After 15 years at the Criminal Bar, Lisa has accumulated a wealth of experience in the most serious cases that come before the Courts. In 2024, she was ranked in the Chambers and Partners Directory – the UK Bar for the fourth consecutive year.
Directory contributors describe her as “an excellent, persuasive advocate who will think innovatively around an issue“, “a very charismatic advocate”, “she’s got a twinkle in her eye that juries like” and is “an incisive lawyer”.
Lisa is primarily a defence practitioner where her empathetic, engaging and tenacious style consistently produces results in front of juries and the Court of Appeal, often in cases that attract substantial press attention.
She represented one of the protagonists in the Eunuchmaker conspiracy, a group of individuals who performed extreme body modifications on consenting adults. This case has reignited the debate around the ability to consent to harm – in this case, adults consented to the removal of their nipples, legs, testicles and penises.
Lisa’s practice regularly involves allegations of murder and attempted murder. Recently, in a trial alleging a four handed joint enterprise attempted murder, Lisa’s application of the guidance in Jogee, led to her client’s sole acquittal of all charges (attempted murder and s18) at half time, R v IF & Others, Cambridge Crown Court.
In R v M [2022] EWCA Crim 1625, Lisa represented a member of a Neo Nazi organisation NS131 who prior to charge had independently changed his mindset. Her submissions challenging the sentence imposed, were ‘highly commended’ by Lord Justice Davis, who recognised the ‘forceful and cogent fashion’ in which she put her arguments.
Lisa has particular experience in large scale drug conspiracies, notably in the reported case of R v Watters [2023] EWCA Crim 1682 where she persuaded the Court of Appeal that the sentencing Judge had wrongly categorised her client as a leading role offender in a conspiracy where records suggested 1000’s of kilograms of cocaine and cutting agent had been trafficked. As a result of Lisa’s submissions, the appellant’s starting point was reduced from 24 years to 20 years.
Lisa’s success in the Court of Appeal extends to appeals against conviction. In the reported case of R v K [2023] EWCA Crim 1364, Lisa convinced the Court of Appeal that the appellant’s guilty plea should be set aside and the conviction quashed, as the prosecution was an abuse of process. She pursued this appeal, even after K became uncontactable.
Lisa also prosecutes cases involving homicide and large-scale drug conspiracies. She recently prosecuted the unusual case of R v WSM, Winchester Crown Court, where a TikTok influencer murdered a vulnerable veteran, after she perceived he had mistreated her dog. Lisa’s efforts in this complicated case were commended by the Assistant Chief Constable of the Hampshire Constabulary.
R v JK & Others, Central Criminal Court: Allegation of a contract killing arranged on Encrochat – Trial pending in April 2025
R v BC & Others, Snaresbrook Crown Court: Trial pending in September 2024
R v WSM, Winchester Crown Court 2024 – the defendant was a TikTok influencer who had murdered a vulnerable veteran, after she perceived he had mistreated her dog. Lisa’s efforts for the prosecution in this complicated case were commended by the Assistant Chief Constable of the Hampshire Constabulary.
R v OI & Another, Chelmsford Crown Court 2023, Lisa was led by Trevor Siddle. They represented the stepfather of a twin baby who had been murdered by its mother, he was accused of allowing the death s5 DVCVA 2004. Their appeal against conviction and sentence has been granted leave and awaits listing.
R v AF, Reading Crown Court 2023 – Lisa was led by Jon Swain, they represented a burglar who was accused of attacking an elderly pensioner who surprised him during a dwelling burglary.
R v IF & Others, Cambridge Crown Court 2023 – Lisa defended IF, she was accused of a joint enterprise attempted murder in which a man was brutally attacked with a hammer in a racist assault. The prosecution case was that IF was part of a honey trap ploy. Lisa’s application of the guidance in Jogee, led to her client’s sole acquittal of all charges (attempted murder and s18) at half time, R v IF & Others, Cambridge Crown Court.
