Naomi defends and prosecutes in the Crown and Magistrates’ Court. She has experience dealing with a wide range of offences, including fraud and dishonesty offences, extradition, violent offences, possession, supply and importation of drugs, driving offences and immigration offences. She is instructed by defence solicitors on both legally-aided and private matters, and frequently appears on behalf of union members. She has taken instructions from the CPS (including Revenue and Customs), Department for Work and Pensions, and the UK Borders Agency. She is a Grade 2 Advocate for the Crown Prosecution Service.
She also has considerable experience defending vulnerable clients in the youth court. Youth cases include sexual offences, robbery, assaults and possession and supply of Class A and Class B drugs.
Recent cases
- R v G (Blackfriars Crown Court, 2010): successful defence of forgery charge involving a challenge to reliability of video identification evidence.
- R v H (Maidstone Crown Court, 2010): successful prosecution of 13 counts of fraud and other dishonesty offences. Confiscation proceedings are underway.
- R v X (Stratford Youth Court, 2010): a successful submission of no case to answer based on an argument as to the ‘mental element’ of possession (Class B drugs).
Other work
Naomi's practice includes quasi-criminal work. She has recently undertaken consultancy on the practical application of the Bribery Act 2010. She is currently support Counsel to the Al-Sweady Inquiry, a public inquiry into allegations of mistreatment and unlawful killing by British soldiers in Iraq.
Her pro-bono work includes employment cases on behalf of the Free Representation Unit, and advice on appeals to the Privy Council for those sentenced to life imprisonment.
Prior to joining the Bar, Naomi worked for several years as a researcher at a think tank developing public policy. She also worked in Guatemala for a Human Rights NGO specialising in human trafficking and child exploitation.
Languages
Naomi is fluent in Russian and Spanish, and has taken instructions in both languages. She has a good working knowledge of Serbo-Croat and French.
BA (Hons) Russian and Spanish (Nott’m) (1:1)
CPE/GDL (City University) (Distinction)
Called to the Bar (Inner Temple) 2008.
Criminal Bar Association
Bar Human Rights Association
Young Fraud Lawyers Association
