Yvonne has developed a busy practice defending in criminal courts across the country. She has acted on behalf of individuals facing a wide range of allegations and has experience of appellate proceedings in the Court of Appeal.
A criminal defence practitioner, instructed in cases covering all aspects of criminal law, who often achieves successful outcomes against the odds. Yvonne prides herself on her commitment to her clients and she is regularly instructed in difficult cases which require careful client care.
Yvonne completed pupillage at a common law set, which provided her with a solid grounding in criminal, general civil and immigration law practice. Prior to coming to the Bar, Yvonne worked primarily in the fields of human rights and legal policy. After completing her undergraduate degree, she worked in legal policy and governance at the Ghana Centre for Democratic Development in Accra. She later worked in Brussels, first as a stagiaire at the European Parliament (Subcommittee on Human Rights) then at the Open Society Institute’s EU office. She also gained further experience in EU law and immigration law while working as a legal caseworker at the AIRE Centre and volunteering for Bail for Immigration Detainees.
Yvonne is currently a trustee of Tower Hamlets Law Centre and a member of Queen Mary University London Legal Advice Centre’s Advisory Board. She is also a Director of Black Protest Legal Support.
Since May 2019, Yvonne has been instructed as junior counsel to the Dame Linda Dobbs Review considering whether the issues relating to the HBOS Reading scandal were investigated and appropriately reported to authorities at the time by Lloyds Banking Group, following its acquisition of HBOS.
In early 2019, Yvonne was seconded to the Financial Conduct Authority as reviewing counsel for a high-profile regulatory investigation. She was also instructed by the FCA as an independent advocate to advise on legal professional privilege. Before coming to the Bar, Yvonne gained experience in financial regulation and mis-selling claims while working as an adjudicator at the Financial Ombudsman Service.
Between June – August 2018, Yvonne was instructed by the London Fire Commissioner as disclosure counsel for the Grenfell Tower Inquiry.
Since 2019, Yvonne has been on the lawyers’ panel for the Centre For Women’s Justice. She has advised on a range of cases involving incidents of violence against women and girls and has drafted successful submissions on behalf of applicants under the Victims’ Right to Review scheme.
R v HK (Kingston-Upon-Thames CC). Junior alone representing a young defendant in a complex ‘county lines’ case. Client faced charges of conspiracy to supply Class A drugs, Modern Slavery Act offence, possession of a prohibited firearm. Client was acquitted of the most serious charges and received a suspended sentence of imprisonment.
R v E (Isleworth CC). Instructed as fresh counsel to represent a client during his contested POCA proceedings. Successfully reduced the available amount through careful analysis of the client’s financial records.
R v SC (Guildford CC). Led junior for one of three defendants charged with fraudulent trading ‘described by the prosecution as a ‘fraud that was perpetrated on the most vulnerable members of society’. Client acquitted after a four-week trial.
R v A (Leicester CC). Led junior for a young man charged with conspiracy to commit violent disorder. This was a highly-complex trial, involving eleven defendants, based on extensive telephone evidence. The trial lasted for nine weeks.
R v I (Isleworth CC). Represented a defendant charged with multiple, historic sexual offences against a child, including attempted rape.
R v C (Guildford CC). Successfully defended a defendant charged with benefit fraud. Crown offered no evidence on second day of trial
R v L (Birmingham CC). Represented a defendant charged with fraudulent evasion of a prohibition (importation of cocaine).
R v G (Kingston CC). Defendant acquitted of aggravated burglary and possession of an offensive weapon following a successful half-time submission.
R v S (Isleworth CC). Successfully represented a defendant charged with orchestrating a so-called ‘honeytrap’ robbery.
R v F (Kingston Crown court). Successfully represented a defendant charged with several counts of theft from employer.
R v W (Luton CC). Successfully defended a defendant charged with benefit fraud, The Crown offered no evidence pre-trial on the basis of the defence statement drafted by counsel.
R v I (Croydon CC). Successfully represented a defendant charged with aggravated burglary and possession of an offensive weapon in a multi-handed trial. The defendant was assessed as vulnerable and was granted an intermediary for the duration of the trial.
R v P (Inner London CC). Successfully represented a defendant charged with witness intimidation.
