Pippa McAtasney is a London criminal barrister who has a wide-ranging practice. She has an excellent record in both defending and prosecuting in cases concerning murder, manslaughter, serious sexual offences, violent crime and fraud. She has a specialist practice in police discipline work and has represented many police officers at all ranks both at tribunals and in the Crown Court. She has acted for several businesses prosecuted under Health and Safety at Work legislation and undertakes all areas of criminal practice

In addition to her practice, Pippa acts as a legal advisor to television companies producing TV drama, the most well known example being all three series of the BBC legal drama “Silk”.

Qualifications and memberships

LL.B. (Lond); barrister at law; called 1985; appointed to Queen’s Counsel in 2006.

Member of Lincoln’s Inn – Called to the Bench of the Inn 19/12/2012, she is a qualified advocacy tutor.

Member of South Eastern and Western circuits

Recent cases

• The successful defence of a University student cleared of Rape & Sexual Assault Allegations in January 2016
• High profile prosecution at Maidstone Crown Court of three defendants for murder and s 18 assault upon two Italian boys. R v Zuravliovas, Zidonis and Tamoliunas (and another who was acquitted) Issues of joint enterprise, self defence/defence of another. Determinate sentences of 21/20 years for all defendants [2014]
• The successful defence of a medical student indicted for serious assault at Guildford Crown Court [2014]
• The successful defence of a minicab driver accused of sexual assault upon a passenger at Ealing Magistrates Court [2014]
• Defending in a high profile retrial at the Central Criminal Court of a young defendant for murder at Westfield shopping centre. R v Kojo-Smith leave to appeal granted and appeal pending. [2014]
• The successful defence of a young man facing historic allegations of rape and indecent assault for offences when he, the defendant, was a school boy.   The case, tried at Plymouth Crown Court resulted in a successful submission on one complainant and a retrial with acquittal concerning two further complainants [2013]
• The successful defence of a man jointly charged with murder/causing or allowing the death of a child (a two year old boy, the son of his then girlfriend, Rebecca Shuttleworth) at Birmingham Crown Court. The co defendant who argued a cut-throat defence was convicted.   R v Shuttleworth [2013]
• The successful defence of a man charged with sexual assault at Woolwich Crown Court [2013]
• The successful defence of a police officer in misconduct proceedings who remained in the police force after a plea in mitigation at Nottingham Police Headquarters [2013]
• The successful defence of a retired police officer for historic sexual assault upon his daughter [2012]
• The successful defence (leading Daniel Jameson] of a man charged with attempted murder at Luton Crown Court [but a conviction upon a lesser charge] [2012]
• Inquest representation of a social worker who had involvement with a mentally ill mother who murdered both children   [2012]
• The successful defence of a physiotherapist at Sheffield Crown Court. He was charged with sexual assault upon two patients. A successful submission of no case to answer was made at the close of the prosecution case. This related to one complainant. The defendant was acquitted by the jury upon the remaining counts [2012]
• The Successful defence at Wakefield Police Headquarters of a police officer for misconduct by misusing the Police National Computer. He, likewise, remained in the force after plea and mitigation. [2013]
• The successful argument (leading Caroline Haughey) of abuse of process at Birmingham Crown Court where the defendant was accused of attempted murder of his wife. The Crown accepted a plea to lesser charge and then sought to go back on the promise. Crown application resisted and refused : mitigation and suspended sentence achieved. [2013]
• St Albans Crown Court (leading Ben Gordon) – the successful negotiation to persuade the Prosecution to offer no evidence against a defendant facing a trial for breach of harassment order in a neighbor dispute.

