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OVERVIEW

Called to the bar in 2013, Kathryn has an established practice specialising in prosecuting and defending in all aspects of Crime and Regulatory Law.



 

Kathryn frequently deals with complex matters of law and procedure, often representing vulnerable youth clients with complex mental health issues and clients who have been deemed unfit to stand trial. Beyond her criminal work, Kathryn also deals with a wide range of disciplinary proceedings including police disciplinaries and matters before the Nursing and Midwifery Council. 

Kathryn is experienced in advising local authorities on case management, preparation and prosecution; she regularly provides training to local authorities and other agencies on best practice with regard to the Fraud Act 2006, Proceeds of Crime, Consumer Protection From Unfair Trading Regulations 2008, Conspiracy, Bad Character and Hearsay, RIPA, and Disclosure. 

Kathryn fearlessly presents her cases in court and provides sound legal advice with a friendly manner to her clients. She came to the bar having spent two years working for the Home Office, representing the Secretary of State for the Home Department in the Immigration and Asylum Tribunal. Prior to her time with the Home Office, Kathryn gained valuable legal experience at two well-known solicitors firms in Cardiff and Bristol. In addition, she also carried out pro bono work with Cardiff University.
 

NOTABLE CASES

  • R. v. TS (2023) Kathryn prosecuted a 14-year-old boy in the Youth Court who was charged sexual offences against a 7 year old child.

  • R. v. Pearce, Adams and Pearce (2023) Kathryn represented a defendant charged with fraud and animal welfare offences which involved an illegal puppy farm where 54 dogs were seized from the defendant’s home address. 

  • R. v. Jakupaj and Sylaj (2022) Kathryn represented two defendants caught in a cannabis factory where £1.5 million pounds worth of cannabis was seized.  

  • R. v. Ross (2022) Kathryn defended a man charged with the rape of a girl under 16. The case involved complex technical issues and expert evidence focusing on social media accounts, snapchat and hearsay evidence. 

  • R. v. D (2022) Kathryn defended a 73-year-old man charged with multiple counts of rape and sexual assault of his wife of 35 years. The case involved lengthy cross examination of the complainant about sensitive issues.

  • R. v. Ramon (2021) Kathryn successfully defended a man charged with offences of sexual assault in the context of a carer providing care to a vulnerable adult.

  • R. v. Michael Martin and Others (2019) – Kathryn was led in this case defending the first defendant in a complex Money Laundering case involving lengthy legal argument about the lawfulness of search warrants and surveillance evidence.

  • Surrey County Council v. Piercy (2019) – Kathryn successfully prosecuted a farmer for breaches of the Animal By-Product (Enforcement) Regulations. 

  • Cardiff County Council v Persimmon Homes (2019) – Kathryn was led by Mr Timothy Evans prosecuting the well-known home builder in a case surrounding the alleged mis-selling of Leasehold properties in Cardiff. An out of Court settlement successfully resolved the case with a favourable outcome to the home buyers. 

  • R. v. Christian John (2019) – Kathryn prosecuted a defendant for his 17th breach of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order. She argued that the current Order was not protecting the public and successfully persuaded the court to amend the Order following a legal argument.  

  • R. v. Fuhsa and Totraku (2019) – Kathryn defended in a case involving the production of cannabis with approximately £300,000 worth of cannabis with issues surrounding human trafficking and modern slavery.   

  • R v. Evans, Evans, Rowland, Rowland and Rowland (2019) – Kathryn successfully defended a man charged with an offence of Attempting to cause Grievous Bodily Harm with Intent (S.18) despite the defendant having a serious memory condition which meant that he had no memory of the event. 

  • Swansea Council v. T J Morris Ltd (t/a Home Bargains) (2019) – Kathryn successfully prosecuted Home Bargains for selling knives to underage customers following an abuse of process argument. 

  • R. v. Arentsen (2018) – Kathryn represented a vulnerable defendant who was not fit to plead (not fit to provide instructions to his solicitors or counsel) and not fit to stand trial. Throughout the proceedings she provided thorough and lengthy advice on expert psychiatric evidence and other medical evidence. Following a trial of the acts (where the defendant was charged with 6 counts of serious violence), her client was acquitted of many of the more serious charges against him.

  • R. v. Williams, Quinn, Galvin and Lloyd (2016 – 2018) – Kathryn was led by Mr Jonathan Rees KC in a complex and challenging fraud case; defending one of four defendants charged with a conspiracy to defraud solicitors’ firms. The case accrued an excess of 250,000 pages of evidence and involved lengthy legal argument following the failure of the prosecution to disclose highly important material. Kathryn and Mr Rees successfully argued abuse of process and their client was acquitted following proceedings that lasted over 3 years.

  • R. v. Riley & Scott (2018) – Kathryn represented two nurses charged with ill-treatment and wilful neglect of an elderly patient in a well-known Swansea hospital. Following a trial at Swansea Crown Court both nurses were acquitted.

  • Swansea County Council v. Rees (2018) – Kathryn prosecuted a defendant who was running a fraudulent car sales business. Legal argument followed in the Proceeds of Crime Act Application where the defendant had millions of pounds running through his accounts.

  • R. v. Thompson (2018) – Kathryn prosecuted a defendant charged with 20 separate offences, including burglary, robbery and possession of an imitation firearm during the commission of an offence. Having been determined dangerous by the Judge, the defendant was sentenced at Cardiff Crown Court to an extended determinate sentence of 10.5 years (7.5 years with a 3 year extension).

  • R. v. Davies (2017) – Kathryn represented a vulnerable 19 year old lady who was guilty of perverting the course of justice and joint robbery; the victim in the case had been robbed at knife point in his own home and later accused (falsely) of raping the defendant.

Kathryn Lane

Kathryn Lane

PRACTICE AREAS

Drug offences
Money Laundering 
Assault
Public Order offences
Harassment 
Stalking 
Theft and Kindred offences
Fraud
Sexual offences
Blackmail 
Offences against the children and/or vulnerable persons
Offences involving dogs
Offences against Courts/Police/Prisons
All regulatory matters
Trading Standards matters

Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licence appeals
Proceeds of Crime Act applications and other ancillary applications
Consumer Protection
Proceeds of Crime
Environmental Law
Health and Safety
Animal Welfare
Food Safety
Coroners Inquests 

APPOINTMENTS & MEMBERSHIPS

Member of the Wales and Chester Circuit
Member of The Honourable Society of Lincoln’s Inn
Member of the Denning Society
Member of the Criminal Bar Association
Grade 2 Panel Prosecutor

SCHOLARSHIPS

The Droop Scholarship (2012/2013) from the Honourable Society of Lincoln’s Inn

The Walter Wigglesworth Scholarship (2015) from the Honourable Society of Lincoln’s Inn
The Dutton Course Scholarship (Keble 2023) from the Honourable Society of Lincoln’s Inn

OTHER COMMENDATIONS

Presented to Her Majesty The Queen for contributions to education by the Honourable Society of Lincoln’s Inn (December 2018)

For any enquiries, please contact the clerking team:

Email: clerks@apexchambers.net

Phone: 02920 23 2032

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