Neelam Gomersall’s practice focuses on criminal defence, inquests and professional discipline.
She has experience representing regulated professionals charged with criminal offences with an eye to the regulatory consequences that may follow. She has acted on behalf of medical professionals, sports professionals, teachers, and police officers.
Neelam is regularly instructed in serious multi-handed matters before the Crown Court. She was instructed to represent the first of three defendants charged with conspiracy to rob high-value watches after a professional basketball player was robbed of a Rolex at knifepoint in Knightsbridge. As led junior, she recently represented a defendant acquitted of a sophisticated conspiracy to supply Class A and B drugs involving the supply of multiple kilograms of high-purity cocaine and cannabis across the South of England. The case involved expert evidence on new “anti-surveillance” communication methods using encrypted “interceptor” handsets and “spoofing” sims.
She has been instructed in matters involving serious dishonesty and complex fraud. As led junior, she represented one of eight defendants charged with conspiracy to defraud and associated immigration offences centered around a sham Bollywood film production company. The trial at Southwark Crown Court lasted four months and involved a high volume of documentary and banking evidence. As sole junior, she represented a defendant charged with several counts of fraud by false representation in a “tinder swindler” style romance fraud.
Neelam is often instructed in sensitive cases involving young and vulnerable witnesses. She recently represented a tennis coach acquitted of assault by penetration and sexual assault of a four-year-old student. She represented a deputy headteacher of a SEN school acquitted of assaulting a severely autistic 10-year-old student after a successful submission of no case to answer.
In the area of professional discipline, Neelam has acted on behalf of medical professionals charged with dishonesty and sexual misconduct. She recently appeared in the High Court in an appeal against sanction.
Neelam is frequently instructed to represent medical professionals in inquests. She was recently instructed in a 7-day Article 2 inquest after a hospital in-patient sustained a fatal head injury while suffering from Covid-19 delirium.
Neelam is currently instructed as sole counsel in matters before the Crown Court involving serious violence, dishonesty, sexual offences, and drugs supply.
R v C, Wood Green Crown Court (ongoing)
S18 wounding arising out of a stabbing in East London in which the defendant is challenging identification.
R v M, Winchester Crown Court (2023)
Conspiracy to supply Class A and B drugs involving the supply of multiple kilograms of high-purity of cocaine and cannabis. Led junior.
R v C, Woolwich Crown Court (2023)
Assault by penetration and sexual assault of a child under 13.
R v H (2022)
Mr H, the deputy headteacher of a school for children with autism and special educational needs, was accused of lifting a student into the air before throwing him to the ground. The incident was witnessed by another teacher and captured partly on CCTV. Mr H asserted that he pushed the student once in self-defence when the student was in an “emotionally dysregulated” and unpredictable state. He was acquitted following a successful submission of no case to answer at the close of the Crown’s case.
R v M & Others, Southwark Crown Court (2021)
Multi-handed conspiracy to defraud and immigration offences centred around a sham Bollywood film production company. The trial lasted 16 weeks and involved a high volume of documentary and banking evidence. Led junior.
R v A, Wood Green Crown Court (2021)
S18 wounding with intent.
Neelam has a growing practice in this area.
Inquest into the death of PC (2023)
Instructed on behalf of a nurse in a 7-day Article 2 inquest.
Inquest into the death of O (2022)
Instructed on behalf of the registered provider of a care home where the deceased had suffered a head injury. The incident attracted substantial media attention.
Grenfell Tower Inquiry (2020)
Instructed as second junior counsel on behalf of a core participant.
Neelam has experience of a number of regulatory bodies including the General Dental Council, Nursing and Midwifery Council, Health and Care Professions Council, Social Work England, and the Independent Office for Police Conduct.
She has appeared in the High Court in an appeal against sanction.
GDC v Dentist A (2022)
Defence of a dentist charged with sexual misconduct.
NMC v Nurse S (2021)
Defence of a nurse charged with contributing to/ failing to prevent his patient’s suicide. The allegations dated back to 2012. The case was dismissed after Neelam made a successful submission of no case to answer in respect of all charges.
Neelam is a Grade 2 CPS prosecutor. She has prosecuted trials involving multiple defendants, expert evidence and young/ vulnerable witnesses.
R v HAA & Others
Led by Chris Foulkes – HMRC investigation into the illicit importation and distribution of millions of cigarettes into the UK by an Iraqi-Kurdish organised crime group, culminating in a two-month trial at Birmingham Crown Court. The cigarettes were smuggled into the UK by lorry amongst partially legitimate loads destined for British businesses. Once in the country, the cigarettes were ‘slaughtered’ at warehouses in the Midlands before being distributed by suppliers to customers without paying UK duty. Seven individuals were charged with excise duty evasions and money laundering offences. The five principal defendants were convicted.
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