SJ is a busy criminal defence and family law barrister. She has a specialism working with particularly vulnerable clients.
Protest and General Crime
SJ is regularly instructed to defend across all areas of criminal law, in the Crown Court, Magistrates’ Court and Youth Court. Her experience spans serious violence (including domestic abuse and sexual offences) and drug-related crime, including cases involving a modern slavery and trafficking element.
SJ has developed a successful specialist practice in protest law. She is regularly instructed on behalf of Defendants accused of crimes in the exercise of their protest rights, particularly for groups such as Palestine Action, Just Stop Oil, Animal Rebellion and Extinction Rebellion. This includes complex conspiracy charges and cases involving high-level criminal damage, public nuisance, obstructing a highway, and aggravated trespass.
Family Law
SJ is an experienced family law barrister with a broad practice across private children’s law and public law. She accepts instructions in a wide range of family law matters and has particular expertise in cases involving domestic abuse and sexual violence allegations owing to her history of working with complainants. She is frequently praised for her exceptional client care.
SJ has experience with judicial review and public law work. Prior to coming to the bar, SJ worked on strategic litigation as a paralegal at Centre for Women’s Justice (CWJ). She undertook legal/policy work relating to the criminal justice system, including challenging the criminalisation of sexual or domestic abuse survivors on behalf of women charged with assaulting violent partners, or convicted of sex work offences. She helped draft a Communication to CEDAW on the prosecution of women for making false allegations of rape.
She worked closely on a number of judicial reviews against the police and CPS, including: EVAW v DPP [2021] EWCA Civ 350, relating to the CPS’ approach to rape prosecution; Emily Hunt’s challenge on the definition of voyeurism; and a JR against the policy of disproportionate downloads of rape complainants’ personal data. SJ gained experience working on Human Rights Act claims, in particular those arising out of child sexual exploitation. She also assisted CWJ as a core participant to the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse.
Before coming to the Bar, SJ worked and taught in a fellowship position at the Asian University for Women in Chittagong, Bangladesh.
Coram Special Prize for Advocacy, LSE Featherstone LGBT Moot
City Law School Scholarships (GDL and BPTC)
Exhibition Award, Inner Temple (GDL and BPTC)
Robin Hammond Prize, Murray Edwards College, University of Cambridge
William Wood Award, Gordonstoun School
BPTC/LLM, City Law School (Very Competent)
Graduate Diploma in Law, City Law School (Commendation)
BA English Literature, University of Cambridge (First Class)
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