Grace Forbes is a highly sought-after barrister, specialising in General Crime, Financial Crime, Inquests and Inquiries. Known for her strategic judgment, forensic focus, and absolute dedication to her clients, she is regularly instructed in cases involving complex legal arguments and finely balanced tactical decisions.
She consistently maintains her Legal 500 ranking for Fraud Crime and is now also recommended as a Leading Junior in the Crime section.
In General Crime, Grace is recognised as a fearless advocate with experience representing defendants across the spectrum of serious crime, including those accused of murder, firearms offences, and involvement in the commercial supply of Class A drugs.
She recently applied for a case flowing from an undercover police operation to be stayed as an abuse of process, successfully arguing that it amounted to entrapment.
Grace is adept at handling cases that attract extensive media attention. She successfully defended a high-profile footballer accused of racially aggravated harassment and acted in the widely publicised Boohoo Inquiry.
Grace also has experience representing vulnerable defendants, taking time to understand their needs and advocating fearlessly on their behalf.
In Financial Crime, Grace regularly acts for the defence in long and complex trials, including a recent ‘VHCC’ multi-million-pound fraud. She also has experience prosecuting financial crime, including the four-month trial of nine defendants (including two companies) charged with widespread fraudulent trading that had been the subject of a BBC investigation.
Grace also has extensive experience in Inquests and Inquiries. She has acted as Counsel to the Inquest, leading the questioning of multiple experts in a medically complex case over the course of five weeks. She has spoken at the Royal Society of Medicine. She has represented Interested Persons in numerous Article 2 and jury inquests, including a highly sensitive inquest into the death of a very young boy, which had to be temporarily paused to allow police to investigate Gross Negligence Manslaughter.
Grace specialises in criminal defence. Her experience extends across the spectrum of criminal law.
She has advised and represented clients accused of involvement in serious violence, firearms, Class A drug conspiracies and sexual offences. She has experience is navigating the complexities and tactical demands of multi-handed criminal cases and cases attracting significant media attention.
She has been recognised as a passionate and persuasive defence advocate with a forensic approach to preparation.
R v K, 2025
Grace (alone) represented a professional footballer at trial, who faced an allegation of racially aggravated harassment, alarm or distress, having called a police officer “stupid and white” in a highly-publicised trial. Grace had applied to stay the case as an abuse of process after serious irregularities were uncovered in the charging history.
R v T & One Other, 2025
Grace (led) is representing a vulnerable defendant facing counts of murder and manslaughter, following a violent incident outside a Wetherspoons Public House in London.
R v O, 2025 – 2026
Grace (alone) is representing a vulnerable young person facing serious sexual allegations made against them in a work context. Cross examination under the vulnerable victim and witness provisions.
R v A & Twelve Others, 2025
Grace (alone) represented a defendant facing sexual allegations arising out of a national undercover operation targeting escort adverts on the online ‘Viva Street’ platform. On application, the case was stayed as an abuse of process following legal argument heard over the course of a month and a half.
R v M & Four Others 2023
Grace (led) represented a defendant accused of high-level involvement in an extensive Class A drugs conspiracy and money laundering operation.
R v A, 2023
Grace (alone) represented a young man of good character facing sexual allegations. Factual background included cross-allegations between the defendant and complainant, touching upon topics of ‘hypnotherapy’, ‘witchcraft’ and ‘ghosts’.
R v B & Two Others, 2022
Grace (alone) represented a young woman assessed as being “highly vulnerable” by an intermediary. Grace ultimately secured the discontinuance of the case on the basis of a Modern Slavery finding and other public interest matters.
R v M & Four Others, 2022
Grace (led) represented a young man accused of conspiracy to murder and conspiracy to possess firearms with intent to endanger life. The case concerned allegations of gangland warfare in Manchester and a so-called ‘vengeance killing’ plot. Substantial Encrochat evidence.
R v A & Nine Others, 2022
Grace (alone) represented a young defendant accused of participating in a highly violent incident outside a nightclub that resulted in the death of a young man and grievous bodily harm to another. Secured prosecution agreement to substantially reduced charges for this defendant.
R v O & Nine Others, 2022
Grace (led) represented a defendant accused of heading up a large scale ‘county lines’ Class A drugs conspiracy. Her client was accused of acting as the ‘business brains’ of the operation. Extensive cell site evidence and undercover recordings.