Less recent cases

• A successful defence at Southwark Crown Court of a 21 year old man charged with causing death by careless driving in Knightsbridge. Abuse of process application succeeded thus avoiding a trial. Inquest also attended.
• The successful defence at re trial of Tommy Willett (Pippa did not appear originally). He was charged with murder of a man who tried to stop the defendant and his brother from fleeing the scene after an attempted theft. The victim was killed by being dragged under the getaway car. The second jury acquitted of murder but convicted of manslaughter. On appeal [reported case R v Tommy Willett [2011] EWCA Crim 2710, Times March 9th 2012] the sentence was reduced from 16 years imprisonment to 14 years. [It had originally been life with a 25 year term for the murder.] The case involved issues of joint enterprise, witness anonymity and admission of bad character. The case was featured in a Crimewatch TV appeal.
• The successful outcome at Kingston Crown Court defending a man charged with conspiracy to defraud customers into buying artwork and punk rock vintage clothing. The artwork being passed off as genuine work by the street artist known as “Banksy.” Initially, it was alleged to be a £1.2 million fraud. After a lengthy legal argument, the value of the loss was brought down to below £20 000 and the defendant and another pleaded guilty on a basis that would result in a non custodial sentence. Confiscation was also dealt with advantageously.
• The successful defence of a teacher charged with sexual assault at Oxford Crown Court. The complainant was a former pupil.
• The successful defence of a senior police officer charged with historic sexual abuse allegations upon two complainants. A re trial was ordered after a successful submission and the removal of the case in respect of one complainant. At the re trial in relation to the remaining complainant the Prosecution was persuaded to offer no evidence.
• The successful outcome negotiated for a teenager charged with rape and indecent assault of fellow students one of whom was under 13. The defendant and the complainants were all hearing impaired. Lip speakers and sign language experts were used [Leading Edith Norman].
• The prosecution of two defendants [R v Anhar and Sohag] at Lewes Crown Court. Both were charged with murder. Issues involved joint enterprise and a cell confession. Both received sentences of 25 years imprisonment.
• The successful outcome negotiated for a police officer charged with fraud at Warwick Crown Court. The allegations centred on defrauding West Midlands police. A non custodial sentence and limited confiscation resulted.
• The successful defence at Blackfriars Crown Court of a man charged with sexual assault on a commuter travelling on an underground train.
• The successful defence at Maidstone Crown Court of a stepfather charged with rape and sexual assault on a girl of 14. An application that there was no case to answer in relation to the rapes was upheld by the trial judge and the jury acquitted on the alternative sexual activity counts.
• The murder [R-v-Bamu] of the defendant’s 15 year old brother in circumstances where the prosecution alleged he was tortured and drowned in a failed exorcism carried out because the defendant and her boyfriend believed the boy had been possessed by witchcraft. 25 year sentence. Appeal advised. The trial involved issues of joint enterprise, secondary liability and duress.
• The execution style murder by sawn off shotgun to the head of a drug dealing associate. The indictment also contained counts of arson being reckless as to whether life was endangered and perverting the course of justice. Issues included cell site evidence, anonymity orders and joint enterprise.
• The double manslaughter committed by a mentally unwell defendant who set fire to her 16th floor flat killing her neighbours.
• The successful negotiated defence of a man charged with harassment of his ex girlfriend. The negotiation resulted in no conviction and, in fact, no trial taking place.
• The successfully negotiated outcome substituting affray on an indictment for possession of an imitation firearm with intent to cause unlawful violence to be feared. No custodial sentence indicated

