Mountford Chambers delivers a nationwide and international service to clients, who are assured quality advice, advocacy and representation at all levels.
Mountford Chambers delivers a nationwide and international service to clients, who are assured quality advice, advocacy and representation at all levels.
Vanessa is instructed in all areas of criminal law, and has experience in complex and sensitive cases, including offences involving serious violence, sexual offences, financial crime, and offences involving young people. Vanessa has specialised training in dealing with children and other vulnerable witnesses and defendants.
R v S [2022] Croydon Crown Court
After extensive mitigation, secured a sentence of 4 years’ custody for a client convicted of possessing 12kg of cocaine with intent to supply. The cocaine was determined to be import-grade purity (90-93%) with an estimated street value of £400,000.
R v M [2022] Isleworth Crown Court
Provided detailed written submissions regarding the broader circumstances of the case in order to secure a suspended sentence of 3 months’ for a client convicted of perverting the course of justice by making multiple false reports to the police accusing a named individual of committing a crime.
R v N [2021] Bromley Youth Court
Secured acquittals on all nine offences for 17-year-old client charged with being concerned in the supply of cocaine and heroin and possession of multiple knives by successfully advancing a defence under s.45 of the Modern Slavery Act 2015.
R v W [2021] Harrow Crown Court
Commended for conscientious advocacy in assault case involving vulnerable youth complainant.
R v S [2021] Westminster Magistrates Court
Secured acquittal and successfully opposed Crown’s application for restraining order upon acquittal in document-heavy malicious communications case.
R v J [2021] Cambridge Crown Court
Successfully mitigated for client with numerous previous offences charged with multiple counts of assault on emergency worker, assault by beating, and criminal damage to secure sentence of time served.
R v O [2021] Uxbridge Magistrates Court
Secured out-of-court disposal for 16-year-old defendant charged with possession of a Class B drug with intent to supply following written submissions on the inadmissibility of police interview.
R v W [2020] Inner London Crown Court
Persuaded Court not to activate suspended sentence in spite of defendant’s repeated breaches and multiple previous knife-related convictions.
R v B [2020] Uxbridge Magistrates Court
Secured acquittal for 17-year-old defendant charged with dwelling burglary of goods worth £10,000 who had been independently identified by two different officers based on CCTV footage of the incident. Cross-examined both officers regarding lack of compliance with PACE Code D and made submissions addressing the weakness of the identification evidence.
R v H [2020] Brighton Magistrates Court
Secured acquittal for defendant charged with assault and criminal damage following reliance on defence of others and householder provisions of s.76 of the Criminal Justice and Immigration Act 2008.
R v D [2020] Staines Magistrates Court
Represented vulnerable client in ABH trial in which expert evidence of the defendant’s acute psychosis at the time of the incident was relied upon at trial.
R v C [2020] Uxbridge Magistrates Court
Conducted successful Newton hearing in assault on emergency worker case in which the complainant-officer suffered a gash across the forehead requiring stitches. After cross-examination of three police officers, persuaded the Court that the complainant-officer had been the aggressor in the encounter and secured a penalty of a simple fine for the defendant.
R v J [2020] Stratford Youth Court
Forced Crown to offer no evidence in Newton hearing for 17-year-old defendant charged with four group robberies involving the brandishing of a knife and violence resulting in injury. Successfully opposed the Crown’s application to adjourn and persuaded the Court to lift the defendant’s stringent bail conditions pending sentence.
R v J [2020] Highbury Youth Court
Successfully opposed bad character application for 17-year-old defendant charged with possession of a bladed article where Crown sought to adduce defendant’s two previous convictions for attempted robbery and possession of an offensive weapon.
R v O [2020] Uxbridge Magistrates Court
Secured acquittal for a defendant charged with stalking an ex-partner after being arrested whilst heavily intoxicated outside her house. Conducted extensive cross-examination of the complainant and complainant’s teenaged daughter.
Vanessa has extensive experience in a wide range of professional disciplinary cases, including serious cases involving sexual misconduct, fraud, theft of controlled drugs, and patient death. She is a member of ARDL, the Association of Regulatory & Disciplinary Lawyers. Vanessa also has extensive experience advising companies in response to regulatory scrutiny and helping prepare responses to regulatory investigations.
Vanessa has been a member of the California bar since 2010 and practiced for three years as a civil litigator at a large international law firm, where she represented corporate and individual clients subject to regulatory scrutiny, with a particular focus on competition work. She has represented clients in federal antitrust and conspiracy actions and prepared responses to DOJ and FTC investigations as well as advising companies regarding internal investigations prior to formal regulatory action.
HCPC v T [2022]
Represented the HCPC in a complex multi-week final hearing of a paramedic accused of sexually motivated provision of a drug to a child without clinical justification, sexually motivated inappropriate touching of a child, and sexually motivated communications with multiple children. All factual allegations were found proven.
NMC v J [2022]
Represented the NMC in a case in which a registered nurse managing a care home was accused of failing to report or address serious allegations of physical, mental, and sexual abuse of adult residential patients with learning disabilities.
HCPC v B [2021]
Represented the HCPC in an 8-day final hearing of paramedic accused of misconduct and incompetence following the death of a prisoner-patient.
HCPC v P [2021]
Presented case at final hearing involving falsification of numerous patient records and fraudulent misappropriation of over £16,000.
HCPC v S [2021]
Represented HCPC at final professional disciplinary hearing of radiographer accused of sexually harassing and inappropriately accessing patient records of dozens of female patients.
HCPC v D [2021]
Presented case at final hearing for paramedic accused of fraudulently misappropriating and using morphine while on duty over an extensive period of time, including while driving an ambulance and while in charge of patients.
Vanessa specialises in business crime and fraud and has a wide range of experience in white collar and corporate crime cases across multiple jurisdictions.
Vanessa has a specialism in public law and has advised in public law proceedings such as judicial reviews and prisoners’ rights claims.
A controversial barrister’s successful appeal of a £500 fine imposed for a tweet found to have the potential to promote…
For International Women’s Day 2022, Alexandra Scott, Fiona Clegg, Chloe Birch, Vanessa Reid and Christina Courquin explore the topic of…
Vanessa Reid considers a recent High Court decision relating to interim conditions preventing a doctor from using social media to…
