Alison Levitt KC (Baroness Levitt KC) was called to the Bar in 1988. She became a QC (now KC) in 2008.
She practised at the self-employed Bar until 2009, principally defending in cases including homicide, serious fraud and other corporate crime, and sexual offences (including non-recent and institutional cases).
From 2009–14, she was Principal Legal Advisor to the DPP (Sir Keir Starmer KC). She worked closely with the DPP on cases of highest public concern, wrote prosecution policy, and conducted appellate advocacy on behalf of the CPS.
In 2014, she was head-hunted by a major London law firm to set up and run their White Collar Crime and Investigations Department. She was a partner there from 2014–2018, where she established a team of private prosecutors and headed the team in what was at the time the largest successful private fraud prosecution.
In 2018, she returned to advocacy and high-level advisory practice at 2 Hare Court to conduct serious criminal cases, and to lead major investigations and independent reviews.
Having long been a Recorder (part-time judge), in 2021 she became a full-time Circuit Judge at Snaresbrook Crown Court, the largest criminal court centre in the country.
In December 2024, she left the circuit bench when she was appointed a Life Peer and is now an active member of the House of Lords. Her work there is focused on law and justice .
She returned to 2 Hare Court in January 2025 to concentrate on advisory work and to conduct reviews and inquiries.
In 2014, Alison was head-hunted to start a white collar crime department at a major international law firm which had no previous criminal law practice.
Throughout her career, Alison has practised across the interface of criminal, regulatory, and civil financial law covering all forms of financial and business conduct, both in the UK and other jurisdictions, including bribery, fraud, theft, proceeds of crime, extradition, Interpol Red Notices and conducting internal investigations for large corporations.
Alison gives lectures both nationally and internationally in this area of work. Examples include:
Alison is an expert in private prosecutions; at the CPS she wrote the Legal Guidance and approved all decisions for every private prosecution referred to the CPS, for a period of 2½ years.
As a partner at Mishcon de Reya she conducted the largest private prosecution ever brought. (Allseas v. Paul Sultana, a 100m euro fraud).
She was an inaugural Committee Member of the Private Prosecutors’ Association and participated in the drafting of the Code for Private Prosecutors.
She has conducted major investigations, which include allegations both of financial wrongdoing and sexual impropriety and harassment. Many of her reports have been published and received extensive publicity. Examples include:
Other clients for whom Alison has conducted reviews and investigations include:
Chambers is delighted to announce that Baroness Levitt KC has accepted an invitation to return…
Chambers was delighted to learn that our former colleague, Alison Levitt KC, has been appointed…
