LL.B. (London)
Called 1985
Appointed Queen’s Counsel in 2006
Member of Lincoln’s Inn – Called to the Bench of the Inn 19/12/2012
Advocacy tutor for Lincoln’s Inn
Member of South Eastern and Western circuits
Pippa McAtasney is a leading criminal QC with over 30 years’ experience both prosecuting and defending in a broad range of criminal cases.
Pippa is regularly instructed as leading counsel in cases concerning murder, manslaughter, serious sexual offences and violent crime. She also has expertise in defending those charged with offences involving historic sexual abuse and serious fraud.
As junior counsel Pippa had an extensive practice representing police officers of all ranks at police discipline tribunals and in the Crown Court.
Pippa is a Bencher of Lincoln’s inn and a designated lead advocacy tutor. She is also the Chair of the Surrey and South London Bar Mess.
In addition to her practice, she has acted as legal advisor to television companies. The most well-known being all three series of the BBC legal drama Silk, as well as the series Apple Tree Yard.
LL.B. (London)
Called 1985
Appointed Queen’s Counsel in 2006
Member of Lincoln’s Inn – Called to the Bench of the Inn 19/12/2012
Advocacy tutor for Lincoln’s Inn
Member of South Eastern and Western circuits
R v Williams [2019] Luton Crown Court – Defending an 18 year old charged with joint enterprise murder. The defendant was acquitted of murder but convicted of manslaughter.
R v Blake [2018] Blackfriars Crown Court – Defending a man accused of murder in which his brother was stabbed to death. The defendant pleaded guilty to manslaughter and was given a hospital order as it was accepted that he was of diminished responsibility.
R v L [2018] Central Criminal Court – Defending a 16 year old with a low IQ, autism and ADHD accused of manslaughter. The case involved an argument between the deceased and three youths over sale of some rizla papers.
R v H [2018] Exeter Crown Court – Defendant was acquitted of 10 counts of historic indecent assaults of a child under 13. Issues involving admissibility of complainant evidence and cross admissibility.
R v Berhane [2018] Central Criminal Court – Defending 18 year old in joint enterprise murder involving five defendants accused of chasing the deceased and then stabbing him to death with a large knife.
R v Hammond [2018] Birmingham Crown Court – Defendant acquitted of murder but convicted of manslaughter of his mother. The case involved issues concerning bad character, hearsay and causation.
R v M [2017] Central Criminal Court – Successful defence of one of four defendants accused of joint enterprise robbery and murder. The case involved issues with admissibility of a deceased witness’ ABE interview. All four defendants were acquitted.
R v Kostov [2017] Exeter Crown Court – Defending a man accused of murdering his wife and then dragging a suitcase containing her body through Exeter to dispose of it.
R v Dickson & Pollard [2017] Maidstone Crown Court – Prosecution in joint enterprise murder of a vulnerable man with ADHD and Asperger’s Syndrome. Dickson was convicted and received an 18 year sentence while Pollard was acquitted.
R v H [2017] Winchester Crown Court – The defendant was accused of 12 counts of historic sexual assault. He was found not guilty on 10 counts, with the jury unable to reach a verdict on the remaining two. Abuse of process and delay arguments persuaded the Judge to rule limiting the ambit of the evidence and the Crown offered no evidence.
R v Mills & Ors [2016] Southwark Crown Court – Defending one of seven in widely reported case of complex fraud and conspiracy involving extensive legal argument.
R v D [2016] Kingston Crown Court – Defendant was acquitted in a case involving multiple complainants alleging sexual assault.
R v L [2016] Durham Crown Court – University student charged with rape and sexual assault of two fellow students. The defendant was unanimously acquitted. Cross-examination of the main complainant revealed a number of inconsistencies in her account.
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.
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.
Pippa is married and has two daughters.