Fiona Robertson is a highly sought after junior with a diverse criminal and regulatory practice. Fiona’s mixed practice allows for continuity of representation for professionals potentially facing criminal, professional disciplinary and inquest proceedings.
Fiona is currently appointed as Junior Treasury Counsel. She is an experienced junior who is able to master voluminous cases with precision and ease. As a result she is regularly instructed in paper heavy cases including high value, multi-jurisdictional fraud and money laundering matters.
Fiona is widely regarded as having particular expertise in cases involving vulnerable witnesses and defendants, including youths. She is often sought to defend serious sexual offences due to her ability to quickly build trust and a rapport with anxious clients. Her extensive expertise in the often complex and sensitive issues arising in such cases mean she is a skilled tactician who is able to rigorously challenge the prosecution case while bringing the best out of her client at trial.
In addition to her criminal practice Fiona has experience of international criminal law having worked for over three years in the Cayman Islands as a defence attorney. Her fearless approach in defending her clients meant she became one of the island’s most sought after criminal attorneys and regularly appeared in high profile cases on the island. The Cayman Islands has a fused profession and as such Fiona has experience in advising clients pre-charge as well as conducting all aspects of litigation.
Fiona is ranked as a leading junior in The Legal 500 and is ranked in Chambers and Partners.
Fiona accepts Direct Access instructions.
High value, complex fraud cases form a significant part of Fiona’s practise. She is instructed in private prosecutions as well as defending in cases brought by the CPS, HMRC and SFO.
R v F (2023)
Fiona represents the second defendant accused of cheating the public revenue in respect of multi-million pound VAT evasion.
R v J, P and M (2022)
Fiona was instructed by the SFO in the prosecution of employees of G4S for defrauding the Ministry of Justice.
R v B (2021)
Fiona represented a lawyer accused of defrauding the Commonwealth Secretariat and a leading international law firm. The defendant was further accused of fraudulently securing employment with a law firm after failing to disclose that he had previously been dismissed for cause from the Commonwealth Secretariat.
R v M (2020)
Fiona secured the acquittal of a Spanish national accused of laundering the proceeds of a diversion fraud committed against the Ministry of Defence. The MoD computer network was manipulated by a corrupt clerk resulting in salaries for 55 personnel being diverted into mule accounts. The defendant received a significant proportion of these funds and, within 24 hours, it was sent to third party accounts, used to effect large foreign currency exchanges or withdrawn in cash.
Ranked as a leading junior in Crime by the Legal 500 Fiona has extensive trial experience and regularly defends cases across the spectrum of serious criminal offences. Her practise is focused on defending those accused of serious and organised crime including rape, murder and financial crime.
Fiona has particular experience conducting matters involving young defendants or those with mental health issues. She regularly conducts matters involving different aspects of expert evidence including cell site, DNA and medical evidence and is able to master these complex areas with ease. She is a contributing author to the DNA chapter in Rook and Ward on Sexual Offences: Law and Practice.
R v A (2023)
Fiona successfully represented an individual accused of drugging and raping a close friend in the back of his taxi.
R v G (2023)
Fiona acted alone for the first defendant, a successful drill artist, accused of conspiracy to murder in respect of a gang ‘ride out’ in which 3 innocent members of the public were shot.
R v R (2022)
Fiona secured an acquittal for a doctor accused of sexually assaulting an elderly patient during the course of a medical examination at a GP surgery.
R v F (2022)
Fiona represented a serving police officer accused of multiple counts of rape, assault by penetration and sexual assault of a 7 year old child over several months. The case was tried by a High Court Judge given the nature of the allegations.
R v S (2021)
Fiona represented an individual charged with the murder of 3 men and attempted of 3 others in a terrorist motivated attack in a park in Reading. A Newton Hearing was conducted before Mr Justice Sweeney to determine whether the defendant’s actions were terrorist motivated, involved extensive planning and whether the defendant’s mental health issues were a contributory factor.
R v M (2021)
Fiona’s client was acquitted after a 5 day trial in respect of allegations that he had repeatedly sexually assaulted the daughter of a close family friend. The case involved the first s.28 cross examination of the young complainant at Cambridge Crown Court.
NCA v S (2019)
Fiona, led by Leon Kazakos K.C., represented the lead defendant in the largest prosecution brought for the importation and production of anabolic steroids in the UK. In addition to being involved in the production of anabolic steroids in a special fitted laboratory found on his business premises the defendant was accused of being involved in the importation of anabolic steroids from India using complex shipping routes via Singapore, Europe and Ireland to mailboxes in the the UK.
