisional Court and certificate quashed.
- R v Feezan Hameed [2024] EWCA Crim 505 – FH had been sentenced to conspiracy to defraud and transfer criminal property. Successful appeal post referral by CCRC – Appeal allowed concerning time spent on remand awaiting extradition.
- R v AAJ [2021] EWCA Crim 1278 – Convictions for accused who was vulnerable young person subjected to exploitation quashed – Paramjit was described in the Court of Appeal judgment as providing ‘expert assistance’ in this County Lines exploitation appeal.
- R v AWJ [2021] EWCA Crim 1776 – leading junior in complex appeal against conviction for causing or allowing physical harm of young child. Fresh evidence in appeal focused upon the complex coercive control and domestic abuse dynamic faced by a woman Defendant. Leading Junior against a silk –https://www.telegraph.co.uk/women/life/coercive-control-mothers-heartbreaking-story-back-courts/ and https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2021/oct/28/mother-jailed-in-uk-over-babys-injuries-blames-former-partner-at-appeal).
- R v I (Jan and Feb 2023, Croydon Crown Court) – Vast fresh evidence dissected in original application to CCRC. 6 separate convictions referred by the Criminal Cases Review Commission that related to a vulnerable young adult who had been subjected to a cycle of child criminal exploitation. Post technically complex submissions, the outcome resulted in 5 convictions no longer standing and for the remaining one conviction an absolute discharge being imposed. (CCRC news press- https://ccrc.gov.uk/news/ccrc-refers-convictions-to-crown-court-due-to-concerns-that-the-minor-at-the-time-of-convictions-was-a-victim-of-trafficking/)
- R v A [2020] EWCA Crim 1408 – Application for leave to appeal for A who had been subjected to serious sexual violence in childhood and went on to be coerced into criminal offending.
- R v Farbar [2019] EWCA Crim 1716 – Technically complex appeal, included consideration of rules of specialty and dealing with an accused only for offences detailed in European Arrest Warrant.
- R v O [2019] EWCA Crim 1389 – representation of vulnerable woman who had been forced into sexual exploitation and suffered repeated trafficking in UK. Paramjit examined-in-chief in above appeal the vulnerable witness who required an interpreter. Conviction quashed.
- R v AT [2018] EWCA 1890 – appointed as fresh counsel 1 week prior to sentencing appeal which was allowed and finding of . Dangerousness finding quashed.
Modern Slavery, Human Trafficking and s45 Modern Slavery Act defence
Paramjit has a significant groundbreaking practice concerning Human Trafficking, Modern Slavery, County Lines, and section 45 Modern Slavery Act 2015 Defences. She conducts leading junior work in multi-handed trials and has done so even before the 2015 legislation came into force (Acquittal secured for Defendant in 2013 multi-handed exploitation case – https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-22552912). She has been leading junior for a Defendant first on the indictment in a 3 month multi-handed trial against prosecuting silk in R v M (Canterbury Crown Court, 2019). The charges related to matters taking place over a 10 year period concerning human trafficking and modern slavery. Sensitive cross-examination of multiple complainants was involved with special measures, ABE evidence.In addition to being the contributing author to the chapter on Modern Slavery and Immigration Offences in Blackstone’s Criminal Practice, she is a contributing author to chapters on criminal court process, special measures and criminal appeal process in Bloomsbury Professional ‘Human Trafficking and Modern Slavery Law and Practice’ 2020. She has provided updates on the Nationality and Borders Act 2022 (Blackstone’s Briefing, Autumn 2022) and updates on how AAD and others [2022] EWCA Crim 106 applies in practice (Crimeline).She has been a speaker at seminars and workshops, including internationally at the ECPAT Conference in Paris to judges and lawyers from 7 European Countries- on ‘Trafficking for Criminal Exploitation.’
Homicide cases and other serious criminal offences
Paramjit’s work involves representation in high profile murder cases both at first instance, as well as advising as fresh counsel on appellate cases. She has been sole junior in successful attempted murder cases. Paramjit has acted in homicides involving issues of domestic abuse and coercive control as well as gang related offences and firearms. She often represents in cases concerning psychiatric vulnerabilities and complex pathology issues (e.g. as led junior in R v LDZ – Northampton Crown Court and R v I – Woolwich Crown Court.)
Paramjit is a contributing author to a chapter in ‘Women who kill, Criminal law and Domestic Abuse’ published in 2023. Her work on cases on domestic homicide trials have included R v Emma Jayne Magson and R v Farieissia Martin where she was a led junior at re-trials. Examples:
- R v MP (Central Criminal Court) – March 2024 – led junior in multi handed murder concerning shooting.