R v W, 2022
Grace (alone) represented a single mother accused of possession of an offensive weapon (on defence application, charge dismissed), possession with intent to supply Class A drugs (prosecution discontinued following exchange of abuse of process submissions re charging history) and possession of a bladed article (acquitted at trial).
Grace has extensive experience in financial crime cases, both led and as sole counsel in complex trials spanning a number of months. Her experience includes cases involving serious allegations of high-value fraud, tax evasion and money laundering. She has represented both the prosecution and the defence. She has represented successful business professionals, as well as vulnerable individuals with no such background.
Grace has developed a reputation for meticulous preparation, astute tactical judgment and a dedication to her cases.
R v S, 2025 – 2026
Grace (alone) is representing a defendant charged with the fraudulent evasion of more than £300,000 in excise duty following the seizure of more than 1,500 kg of tobacco and shisha found in shipping containers in a London warehouse.
R v O & Three Others, 2025
Grace (led) represented a successful businesswoman and mother accused of fraud valued at £350,000+. Six week trial involving allegations of burglary, insurance fraud, perverting the course of justice and witness intimidation against a complex case background in which the prosecution cast the defendant as both a perpetrator and the victim of crime in the same trial.
R v H & Seven Others (Operation Mickey), 2024–2025
Grace (led) represented one of eight defendants in the trial of ‘Operation Mickey’, a complex ‘VHCC’ prosecution brought by West Midlands Organised Crime Unit, HMRC and the CPS Complex Fraud Unit. The case involved counts of Conspiracy to Defraud and Conspiracy to Cheat the Revenue, and allegations of wide-spread, serious cash-for-crash motor insurance fraud, committed by numerous corporate identities over six years. The value exceeded £5 million. Abuse of Process application led the prosecution to ‘offer no evidence’.
R v H & Eight Others, 2024 – 2025
Grace (led) represented the prosecution in the trial of Operation Emperor, the culmination of a five-year investigation by Tower Hamlets and National Trading Standards into extensive allegations of fraud and malpractice at a succession of ‘phoenix’ letting agencies in London. Nine defendants. Following a trial held over six months, the jury returned 15 guilty verdicts.
R v L & Five Others, 2023 – 2024
Grace (led) represented a young mother in a case involving very serious allegations of fraud and money laundering, valued at £3 million. Hers was the only defendant to be acquitted following a three-month trial at Southwark Crown Court.
Grace further represented the defendant’s interests as a third party at the confiscation proceedings of her partner and former co-defendant, and was able to secure her client’s interest in the £1 million family home.
R v C & Two Others, 2023
Grace (alone) represented a businessman in a case involving 26 counts of fraud, fraudulent trading and money laundering. Secured a £500,000 reduction in the value attributed to the fraud.
L v R, 2022
Grace (alone) brought an appeal on behalf of the defendant in respect of a first instance judge’s determination of assets available to satisfy a confiscation order. Original decision would have forced the sale of the £1 million martial home. Successful on appeal. Lam v R [2022] EWCA Crim 448.
R v I & Six Others, 2021
Grace (led) represented a businessman accused of involvement in serious boiler room fraud. Her client was accused of playing a leading role in the fraudulent business operations and the case involved a ‘cutthroat’ with the first defendant.
Grace is experienced in private prosecutions.
She has been instructed to advise individuals and organisations at the early stages of private prosecutions, and to represent them at trial and in sentence hearings.
She is a member of the Private Prosecutors’ Association and in 2020 she contributed to the Consultation on Revisions to the Attorney General’s Guidelines on Disclosure and the CPIA Code of Practice as a member of the Private Prosecutors’ Association Working Group.
B v B & Others
Grace (led) was instructed to advise an individual on the prospects of bringing a private prosecution against a government official. The case involved allegations of perjury and perverting the course of justice. The case required an extensive review of over one hundred files of evidence, careful consideration of potential avenues for obtaining further evidence and a detailed written advice on the prospects of success.
RMG Ltd
Grace has been instructed by the RMG in numerous private prosecution cases, including those involving allegations of fraud and other serious dishonesty. She has advised in relation to charging decisions and has been instructed in private prosecutions at trial and at sentence.