R v MP & Others, Cambridge Crown Court 2023, Lisa defended MP, a young man with severe learning difficulties who was accused of a joint enterprise double attempted murder in a gang drugs dispute. MP was acquitted of both counts of attempted murder.
R v NB & Another, Oxford Crown Court 2021 – Lisa was led by Jon Swain in this allegation of murder, after a young drug dealer was stabbed to death in a quiet residential area.
R v NH & Another, Warwick Crown Court 2020 – Lisa forced the Crown to concede an Application to Dismiss on an Assisting an Offender (wanted for murder) allegation after seeking to exclude admissions made by the defendant in breach of PACE 1984.
R v MS & Another, Central Criminal Court 2019 – Lisa was led by Charlie Sherrard QC in this allegation of murder arising out of a neighbour dispute over drug dealing in a residential block in London.
R v Gustavson, 2024 – This is the rarest case of consensual harm to come before the criminal courts. The defendant was accused of removing the penis of the ‘Eunuch Maker’, Mr Gustavson – another defendant suffering from extreme body dysmorphia and a propagator of not only this proclivity but also BDSM practices. This ongoing case reignites the question of where the limitations of personal choice fall? Society allows citizens to tattoo and pierce – this technically is a form of harm. It allows people to add to their bodies, in the form of implants and Botox. News story here
R v CL & Others, Woolwich Crown Court 2024 – Lisa defended the Assistant Governor of a well known London prison for allegations of public misconduct, after a detainee was attacked severely by prison officers in revenge. CL was acquitted of all charges.
R v PM & Others, Luton Crown Court 2024 – Lisa defended PM, accused of a cryptocurrency motivated kidnap, blackmail and arson.
R v KC & Others, Chelmsford Crown Court 2024 – Lisa defended a vulnerable woman accused of participating in a marriage sham conspiracy.
R v PC & Others, Chelmsford Crown Court 2024 – Lisa defended PC, accused of an aggravated burglary involving the brandishing of knives, a meat cleaver and pepper spray.
R v AW & Others, Central Criminal Court 2023 – Lisa defended AW, who was accused of committing a joint enterprise robbery, as a precursor to a murder. AW was acquitted at trial.
R v RJ, Wood Green Crown Court 2021 – the defendant faced allegations of Possession of a Firearm with Intent to Endanger Life in a road rage incident. He was acquitted of all charges after legal arguments re the sufficiency of forensic evidence were submitted.
R v FJ, Chelmsford Crown Court 2021 – the defendant had used the dark web to obtain a regular supply of Class A drugs. He had also arranged delivery of a semi automatic handgun and ammunition.
R v RO, Wood Green Crown Court 2019 – RO accepted slashing the complainant in the face with a machete but claimed self defence. Despite, RO’s previous convictions for drug dealing, possession of a firearm and a silencer, he was acquitted. The case involved substantial arguments re disclosure and non-defendant bad character.
R v PM & Others, Wood Green Crown Court 2019 – Lisa was led by Charlotte Yarrow in this allegation of armed robbery. The case involved multiple s78 arguments relating to social media content, assertions of gang membership and the impact of cellsite evidence.
R v SQ & Others, Luton Crown Court 2018 – Lisa led Sophie Sharpe in this 8 handed case that revolved around gang culture, drill music and a drive by shooting. SQ was accused of providing the firearm that was used to shoot two complainants on a residential street. The case required complex arguments regarding the admissibility of WhatsApp messages, non-conviction bad character and the confines of s98 CJA 2003. After a 3 month trial, SQ was acquitted on all charges.
R v BO & Another, Snaresbrook Crown Court 2018 – BO was accused of using the dark web to import firearms into the UK from Spain. The defendant had been identified as a result of a pro-active investigation by the police. The case involved a 86,000 pages of computer evidence involving bitcoin transactions and police surveillance.
R v BD & Others 2024, Wood Green Crown Court – Lisa leads Rory Gordon in this massive class A drug conspiracy closely connected to the world of chemsex. BD is accused of a leading role in this nationwide conspiracy.
