‘Extremely well versed in the law and has incredibly good advocacy skills. She is extremely well prepared and makes very good arguments and skeleton notes’

 (Chambers and Partners 2020)

 ‘A tenacious advocate who has a great way with clients and a lovely manner. She picks up cases very quickly and can run with a case at very short notice.’

(Chambers and Partners 2020)

‘She quickly grasps the key issue of a case’

(Legal 500 2020)

Amanda specialises in extradition, regulatory and criminal law appearing regularly in the Divisional, Administrative and Crown Courts both led and as junior alone. She is regularly instructed to act for foreign Governments including the United Arab Emirates, France and Hungary for whom she is preferred Counsel for all their UK extradition requests.

Amanda therefore has a unique insight into how best to oppose extradition requests when representing those contesting both part 1 and 2 cases and her personable manner with clients makes her ‘go to’ Counsel for those seeking a capable and experienced set of hands. She is particularly intuitive in relation to human rights’ arguments and excels in both written submissions and oral advocacy.

Alongside her extradition practice, Amanda continues to defend criminal cases at all levels and is commended for her thorough and committed approach to cases. Amanda’s client care is exceptional as demonstrated by recent commendation in both Chambers & Partners and Legal 500 (above).

Criminal law

Amanda’s defence practice encompasses all areas with a particular emphasis in violent crime.

Recent instructions include led junior in the case of R v Angela Ayre (Luton Crown Court) in which the 74 year old Defendant was accused of callously murdering her partner of over twenty years because of a dispute centred around his urinating in their conservatory whilst drunk. After trial and detailed defence analysis and challenge of blood patterns and pathology reports, the Defendant was acquitted of murder, being convicted instead of manslaughter, the defence team having successfully demonstrated no intention to cause serious harm.

Extradition

Amanda is a renowned extradition practitioner acting for both foreign governments and those seeking to resist extradition. Having been appointed as a researcher to the Home Office Extradition Review and spending 12 months’ seconded to the CPS extradition unit she has a depth of academic understanding which is unrivalled. As a result she has acted in many of the guideline authorities in this niche area of law including the following;

Fuzesi & Balasz v Hungary [2018] EWHC 1885 (Admin) – Led by James Hines QC for the Hungarian authorities, this case ensures extradition between Hungary and the UK can continue as a result of assurances guaranteeing adequate conditions in prison.

Sobczyk v Poland [2017] EWHC 3353 (Admin) – Led by Helen Malcom QC, Amanda argued that culpable delay by foreign authorities should weigh in the balance against extradition even in the case of fugitive offenders.

Fox v Germany [2017] EWHC 3396 (Admin) – The guideline authority in relation to s.12A of the Extradition Act for German cases establishes that the decision to try can be made by a prosecutor. This decision applies to all cases from Germany and has made the s.12A bar obsolete.

Klenovszki v Hungary [2017] EWHC 2560 (Admin) – Divisional Court consideration of whether assurances provided by the Hungarian government had been breached.

Purcell v Belgium [2017] EWHC 1981 (Admin) – The guideline authority considering whether Belgium prison conditions comply with human rights standards.

Sulaiman v France [2016] EWHC 2868 (Admin) – Representing the French authorities as junior alone against leading Counsel in a complex case concerning abuse of process, extra-territoriality and specialty.

Puceviciene & Others v Lithuania & Others [2016] EWHC 1862 (Admin) – Led by John Hardy QC before the then Lord Chief Justice (Lord Thomas of Cymgiedd). This case provides the definitive guidance on the practical operation of section 12A of the Extradition Act 2003 (in relation to all extradition cases) intended to ensure that extradition only takes place when the requesting country has made a clear decision to charge and try.

Szegfu v Court of Pecs, Hungary [2015] EWHC 1764 (Admin); [2015] WLR (D) 273 – Instructed alone before the Divisional Court including the now Lord Chief Justice, Lord Burnett of Maldon. This case provides the first and only judicial guidance and interpretation of s.26 (5) of the Extradition Act 2003 relating to the time limits in which to bring an extradition appeal under section 26(4).

Zagorskij v Vilnius County Court, Lithuania [2015] EWHC 2335 (Admin) – Before the Divisional Court including Lord Thomas of Cymgiedd LCJ as junior alone against leading and junior Counsel opposing extradition on the grounds of likely ill treatment of homosexual men within the Lithuanian prison estate.

Durdevic v Croatia – Amanda secured the extradition of a war criminal to Croatia.

 

Current instructions include the following;

Bulgaria v Kavaldzhiev – Amanda continues to act for the Bulgarian authorities alone against leading and junior Counsel in this case which seeks the extradition of an individual for an alleged murder committed in the 1990’s. The case raises complex arguments grounded in CJEU case law and double jeopardy.

Belgium v Lalzad – An ongoing case in which Amanda is arguing that the extradition of an individual to face a murder charge cannot take place because of inadequate mental health care within the Belgian prison estate. If successful, the case could stop the extradition of all persons requiring mental health care whilst in custody in Belgium.

K v Lithuania – A complex case in which Amanda is arguing the rights of a young child coupled with inadequate prison conditions and healthcare in Lithuania should halt extradition.

Education

• 2008 Bar Vocational Course, Inns of Court School of Law
• 2007 Law Degree LLB (Hon.), University of Liverpool

Appointments

Crown Prosecution Service Specialist Panel – Extradition

Crown Prosecution Service Panel Advocate Grade 1

 

Professional memberships

• Criminal Bar Association
• Extradition Lawyers’ Association
• Howard League for Penal Reform
• Defence Extradition Lawyer’s Forum
• European Criminal Bar Association

Other experience

Prior to joining chambers, Amanda worked in the Mpumalanga province of South Africa advising pro bono in land rights claims, chieftainship disputes and cross border class actions against international mining corporations for inhalation induced silicosis.

In May 2016, South Africa’s High Court granted class- action status to the case in which Amanda was involved to enable around 500,000 miners and their families to seek damages from some of the world’s biggest gold bullion producers for illnesses and death caused by silicosis and tuberculosis as a result of unsafe working conditions.