Olivia Haggar

Practice Profile

Olivia is a specialist criminal barrister, with experience across the full range of criminal proceedings but with emphasis on cases involving alleged sexual misconduct, violence, and conspiracies to supply drugs. Olivia has a busy Crown Court practice and receives instructions on behalf of both the Defence and Prosecution. 

She is known for her attention to detail and excellent rapport with clients. Olivia has experience representing young and vulnerable clients and has been instructed as led junior and junior alone in a wide range of serious criminal matters. Recent cases include being led by Sarah Forshaw KC in fitness to practise proceedings, a case involving a doctor accused of sexually assaulting a patient, instructed by BCL LLP.  

Olivia is a Grade 2 CPS advocate on the General Crime panel. Recent cases include a ten handed money laundering conspiracy led by Cameron Brown KC (of 18 RLC), instructed by the Serious Economic Organised Crime & International Directorate. 

Prior to commencing practice, Olivia worked as a criminal litigation paralegal at a leading criminal defence law firm, Corker Binning, specialising in fraud and regulatory work. 

Olivia's Privacy Policy can be downloaded here.

Upcoming cases: 

R v ML [Kingston CC] 2023 

Conspiracy to commit fraud. Instructed by CPS Serious Economic Organised Crime & International Directorate.  

Led by Cameron Brown KC. 

R v AB and ors [Kingston CC] 2023 

Conspiracy to money launder. Instructed by CPS Serious Economic Organised Crime & International Directorate.  

Led by Cameron Brown KC. 

R v BB and ors [Portsmouth CC] 2023
Ten counts of Stalking and Perverting the Course of Justice. Instructed by Bishop & Light. 

 

Recent cases: 

R v RS [Southampton CC] 2022 

Olivia represented a man of good character, charged with Possession with Intent to Supply two kilos of cannabis and a half kilo of ketamine. Instructed by Brooklyn Law. 

R v PS [Winchester CC] 2021 

Olivia was led by Paul Walker, representing a man charged with Gross Negligence Manslaughter, arising from a wall collapsing on a building site. The case involved contested expert evidence. Instructed by Bishop & Light. 

 

Memberships

• Criminal Bar Association
• South Eastern Circuit
• Women in Criminal Law

CPS Panel Appointments

• CPS Advocate Panel for General Crime at Grade 3

• R v Cole [Reading Magistrates Court] 2021

  Burglary

  Olivia Haggar successfully prosecuted this individual for burglary of a quadbike. The offence was committed the day before the homicide of PC Andrew Harper, and came to light during the wider investigation.

  News Report

• R v DN [Highbury Youth Court] 2021

  Conspiracy to commit robbery

  Olivia Haggar was instructed to represent a youth charged with conspiracy to commit robbery with two others. After consideration of the phone evidence, Olivia drafted a section 78 argument, which lead to the Crown discontinuing proceedings against her client. Instructed by Edwards Duthie Shamash.

• R v DS [Kingston Crown Court] 2020

  Actual Bodily Harm

  Olivia Haggar represented a man charged with assaulting a Police Officer during the course of a foot chase, thereby occasioning her actual bodily harm. DS was unanimously acquitted after trial. Instructed by Freemans.

• Operation Mowhawk [Croydon Crown Court] 2019

  Conspiracy to commit fraud

  Pauline Thompson led Olivia Haggar in a conspiracy to commit fraud and associated money laundering. All ten defendants were convicted. Instructed by Croydon Trading Standards.

  https://news.croydon.gov.uk/ten-sentenced-after-croydon-led-trading-standards-operation/

• R v Dr V [GMC & Crown Court] 2019

  Sexually Motivated Misconduct

  The defendant doctor, having been acquitted of sexual assaults on a patient at the Crown Court (also represented by Sarah Forshaw QC), was to face similar allegations brought by the GMC. Miss Forshaw, assisted by Olivia Haggar, was asked to represent him again at the full contested hearing which lasted 3 weeks. Once again, the complainant and other witnesses were cross-examined. The allegations were all found ‘not proved’ by the Tribunal. The Doctor has returned to full-time work. Instructed by BCL.