R v Gerard Watters & Another [2023] EWCA Crim 1682. The Court of Appeal agreed with her submission that the appellant should have been sentenced as a significant role not a leading role offender. They endorsed her suggested reduction of 4 years, from 24 years to 20 years (before credit), despite the appellants managerial function in a massive drug conspiracy (83 kilos of class A drugs and evidence of 2.5 tonnes passing through the warehouse unit that he managed).
R v H & H: The two defendants were accused of importing a large amount of cocaine into the United Kingdom. The evidence was extremely strong, but Lisa capitalised on the National Crime Agency’s failures in their investigation on a lesser count of money laundering to persuade the jury that the entire investigation was corrupt and dangerous.
R v VL & Others, Inner London Crown Court 2021 – Lisa was led by Tyrone Silcott in the prosecution of a Brazilian OCG who supplied chemsex drugs in the Kent area.
R v SD & Others, Kingston Crown Court 2019 – Lisa represented SD for the second time, being led by Nick James in another class A drug conspiracy. The case involved complicated arguments re the overlap of differing conspiracies, the distinction between s98 and the bad character provisions and the admissibility of cell site evidence.
R v SD & Others, Bristol Crown Court 2018 – Lisa represented SD who was accused of playing a crucial role in a county lines drug conspiracy.
R v TJ & 4 Others, Inner London Crown Court 2018 – Lisa was led by Terry Boulter in this case which revolved around a county line drugs running into the Surrey area. TJ was accused of leading the operation and the Crown relied on a massive amount of call data and cell site material to put TJ in possession of the numerous drug line handsets. The defence team had to marshal complicated disclosure issues and legal arguments tackling the impact of potentially overlapping conspiracies.
R v AK & Another, Birmingham Crown Court 2017 – Two Turkish men were accused of attempting to smuggle over £200,000 of drug money out of the UK. AK explained that they had been transporting gold bullion across Europe legitimately. Both were acquitted by the jury.
R v JK & Others, Croydon Crown Court 2017 – The prosecution were forced to offer no evidence during a conspiracy to supply class A trial after Lisa’s successful 6 day s78 argument using R v Boardman. Lisa’s client was said to be the leader of the conspiracy. The trial against three other defendants continued but as a result of Lisa’s argument the telephone evidence against them was ruled to be inadmissible.
R v AA, Canterbury Crown Court 2016 – Lisa defended in this allegation of Class A drug importation. The defendant claimed he had travelled back from Calais with Class A drugs under duress – his family members had been threatened by a local gang. The defence relied upon psychological evidence to show that the defendant had a particularly low IQ and was highly suggestible. The defendant was granted special measures to ensure his effective participation in his trial.
R v TR, Woolwich Crown Court 2016 – Lisa defended this vulnerable defendant who had an extremely low IQ. She was accused of possession of Class A drugs with intent to supply. She explained that the drugs found in her home had come from a friend of hers who had a robbed a local drug dealer. The defence relied on expert psychological evidence to help explain her unusual account and accused the police of misconduct. TR was acquitted of all counts – both possession and possession with intent to supply.
R v SB, Reading Crown Court 2012 – Lisa was led in this conspiracy to supply class A drugs. The Crown alleged that SB was involved in an operation to import shipments of cocaine hidden within carbon fibre yams.
R v AS & Others, Southwark Crown Court 2022 – Lisa was led by Nicholas James, in this case alleging an international conspiracy to launder money. AS was acquitted of all charges.
R v DD & Others, Southwark Crown Court 2021 – Lisa defended DD, a lorry driver who was found to have transported £1.5 million’s worth of contraband cigarettes. Lisa’s legal argument prevented the Crown from adducing the defendant’s Belgian convictions for exactly the same activity.
R v EL & Others, Inner London Crown Court 2021 – the defendant was part of an OCG that cloned TFL travel cards. Due to quick preparation and negotiation, EL received a suspended sentence for his activities.