R v L (2019)
Fiona represented an individual charged with murder in relation to a group attack on a gang rival. Following simmering tensions between rival gangs the victim’s group attacked the defendant’s group into a park. The group were quickly outnumbered whereupon the victim was chased down an alleyway and attacked by the defendant’s group armed with golf clubs, bats and machetes.
Fiona was also instructed on behalf of 4 of the defendants for proceedings in the Court of Appeal in which the defendants sought to overturn their convictions on the basis of unfairness in the trial process due to lengthy periods of separation during the jury’s deliberations. This case is now a leading authority on case management and acceptable breaks during the trial process (R v Woodward and others [2019] EWCA Crim 1002)
Fiona is instructed on behalf of medical professionals listed as interested parties in inquests.
Fiona’s considerable experience in prosecuting complex criminal cases for the CPS means she is well placed to provide advice and representation to individuals seeking to bring a private prosecution. She is able to provide advice on all aspects of private prosecutions, from the drafting and issuing of summons, disclosure and costs.
Fiona has acted alone, and as part of a larger legal team, in private prosecutions for individuals seeking to bring private prosecutions for matters including breaches of licensing provisions and harassment as well as corporations seeking to prosecute large scale fraud.
In addition, Fiona has acted in private prosecutions for quasi-public bodies including the RSPCA and Royal Mail.
Fiona is currently a Treasury Counsel Monitoree. In this role she regularly appears in the Court of Appeal on behalf of HM Attorney General in references under s.36 Criminal Justice Act 1988 (the unduly lenient sentence scheme) in addition to advising on and prosecuting offences of homicide.
Fiona is a Grade 4 prosecutor and is on the RASSO panel.
Fiona is on the SFO’s B Panel.
R v M and M (2023)
Fiona, led by Brian O’Neill K.C., prosecuted 2 defendants accused of being part of a group who stabbed a gang rival to death following a chance encounter before fleeing to Kenya. The first defendant subsequently released drill songs mocking the victim and rival gang. The defendants were both unanimously convicted of murder.
R v N, B and B (2023)
Fiona prosecuted 3 family members accused of ‘butchering’ the victim following a chance road rage encounter late at night on the streets of Ilford. The victim suffered 34 areas of sharp force injury after being repeatedly stabbed by 2 defendants while the third blocked his vehicle into a cul de sac to prevent his escape. Following a 4 week trial 2 defendants were convicted of murder and 1 was convicted of manslaughter.
R v O, B and R (2023)
Fiona, led by Sarah Przybylska, prosecuted 3 defendants accused of conspiring to supply commercial quantities of cocaine and cannabis. The conspiracy was revealed following after police infiltrated the ‘Encrochat’ communication network which revealed the open discussion of kilo quantities of cocaine and cannabis being supplied around the coutry. The defendants were convicted on all counts.
R v G and G (2022)
Fiona prosecuted a husband and wife team for offences of human trafficking and controlling prostitution for gain. The pair had recruited girls from Romania to travel to the UK and work as prostitutes in brothels they ran. While working in the brothels the girls were made to split their earnings with the defendants. The first defendant was additionally charged with raping one of the complainants. Following a 6 week trial involving calling multiple complainants by video link from Romania the defendants were convicted on all counts.
Fiona regularly defends in the NMC and GMC. Her clear understanding of medical procedures and ability to master voluminous medical notes and expert reports allow her to present a case with clarity and precision. She has also presented cases for the NCTL.
GMC v Dr R (2022)
Fiona represented the registrant in fitness to practise proceedings in respect of allegations she had taken drugs from her hospital for her personal use, misled the investigation into the matter and subsequently attended work while under the influence of alcohol and had continued to drink alcohol while on the hospital premises.
GMC v Dr D (2020)
Fiona represented the registrant in fitness to practise proceedings before the MPTS after he accepted a police caution for accessing extreme pornography on a work computer.
GMC v Dr J (2019)
Fiona represented the registrant who faced multiple charges relating to a sexual relationship with a vulnerable patient and the treatment to the patient in their home without proper records being maintained. The case was conducted over 8 days and required extensive video-link cross examination of the vulnerable patient as to the truth of the allegations and her part in encouraging the relationship.
A Practical Guide to Applications Under Section 41 of the Youth Justice and Criminal Evidence Act 1999 – authored by Fiona Robertson.
Fiona is a contributing author to the DNA chapter in Rook and Ward in Sexual Offences: Law and Practice.
Despite section 41 of the Youth Justice and Criminal Evidence Act 1999 being in force…
Welcome to the latest edition of the Crime Group Newsletter. Fiona RobertsonEditor Foreword It has…
Fiona Robertson has been appointed Treasury Counsel by the Attorney General, Victoria Prentis KC with…