Other successful cases

• The successful defence at Birmingham Crown Court in a murder (first tried during September 2009 and on retrial April 2010) of a 19 year old man charged with a brutal murder, involving trussing up the deceased and burning him alive. This was a “cut throat” defence where the co accused Paul Nelson was found guilty and sentenced to serve 30 years imprisonment. The first jury could not agree; at retrial he was unanimously acquitted of murder and manslaughter.
• Succesful defence at Northampton of a man charged with money laundering and converting criminal property,
• Successful defence at Inner London of a thirteen year old charged with rape of a 3 year old
• Successful defence at Winchester (January 2010) of a Royal Marine jointly charged with murder and affray after the death of a sailor in a bar in Portsmouth.
• The successful defence of a young mother at Harrow. The allegation was cruelty on the basis of omitting to get medical aid for her baby son who had been seriously assaulted by her husband,
• Successfully defending a teacher in Preston in a high profile case of abuse of trust: sexual activity with a child and an offer to supply class A drugs and
• Successfully defending in Bradford in a high profile murder where the defendant was 14 years old and had allegedly murdered her 16 year old sister.
• An appeal (where Pippa had not appeared at trial), followed by a retrial in Liverpool, in defence of a police officer accused with perverting the course of public justice, actual bodily harm and perjury.
• Defending in Birmingham a police officer accused of rape at a retrial having not acted at the original trial. (Birmingham CC),
• Acting for the defence in Guildford in a high profile allegation of rape and indecent assault and the defence in Leicester of a police officer accused, with others, in a high profile case involving a death in custody all ended successfully.
• In the Police discipline sphere, the successful appeal before the Chief Constable of Thames Valley who finally determined the appeal of DCI Philip Wheeler who had been convicted of police misconduct arising out of the death in 2000 of Victoria Climbié. Originally, his conviction was upheld by a Metropolitan Police Assistant Commissioner but that decision was successfully quashed after judicial review and a rehearing of the appeal was directed.
• R v Hasanovic – prosecution at Lewes Crown Court of a man for murdering his estranged wife as she was on her way to a women’s refuge.
• Prosecution of a defendant accused of serious sexual assault on his 5 year old daughter (Lewes again).
• Successfully leading for the defence in a “one punch” manslaughter (Lewes.)
• Leading the defence of a Police Officer accused, in a 3 month trial, of perverting the course of public justice (Croydon Crown Court)
• Successful prosecution of death by dangerous driving, involving the death of a 5 years old child (Southwark )
• Successful defence of a woman in a complex and high value fraud (Kingston Crown Court);
• Successful representation of a senior police officer at an inquest into a death at work (Essex Coroner’s court).
• In general terms Pippa’s earlier work has included all crime from murder and attempted murder; through false imprisonment and living off immoral earnings (both at the Central Criminal Court); a successful abuse of process argument in a Customs & Excise diversion fraud (Southwark Crown Court); high profile alleged racist manslaughter (successful result at committal and at trial on lesser other allegations Lewes); GBH on a police officer (Swindon ) ; blackmail (Reading ); a Chartered Accountancy fraud (successful half time submission at Southwark ); successfully defending rape by a police officer on a fellow officer (Central Criminal Court) causing an explosion (Bristol Crown Court). Forgery of currency valued at millions of pounds, defendant acquitted (Winchester).
• Representation outside the Crown Court has included Wimbledon Magistrates’, defending an international famous footballer; successfully defending a premier league football club in a Health and Safety prosecution concerning the death of a steward; the representation at the Victoria Climbié inquiry of the senior police officer mentioned above Advice to an individual questioned under the “Cash for Honours” inquiry; advice to a senior police officer questioned in the de Menzez shooting inquiry and advice to a large limited company concerning the death of an employee.

Road traffic

Pippa has defended and prosecuted Road Traffic cases in the Magistrates’ Court and in the Crown Court. For her, this used to be a specialisation at the junior bar and is still part of her practice. Examples, albeit now a little dated, are Davies v DPP 1998 RTR defended alone in the Divisional Court and led by Queen’s Counsel in the House of Lords.

More recently she has successfully defended a death by careless driving at Southwark Crown Court (2010.) She also appeared at the Inquest.

Pippa also defended a case of dangerous driving at Canterbury Crown Court where a child had suffered major injury. The jury failed to agree but a successful outcome was negotiated and her legal argument in relation to special reasons for not disqualifying the driver was accepted.

Police discipline work

Philippa is a specialist in defending Police Officers in Discipline hearings and criminal cases. These includes representing officers in matters arising from the Climbié inquiry (already mentioned), Operation Ore, rape, misconduct in a public office and several corruption cases.

Court of Appeal cases

• R v Tipu Sultan – this was an allegation of rape prosecuted successfully at Blackfriars CC. No mental health issues were raised. The Defendant appealed in person out of time and the Court of Appeal ordered a retrial. The case was prosecuted for a second time and the defendant was found unfit to plead. He was convicted of committing the act.
• Successful appeal on behalf of Appellant – following convictions for sexual abuse at Birmingham CC papers were sent for advice. Philippa did not appear at the original trial. The entire transcript of the trial was obtained and leave to appeal was granted. The Court of Appeal allowed the appeal and no retrial was ordered. The defendant was immediately released from prison.
• R v Bartrom – this was a successful prosecution of historical rapes and sexual abuse at Lewes CC. The defendant raised arguments on appeal 6 years into his sentence. The application for leave was referred to the full court and refused.

Reported cases

• R v. Tommy Willett [2011] EWCA Crim 2710, Times March 9th 2012
• R v. Central Criminal Court ex parte Bennett in the Queen’s Bench Divisional Court (The Times 25/1/1999) (custody time limits)
• R v. Bromley Justices ex parte Smith and Wilkins [1995] 2 Cr App R 285 (disclosure duties in the magistrate’s court)
• R v. Nottingham Crown Court ex parte DPP [1996] 1 Cr App R (S) 283 (sentencing on appeal in the Crown Court)
• Davis v. DPP [1998] RTR 156 (excess alcohol technicality).

Personal

Pippa is married and has two daughters.