Abby is an associate in the fraud and criminal litigation team.

Abby acts for individuals facing proceedings across the criminal spectrum including in the Magistrates’ Court and Crown Court. She also has expertise in matters before the Youth Court. Her varied caseload includes sexual offences, allegations of assault, financial crime, regulatory breaches and drug offences. She has a particular interest in representing defendants who are young or particularly vulnerable. Abby also has experience in advising in pre-charge cases and in matters prosecuted by bodies other than the CPS, for example TfL, the Health and Safety Executive and local authorities.

Abby has also been given the opportunity to assist more senior members of the criminal litigation department with a wide range of cases, including allegations of murder and historic sexual offences, as well as extradition, fraud, and health and safety breaches.

Abby has been most successful in making written representations persuading the prosecution to discontinue cases before trial and has received acknowledgement from counsel and also notably from prosecutors for her excellent written submissions and the apparent determination she has to do all she can to achieve a good result for her clients. Others praise her for her quick understanding of the complex issues in a case and her excellent client care and case preparation.

Abby’s clients benefit from her compassionate and empathetic approach and meticulous attention to detail, as well as her considered approach to the risks involved in each course of action throughout a case.

Abby qualified as a solicitor in 2021. Prior to qualifying, she completed her training contract at Russell Cooke, undertaking seats in real estate, private client, criminal litigation and construction.

Abby has an exceptional academic history having studied law at Balliol College, University of Oxford, where she won the AV Dicey prize for best overall performance over the undergraduate law degree and the Lord Rodger of Earlsberry Prize for the best performance in an Introduction to Roman Law. During her degree she studied modules in criminal law, criminology and the philosophy of punishment. After her undergraduate studies, she completed a Masters in legal practice at the University of Law.

Experience
  • R v A – represented a company charged with improper obstruction of the highway. Case discontinued as a result of written representations persuading the prosecutor that the case was not in the public interest
  • R v B – currently instructed to represent client charged with serious sexual offences
  • R v C – represented youth charged with possession of a knife in a public place, leading to a less severe sentence than the sentencing guidance suggested
  • R v D – pre-charge representation regarding allegations of supplying drugs and possession of an offensive weapon resulting in no further action being taken in one matter and a caution being accepted in the other
  • R v E – currently assisting Jae Carwardine and Jacob Smyth in an encrochat case involving significant disclosure requests
  • R v F – assisted other team members in representing a defendant company in health and safety prosecution, not guilty verdict
  • R v G – assisted Jae Carwardine in representing defendant in historic sexual offences case
  • R v H – assisting Martin Rackstraw in representing individual facing extradition. Extradition refused by District Judge
  • R v I – assisted senior associate in representing individual charged with fraud, case discontinued by the CPS before trial
  • R v J – assisted Jae Carwardine in complex drink driving matter involving expert evidence and advice on special reasons, leading to a shorter period of disqualification than expected given the guidance
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