30 October 2023
CONTACT US
Drystone Chambers
35 Bedford Row
London
WC1R 4JH
DX: 332 London/Chancery Lane
CONTACT US
Drystone Chambers
35 Bedford Row
London
WC1R 4JH
DX: 332 London/Chancery Lane
Call 2002
Lynne Shirley
Call 2002
Lynne Shirley is a highly respected jury advocate, whose practice encompasses all areas of serious crime, predominantly sexual offences, drugs and fraud.
Lynne is a Grade 3 prosecutor. She has a special flair for dealing with serious sexual offences and has a wealth of expertise in this regard.
With an ability to easily gain the confidence of and quickly establish a rapport with lay and professional clients as well as witnesses, Lynne has a wealth of experience with defendants and witnesses who are young, vulnerable and have a range of medical and mental health difficulties.
A robust advocate, Lynne tirelessly fights her lay and professional clients’ corner. She is meticulous in preparation and detail; a persuasive advocate who receives the respect of both lay and professional clients alike, along with the tribunal she appears in front of.
Lynne comes from a military and medical background, having been a serving officer in the regular Army for eight years. Lynne also trained as a nurse and midwife. Her experience of Army life means that Lynne has a detailed understanding of military procedure and the court martial system. Clients can only gain from her knowledge of the court martial procedure as she previously sat as a member of the Court Martial Board and, in private practice, has been instructed regularly in court martial proceedings.
Lynne accepts instructions under the Public Access Rules, for those clients who do not wish to employ the services of a solicitor.
Lynne’s considerable experience as a prosecution and defence barrister has resulted in Lynne dealing with multiple cases involving serious violence.
2022 – R v NM
Junior alone – defence – murder in a domestic setting.
2021 – R v MP
Junior alone – defence – s.18 wounding with intent.
Vulnerable defendant with mental health problems and learning disabilities. Allegation involved the use of a weapon.
2021 – R v JTJ
s. 18 wounding with intent. Prosecuting. Serious assault involving use of a weapon which caused significant injuries.
Lynne has dealt with multiple cases involving National Referral Mechanism (NRM) referrals to the Single Competent Authority. Many cases involved young persons charged with drug offences. In all cases the SCA found positive conclusive grounds that the person was a modern day slave.
She is up to date with caselaw in this area involving the admissibility of the decision of the Single Competent Authority at trial.
Lynne has a special flair for dealing with serious sexual offences and has a wealth of expertise in this sensitive are of law.
She is experienced in cases involving section 28 pre-recorded cross examination, vulnerable defendants and witnesses.
R v RM – 2021
Junior alone defending in a case involving an allegation of rape. The issue was consent.
R v JH – 2021
Junior alone – defending a case involving multiple allegations of a sexual nature involving a stepdaughter.
R v JH – 2021
Junior alone – defending a case involving an extremely vulnerable defendant with learning disabilities accused of a child sexual offence.
R v HW
Junior alone – defending a case involving an allegation of rape. The issue was consent.
R v AB - 2020
Junior alone- defending in a case involving grooming and child sexual offences.
R v JY – 2019
Junior alone – defending in a case involving an allegation of stranger rape. There were other related allegations of violence and expert evidence as to the causation of injury / bruising.
Lynne is regularly instructed in cases involving sexual offences, and has over 20 years’ experience advising and representing clients accused of historic sexual offences.
She is experienced in cases involving section 28 pre-recorded cross examination, vulnerable defendants and witnesses.
R v M – 2021
Junior alone instructed to defend allegations against a child family member which were historic in nature.
R v M – 2019/20
Junior alone instructed to defend a case involving serious (historic) sexual offences against a family member.
R v T – 2019
Junior alone instructed to defend in a case where the Crown Court Judge sat as both a Circuit Judge and as a Judge Advocate, to deal with civilian and military offences committed within and outside the jurisdiction of the UK. This was the first time a case had been dealt with in this way. The case involved serious (historic) sexual offences against family members.
R v W – 2019
Junior Defence Counsel instructed to defend a former choirmaster facing a twenty count indictment, alleging historic penetrative sexual activity involving four former choirboys.
R v P – 2018
Junior alone, instructed to defend a high profile case of historic sexual allegations and child abuse, involving five defendants.
Lynne has dealt with cases involving cybercrime, including cases involving indecent images of children and associated offences.
2022 – R v OL
Junior alone – prosecuting a case involving indecent images of children and digital media involving sexual acts with animals. Complex arguments relating to jurisdiction arose.
2021 – R v GW
Junior alone – defending in a case involving indecent image, hacking and expert evidence.
Lynne has prosecuted and defended cases involving county lines and organised crime groups.
R v VT – 2021
Junior alone – prosecuted a courier in a large scale confidence fraud.
Lynne has dealt with multiple firearms cases. Many cases required an in depth knowledge of the relevant legislation and Sentencing Guidelines, including which offences led to minimum term sentences. In one complex case the indictment contained in excess of twenty counts and involved many offences covered by the Firearms legislation.
Lynne’s experience as a Captain in the regular army, which involved sitting on court martial boards, has provided valuable experience when dealing with court martial cases.
Lynne has defended in multiple court martial cases involving those accused of various offences, from members of the Royal Military Police to senior non-commissioned officers accused of firearms offences, theft and fraud.
As with her other experience, Lynne has dealt with multiple cases involving allegations of a sexual nature.
SPA v DW – 2021
Junior alone – defending in a case involving an allegation of a sexual nature upon another soldier where there was an immediate complaint to others.
SPA v PM – 2021
Junior alone – defending in a case where a senior non-commissioned RMP officer was accused of accessing personal data when unauthorised to do so.
SPA v OEW – 2021
Junior alone – perverting the course of justice whereby a senior NCO was accused, with others, of lying about who was driving a motor vehicle when a road traffic collision occurred. Those present had consumed alcohol and persons suffered injury as a result of the collision.
Lynne has dealt with multiple cases involving applications for Sexual Harm Prevention Orders (SHPO) and breaches thereof, some of which related to young defendants, where an in depth knowledge of the relevant case law was essential.
Lynne has dealt with several cases involving serious road traffic collisions, including those which resulted in the death of the driver and / or passenger.
Such cases often involved complex issues which required the assistance of an expert Forensic Collision Investigator.
R v DH – 2021
Junior alone – death by careless driving – prosecuted a case whereby a driver of a LGV collided with multiple vehicles and caused the death of two persons.
R v GA – 2019
Junior alone – death by dangerous driving – defending in a case whereby an HGV driver collided with a motor vehicle. The case involved complex expert evidence.
Lynne has wide ranging experience dealing with POCA cases, including those involving hidden assets and tainted gifts.
R v TB – 2021
Junior alone – complex POCA proceedings involving an accountant, property and third party interests.
Lynne has dealt with multiple cases of fraud, including complex fraud. Some cases of carousel fraud involved multiple victims. A detailed analysis and understanding of the evidence and each suspect’s role was crucial.
Child cruelty – 2022 - R v GW
Junior alone – prosecuted a case involving a father who removed his vulnerable premature new-born child from a labour ward.
Threats to kill – 2021 – Baldwin v R [2021] EWCA Crim 417
Junior alone – defended in a case involving a vulnerable defendant accused of threats to kill. Sentence quashed on appeal and immediate release ordered.
Misconduct in public office – R v DJ – 2021
Junior alone – Prosecuted a serving police officer who was convicted of misconduct in public office and perverting the course of public justice.
Misconduct in public office – R v CR – 2021
Junior alone – prosecuted a prison officer convicted after her relationship with an inmate was uncovered.
