Bryony Hawkins
| Year of birth | 1975 |
| Year of call | 2009 |
| Inn | Middle Temple |
| Qualifications | LLB (Hons) University of Manchester (2:1) LPC College of Law, Store Street (Commendation) |
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Bryony joined chambers as a 3rd six pupil in November. She qualified as a solicitor in 2001 with Pinsent Masons where she worked in the corporate department and the stock exchange team before moving to DLA Piper where she added Private Equity work to her remit. Four years later Bryony joined the CPS where she spent the next 6 years as a Senior Crown Prosecutor.
Bryony was a Rape, Child Abuse and Youth court specialist in the CPS. Her caseload included attempted murder and serious sexual offences including rape, gang rape, incest and cases involving very young defendants and complainants. Bryony was the reviewing lawyer in the first rape case to involve a defendant appearing via video link by virtue of his physical incapacity. As a result of her persistence, the defendant was unable to avoid the proceedings and pleaded guilty from his hospital bed.
As a youth specialist Bryony prosecuted the Youth court on a weekly basis both dealing with the remand court and trials. In that capacity Bryony has dealt with trials such as robbery and sexual assault which would have been tried in the Crown Court had the defendant been an adult. In the Youth court she has dealt with trials involving witnesses as young as 7 years old.
As a rape specialist Bryony gave charging advice to the police in relation to many complex and unpleasant sexual offences including historic sexual abuse allegations involving teachers and family members.
In the Magistrates' Court Bryony has prosecuted in the region of 300 trials in addition to countless remand courts. Whilst her experience naturally lends itself to prosecuting, Bryony is keen to develop a defence practice and has now started to represent defendants in the Magistrates' Court.
Sarah-Jane Smiles
| Year of birth | 1985 |
| Year of call | 2008 |
| Inn | Middle Temple |
| Qualifications | 2007 – 2008 BPP Law school, BVC (Very Competent) 2004 – 2007 King’s College London LLB (2.1) |
| Awards | Lord Diplock Scholarship (Middle Temple) John Freeman Criminology Essay Prize 2007 Associate of King’s College London (AKC) |
| Printable CV |
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Sarah-Jane is a third six pupil who joined Chambers in November 2009, having completed twelve months pupillage at 6 King’s Bench Walk.
Sarah-Jane prosecutes, defends and advises in all areas of criminal law. She appears regularly in the Crown Court, conducting mentions, plea and case management hearings, breaches of orders and committals for sentence; furthermore she has substantial experience in the Magistrates’ and Youth Courts. She has conducted trials across the spectrum of criminal offences, including domestic violence, public disorder, theft and animal cruelty.
Sarah-Jane has prosecuted on behalf of the National Probation Service in both the Magistrates’ and Crown Courts and for the Crown Prosecution Service in the Magistrates’ Courts.
Whilst at Bar School, she worked for the Free Representation Unit at which time she represented people in social security appeals. In addition, she conducted a successful appeal to the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board Tribunal on behalf of a victim of the London Bombings.
Sarah-Jane has considerable public speaking experience, successfully competing in debating and mooting competitions. She has worked for the English Speaking Union in teaching debating and judging at competitions. Whilst at university, she worked in schools across London providing seminars and lectures about higher education.