Maria regularly accepts instructions in criminal proceedings and has appeared before the Magistrates’ Court (including before the Chief Magistrate), Youth Court, and Crown Court. Maria has gained experience in defending in a range of offences and is particularly interested in matters where Convention rights or modern slavery/trafficking defences are raised, and in representing children and young people.

Some recent successes include:

• R v CP [2026], Crown Court: Persuaded Probation to withdraw proceedings for breach of a suspended sentence order for an exceptionally vulnerable client who faced full activation of a custodial sentence. Following thorough written submissions, Probation concluded it was not in the public interest to proceed.
• R v JP [2026], Crown Court: Secured a community order for a disabled client concerned in the supply of Class A and Class B drugs, and possession of Class A, by drafting a basis of plea (accepted by the Crown), and making written and oral submissions on reducing the starting point due to the low quantity of drugs.
• R v SP [2025], Crown Court: Succeeded in an Appeal against Sentence in the Crown Court by making persuasive written and oral submissions in a finely-balanced case on the exceptional hardship that would arise for the client who experienced debilitating long-term health conditions, and for his family.

Alongside general crime, Maria is keen to develop their practice in protest, terrorism, and foreign jurisdiction work. They have been instructed to defend various protesters against the genocide in Palestine. Maria has assisted members of Chambers in advising on matters relating to the domestic prosecution of crimes as well as abuse of process.

Maria combines their experience in community engagement and human rights advocacy with their dedication to youth justice. Maria completed the ICCA Advocacy for Children in Conflict with the Law training in person to ensure that they can help children navigate the court environment with care. Maria has been instructed in a number of matters relating to robbery, GBH, and possession of a knife or bladed article.

Maria has experience of assisting in criminal appeals and is a contributor to Doughty Street’s Criminal Appeals Bulletin. Maria is keen to expand their appellate practice, having recently been led in the Court of Appeal by Peter Wilcock KC on an appeal against conviction in relation to the appropriate directions on defences for children under section 45(4) of the Modern Slavery Act 2015.

Maria is building their immigration practice by focusing on cases involving deportation, modern slavery and trafficking, and bail, complemented by their criminal law practice.

Maria has a keen interest in upholding the rights of those seeking asylum and refuge, as well as migrant workers facing exploitation. As a Detention Action volunteer, Maria supported individuals in immigration detention with bail, housing, health and other casework. Furthermore, Maria undertook fieldwork in Kuala Lumpur for an advocacy report on access to justice for Nepali migrant workers for the Malaysian Bar Council and NGOs as part of their LLM.

Maria is an internationally recognised Human Rights Defender. President Obama described them as "changing hearts and minds through the power of example" in a letter following Maria's trans rights advocacy. Maria was invited to the HRD World Summit in Paris in 2018 as the UK delegate; they contributed as a panellist, as well as a representative of delegates’ views for an Action Plan which was later presented to the UN General Assembly. Subsequently, Maria served as an Expert for the Special Rapporteur's report to the UN Human Rights Council (A/HRC/40/60).

In line with their interests in how digital technology and artificial intelligence impact human rights, Maria was consulted on data-gathering for the book 'Data Feminism' by Catherine d'Ignazio and Lauren Klein, as well as by UN Women on digital risks to defenders.

During pupillage, Maria assisted members with work relating to regional and international treaties, focusing on the domestic application of international law.

Before pupillage, Maria enjoyed representing Gray's Inn at the 2023 Philip C. Jessup Moot. Maria focused on arguments relating to the right to self-defence against non-state actors and the treatment of prisoners of war, and supported their team members on sanctions and environmental due diligence. Their team placed in the top 48 at the international rounds in Washington DC.

Before joining the Bar, as an Associate Director for Community Engagement at an LGBTQ+ charity, Maria managed relationships with community and corporate partners to deliver national campaigns and identify strategic litigation opportunities. Maria also provided training and policy briefings on issues including civil rights for NGOs, politicians, and the media. Notably, Maria led a cross-sector response to the Joint Committee on Human Rights Inquiry into COVID-19 and briefed the Government's COVID-19 Taskforce on community experiences.

As a consultant, Maria delivered workshops for young campaigners, solicitors' firms, charities, unions, and staff networks. Maria engaged audiences, from chairing a panel for WorldPride Copenhagen to addressing young people at WE Day at Wembley Arena.

In their commitment to serving communities, Maria has also held voluntary leadership roles in Bringing (Dis)Ability to the Bar and Amnesty Rainbow Network. During pupillage, they completed the Advocate Pro Bono pupil pledge.