Kathryn is an accomplished criminal court advocate who is described as “nothing short of brilliant” [Chambers & Partners].
Recognised as one of the most sought-after barristers in her specialist field of white-collar crime, Kathryn has been nominated three times by Legal 500 UK as ‘Corporate Crime Junior of the Year’ (2022, 2024 and 2025).
Kathryn is experienced in jury trial and appellate work and has acted as both leading and junior counsel in a wide range of financial crime and serious general criminal cases. She has been described as “extraordinarily persuasive” and “a fierce cross-examiner” (Legal 500, Fraud 2025). The same publication also said that “legal argument is her natural home”.
“Exceptionally good and very hard-working” (Legal 500, Business & Regulatory Crime (including Global Investigations) 2025), Kathryn acts for both for the defence and also for the prosecution where there is a novel or complex question of law with instructions coming from HMRC, FCA, The Insolvency Service and the Serious Economic Crime and Special Crime teams at the CPS. Kathryn is instructed as leading junior and junior alone in cases including fraud; money laundering; cheat on the revenue; Companies Act offences and bribery. She also defends and advises on Private Prosecutions.
In addition, Kathryn has specialist experience acting in contested applications for account freezing and account forfeiture orders and has experience representing individuals in regulatory proceedings.
Kathryn is “bright and charming” with “a charismatic presence” in court and “great manner with the client” (Chambers & Partners, Financial Crime 2024).
Kathryn has a substantial advisory practice, supporting individuals pre-charge on their personal liability to criminal and regulatory proceedings. She is sought after for her insights into and clear, strategic advice on emerging areas of criminal law. Her recent instructions encompass a range of issues including corporate criminal liability, the feasibility of initiating private prosecutions, Legal Professional Privilege (LPP) and directors’ duties.
Kathryn is experienced in advising potential witnesses working within corporates under investigation.
She advises at all stages of an investigation. She is well-versed with the opportunities to co-operate with investigations and is “organised and methodical” in her approach. Similarly, she is experienced in managing a strategic case in the face of the use of aggressive investigatory powers.
Kathryn “provides legal advice that is informed by pertinent strategic and commercial considerations” to corporates.
In recent years, she has acted for a global bank, an international mining company, a law firm and a range of smaller companies, providing strategic advice on white-collar, regulatory and collateral civil fraud investigations. She is experienced in advising Boards, senior management and in-house legal teams and working effectively and sensitively with companies to manage often conflicting legal or regulatory obligations and personnel issues.
She is familiar with reputational damage concerns and has worked with PR teams to prepare appropriate press releases. She also advises on legal privilege and market sensitive / insider information.
Kathryn is experienced and comfortable working in parallel with teams of foreign lawyers and commercial / litigation firms including those in the magic circle. She has worked on cases involving parallel criminal, civil or regulatory proceedings in the USA (DOJ and SEC) and Luxembourg and has experience of working on cases where the underlying dishonest conduct or bribery took place outside of jurisdiction, in countries such as Russia, China, Tanzania, Nigeria, Kenya and Mozambique.
Kathryn is often instructed when an issue is first identified to offer immediate strategic advice and support for a corporate where an internal investigation is necessary. In such cases, she has conducted internal investigations alone and worked as part of a team to scope the corporate’s criminal and regulatory exposure.
Kathryn advises on self-reporting, co-operating with prosecuting authorities, managing regulatory obligations and complying with obligations arising from insolvency service investigations.
In 2025, in support of the charity Classics for All, Kathryn took part in a Supreme Court enactment of the Trial of Medea. The trial was live streamed to an audience of several hundred.
The live-stream recording of the trial is here: https://www.youtube.com/live/WthbzjZb1Ec?si=jqIaOIohcdcX3DwT