Grace has extensive experience in representing both individuals and organisations named as Interested Persons at inquests. She has particular experience in representing medical professionals, including those at risk of criticism. Grace also has experience in acting as Counsel to the Inquest.
Inquest into the death of C (Counsel to the Inquest) (2024)
Grace was selected to act as Counsel to the Inquest by His Majesty’s Senior Coroner. The medically complex inquest examined issues relating to the unexpected death of a 17-year-old boy. Spanning more than five weeks, Grace led questioning of 27 witnesses. She questioned 7 experts, including a Professor of Cardiology and a Consultant in Intensive Care Medicine.
Inquest into the death of T (representing NHS Trust)
Grace represented an NHS Trust in a multi-week inquest into the death of a man suffering from psychosis who had been identified as a ‘high risk’ missing person.
Inquest into the death of X, a Child, (representing a company) (2023)
Grace was instructed in a complex inquest into the death of a 4-year-old boy who suffered from cerebral palsy. The child had died after becoming trapped in a medical cot bed. Grace represented a family business who had been named as an ‘IP’, including their Managing Director who was a key witness. The complex inquest had to be paused for a Gross Negligence Manslaughter investigation before resuming.
Inquest into the death of S (representing a prison) (2023)
Grace represented a prison in respect of an inquest into the death of a prisoner. The inquest examined issues including the measures put in place to minimise the spread of COVID 19 within the prison.
Inquest into the death of S (representing Dr. M) (2023)
Grace was instructed to represent a doctor in respect of the inquest into the death of a prisoner who had committed suicide whilst on remand. Grace was required to navigate difficult issues in respect of the roles and responsibilities within the prison.
Inquest into the death of R (representing a Medical Practice and Dr. K) (2022)
Grace was instructed to represent a medical practice and an individual GP in respect of an inquest into the death of a young woman who died from a pulmonary embolism. The inquest spanned multiple weeks and involved complex legal argument.
Inquest into the death of T (representing Dr. C) (2022)
Grace was instructed to represent a senior GP in respect of an inquest into the death of a young woman who suffered from a complex array of mental and physical disorders.
Inquest into the Death of P, (representing Dr. A, Dr. M and Dr. L) (2020)
Grace was instructed to represent three doctors at an inquest attracting substantial media attention. The case involved questioning multiple expert witnesses.
Inquest into the Death of the death of Baby U, (representing Dr. M) (2019)
Grace was instructed to represent a surgeon in an inquest involving the death of a newborn baby, in circumstances where there was a potential conflict between the trust and the doctor concerned.
Grace also has experience in public inquiries and investigations.
Grace was one of four barristers instructed in the Independent Review into the Boohoo Group’s Leicester supply chain and allegations of Modern Slavery in fast fashionThe nquiry attracted widespread media interest. She made important contributions to thedetailed report published at the end of the review, making a number of recommendations for action
Grace was instructed across multiple strands of IICSA, including in relation to the Child Migration Programme, Rochdale, the Anglican Church and Bishop Peter Ball.
Grace contributed to research into how the criminal justice system handles cases of child sex abuse and was selected by the Inquiry to speak on this issue in a live-streamed seminar. She was also instructed by the Inquiry to assist with complex disclosure exercises involving large volumes of highly sensitive material.
Grace was also instructed for the defence on behalf of a highly successful businessman facing a Serious Fraud Office investigation. The case involved a complex disclosure review involving a large volume of evidence.
Grace contributed to a sensitive and complex disclosure exercise on behalf of a professional football club in anticipation of a high profile FIFA investigation.
Grace has a substantial professional discipline practice, with a particular focus in the medical field.
She has extensive experience in acting on behalf of both regulatory bodies and individuals, and she is able to draw on that experience to bring a nuanced perspective to her cases.
Grace has represented doctors, nurses and midwives across the broad spectrum of professional discipline, including those facing allegations of sexual misconduct, serious professional misconduct, serious clinical errors and serious dishonesty.
She has been instructed in a number of lengthy professional disciplinary hearings. She has experience in cases involving experts, vulnerable witnesses and extensive medical evidence. She has also advised and represented clients at the sensitive sanction stage of hearings, including those at risk of being removed from their professional register.
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