- R v AB (Central Criminal Court) – September 2023 – sensitive sexual assault case. involving technical complex expert evidence. Concepts of sexomnia, REM sleep and dream enactment had to be tackled in sensitive and clear fashion before jury. Sole junior against silk at trial. AB acquitted unanimously.
- R v AWJ [2021] EWCA Crim 1776 – Leading junior in appeal against conviction for causing or allowing physical harm of a child. Complex coercive control and domestic abuse faced by female defendant, biomechanical expert evidence
- R v K (Croydon Crown Court) – Sensitive case concerning allegations of ill treatment of service users in care home. Intricate cross examination for events concerning 2 separate care homes. Only Defendant of 4 to be acquitted at trial.
- R v FM– Murder (Liverpool Crown Court) – led junior.
- R v EM – Murder re-trial (Birmingham Crown Court) – led junior – background of domestic abuse and coercive control at re-trial.
- R v P (Blackfriars Crown Court) – Sole junior in attempted murder trial. Representation of woman with mental health vulnerabilities. Victim in coma for short duration as result of injuries. Acquitted of attempted murder, convicted of s18 GBH
- R v TJB (Croydon) – Sole junior in attempted murder. Stabbing by known acquaintance. Issue one of identification, acquitted of all counts.
- R v MA (Kingston) – Sole junior – Bangladeshi male accused of encouraging terrorism. Co-defendant represented by silk. Acquitted.
Advisory work
Paramjit has provided advisory work in relation to Disclosure Barring Services, VRR’s and illegal working legislation, in addition to the advising of charities (e.g. Class Acts- examining modern slavery legislation across the UK).
Paramjit has spoken at conferences particularly on issues of Modern Slavery, duress, coercive control and domestic abuse including:
- May 2024 – speaker at Law Commission project launch on Domestic Homicide at Northumbria University.
- 2022 – Human Trafficking – Criminal Bar Association members.
- 2022 – speaker at seminar to Criminal Cases Review Commission on coercive control issues in appeals.
- 2021 – Speaker – criminal law module -Open University – reform of duress
- 2020 – Speaker at Justice Colloquium on Coercive Control at De Montfort University
- 2019 – Criminal Law Review conference – speaker on updates – Article 4.
- 2019 – LAPG conference
Appellate Work
Other examples include:
- R v AT [2018] EWCA 1890 – Fresh counsel at appeal- Dangerousness quashed in sentencing appeal (instructed 1 week prior to hearing).
- R v NR [2017] 1 Cr App R (S) 42 – Successful appeal against sentence of defendant who had carried drugs and SIM cards into prison for her partner. Bangkok rules (rules for the Treatment of Women Prisoners and non-custodial measures for women offenders) raised for first time – see also R v KG [2017] EWCA Crim 602.
- R v DS [2014] EWCA Crim 846, [2015] MHLR 336
Arson – successful appeal against sentence – Psychiatric evidence on community mental health treatment.
- R v Dhabaneey [2013] EWCA Crim 2184 – Successful appeal against sentence for taxi driver
- Regina (A) v Lowestoft Magistrates’ Court (2013) EWHC 659 (Admin)
- Judicial review of magistrates’ decision to refuse to grant a reporting restriction.
- R v Davis [2013] EWCA Crim 1038 – Successful appeal against IPP sentence.
- Hospital order and restriction order imposed in place, for wounding with intent.
- R v Lima [2010] EWCA Crim 284 – quashing of ASBO.
- R v Petrou [2009] EWCA Crim 1409– quashing of extended sentence and replacing with determinate sentence.
- R v DEK [2007] EWCA Crim 2117– appeal against sentence allowed for youth charged with conspiracy to supply drugs.
- R v Onung [2006] EWCA Crim 2813 – travel restriction order quashed in relation to drug trafficking.
- R (on application of O) v SSHD [2006] EWHC 2469 – successful judicial review concerning age assessment.
What the directories say
‘A highly talented barrister. Her expertise in trafficking and modern slavery are among the best of any lawyer in England and Wales. She is a joy to watch in action’ Legal 500 2025
‘Paramjit is an outstanding junior. She combines excellent organisational skills with good judgement, hard work and commitment.’ Legal 500
Education
BA Jurisprudence (Keble College, Oxford University)
Professional Memberships
Criminal Bar Association
Member of Criminal Bar Association Committee
Member of Social Mobility Committee (CBA)
Awards
Legal 500