Stephanie has a particular specialism and interest in matters relating to the prison system and prison settings. She has experience of public law challenges, civil claims and in-prison hearings. Stephanie’s prison law practice is informed by her experience of policy and advocacy work relating to the prison system.

Stephanie has been instructed unled in public law matters relating to re-categorisation, open transfer and parole decisions. She acted for the Claimant in R (Dich) v Parole Board [2023] EWHC 945 (Admin) (led by Jude Bunting KC) in which the Parole Board guidance on the ‘at risk’ period for determinate sentence prisoners was found to be unlawful.

Stephanie has experience of in-prison hearings, including Mother and Baby Unit (“MBU”) Boards and Category A reviews. She recently represented a client in a successful internal appeal against the denial of a place in a prison’s MBU.

During her pupillage at Doughty Street, Stephanie assisted Jude Bunting KC across a wide range of prison law matters spanning judicial review challenges and advisory work, including R (Austin) v Parole Board [2022] EWHC 63 (Admin) and R (Zaman) v Secretary of State for Justice [2022] EWHC 188 (Admin)

She regularly advises third sector organisations on prison law matters.

Stephanie sits on the Executive Committee of the Association of Prison Lawyers. She recently joined the sub-group examining detention settings in JUSTICE’s newly established Working Party on Outsourcing and Administrative Justice. Away from law, Stephanie is a trustee of Spark Inside, a charity providing coaching to young people in prisons. Prior to the Bar, she worked at the Howard League for Penal Reform.

Stephanie accepts public law instructions, with a focus on public law relating to prisons and the criminal justice system.

In her prison law practice, Stephanie has been instructed unled in public law matters relating to re-categorisation, open transfer and parole decisions. Stephanie acted for the Claimant in R (Dich) v Parole Board [2023] EWHC 945 (Admin) (led by Jude Bunting KC) in which the Parole Board guidance on the ‘at risk’ period for determinate sentence prisoners was found to be unlawful.

In terms of crime-related public law, Stephanie assisted in the Supreme Court case of PWR v DPP [2022] UKSC 2, which concerned the correct interpretation of an offence under the Terrorism Act 2000, in addition to several challenges relating to the policing and enforcement of Covid restrictions. She has experience of work at the crossover between regulatory and public law.

Beyond these areas, Stephanie accepts instructions in a broad range of public law matters. She is part of the team acting for a group of intervenors in the upcoming judicial review by the Scottish Government of the first ever use of Section 35 of the Scotland Act 1998 to veto legislation. She has experience of advising on judicial review relating to inquest proceedings and on the human rights compliance of proposed policy and legislative reforms.

Stephanie practises in media and information law.

She has experience of open justice matters, most recently acting unled for the Financial Times in a successful opposed application for access to court documents (as reported in the FT Magazine); Stephanie has assisted with open justice cases in the employment, family and civil jurisdictions, including the Duke of Edinburgh will challenge.

Stephanie is currently a duty lawyer at two national newspapers and has completed a short secondment at a third. She has assisted members of chambers with pre-publication work for broadcasters, news websites and campaigning organisations. She has provided advice on the Online Safety Bill.

Stephanie also has experience assisting on cases relating to criminal record deletion, surveillance and protest. She welcomes media and information law instructions touching on policing and criminal justice issues.

Stephanie has experience of providing advice on civil claims in tort and under the Human Rights Act 1998. Her submissions recently helped a client to secure an appropriate award from the Ministry of Justice's miscarriages of justice compensation scheme. Stephanie’s management consulting experience, which included extensive quantitative modelling, makes her ideally placed to assist with complex advice on quantum and schedules of loss.

Stephanie gained a breadth of experience during pupillage of civil actions against the police and other public authorities, including the CPS. She has worked on matters involving positive duties under Article 3, closed material procedure and alleged data protection issues.

She has experience of procedural hearings in the County Court and can assist with both inquests and related civil claims.

Stephanie represents families at inquest hearings. She was junior counsel in the legal team for the family in the inquest into the death of Gaia Pope-Sutherland (led by Caoilfhionn Gallagher KC). She represented the family of Samuel Howes in the inquest into his death (with Sam Jacobs).

She is currently acting for the family of Semina Halliwell ahead of the inquest into her death (led by Aswini Weereratne KC). Stephanie has a particular interest in inquests relating to policing or touching upon deaths in prisons.  

Stephanie was recently instructed in the McGrail inquiry, acting for the former Chief Commissioner of the Royal Gibraltar Police (as second junior to Adam Wagner and led by Caoilfhionn Gallagher KC). She has experience assisting senior members of chambers in their work representing core participants in both the Brook House Inquiry and the Covid Inquiry.