R v TE & Another, Manchester Crown Court 2017 – Lisa was led by Mark Fraser in this £2 million conspiracy to defraud which revolved around a ‘rogue trader’ operation, perpetuated on a very large scale. An entire company was accused of defrauding its customers at every stage of its business – advertising, delivery, fitting and customer service.
R v WJ & Others, Blackfriars Crown Court 2017 – Lisa defended WJ in a multi-handed tobacco smuggling conspiracy involving 5 defendants. The case involved a significant amount of cell site and tachometer evidence.
R v MG & Another, Swansea Crown Court 2016 – Led junior in a complex VAT fraud conspiracy which involved a vast amount of evidence (over 70,000 pages).
R v MM, Blackfriars Crown Court 2015 – Lisa defended in this multifaceted international fraud and money laundering conspiracy. Fraudsters cloned a bona fide investment company and then proceeded to cold-call high net worth individuals. They were persuaded to transfer large sums of money, supposedly to purchase shares that they were assured would significantly increase in value. The profits from the fraud were then transferred to bank accounts across the world.
R v EB & Others, Blackfriars Crown Court 2013 – Led junior in an international money laundering conspiracy where the defendant was said to have laundered over £26million. The case involved complicated issues surrounding coded lists discovered at the defendant’s address and also the defendant’s fitness to plead.
R v Watters [2023] EWCA Crim 1682 Lisa persuaded the Court of Appeal that the sentencing Judge had wrongly categorised her client as a leading role offender in a conspiracy where records suggested 1000’s of kilograms of cocaine and cutting agent had been trafficked. As a result of Lisa’s submissions, the appellant’s starting point was reduced from 24 years to 20 years.
R v K [2023] EWCA Crim 1364, a Vietnamese national who despite pleading guilty to the production of cannabis, had his conviction quashed after Lisa convinced the Court of Appeal that the prosecution was an abuse of process. She pursued this appeal, even after K became uncontactable.
R v Martins [2021] EWCA Crim 223. Lisa appealed with leave, the defendant’s conviction for Robbery. The legal argument revolved around the the level of indirect force necessary (and evidence to support that indirect force) to convert a theft into a robbery. This decision was reported in the Archbold News Issue 8, 2021.
R v Jamieson [2021]. Lisa appealed with leave, the appellant’s sentence for Attempted Possession of a Firearm, Ammunition and Importation of Class A drugs. Lord Justice Treacy praised Lisa’s ingenuity in his judgment.
R v Poku [2019] EWCA Crim 1209 Lisa was instructed by the Registrar to assist the appellant re his appeal as to the application of the sentencing guidelines in his case. The Court of Appeal commended her “attractively developed” submissions re the boundaries of greater harm for a s18.
R v LT & Others, Isleworth Crown Court 2018 – LT was accused of a violent reprisal attack on a drug dealer. He had stabbed the victim multiple times in the face. After pleading guilty, Lisa was able to persuade the Court to impose a non custodial penalty on this 16 year old. Despite being appealed by the Crown as unduly lenient, the Court of Appeal upheld the merciful sentence. [2018 EWCA Crim 973]
R v JC 2017 – Lisa successfully appealed her defendant’s sentence of 54 months imprisonment for possessing criminal property obtained from class A drug dealing. The Court of Appeal agreed that the sentencing Judge had erred in substituting the Money Laundering Guideline for the Definitive Drug Guideline. The defendant’s sentence was reduced to 30 months.
R v JW 2013 – Successful appeal of an extended sentence imposed for an offence of s20 Grievous Bodily Harm; the appeal point was identified while representing the defendant at a parole hearing. The defendant was released immediately after serving over 5 years in custody.
R v LB [2012] EWCA Crim 346 – Successful application to the Court of Appeal when Lisa was a pupil barrister; the defendant’s sentence for actual bodily harm was reduced from 28 months to 16 months.
Elected Director of Furnival Chambers
Tenancy Committee Furnival Chambers
Pupil Supervisor
- Lincoln’s Inn Keble College Scholarship 2014
- Very Competent BVC BPP London
- 2.1 Law (LLB) Kings College London
