Gudrun Young QC

Private Prosecution

Gudrun has been instructed by individuals and corporate clients to advise on the merits of bringing private prosecutions and has advised at all stages of the process. She also acts for the defence and has lectured on how to successfully defend private prosecutions.

• Her extensive experience in prosecuting and defending public crime is invaluable in understanding how to build a private prosecution and how to defend it.
• She has detailed knowledge of prosecution policy and procedure.
• She has expertise in drafting submissions to secure a summons and in drafting appropriate disclosure protocols and disclosure applications in private prosecutions.
• She is adept at providing concise and practical advice and advising on successful strategy and tactics.

Completed Cases

• GK v Linda Bellos OBE: Gudrun successfully defended Linda Bellos OBE, a leading feminist and anti-racist campaigner against a private prosecution bought by a trans activist who claimed that the defendant was guilty of a public order offence for expressing her political views at a public meeting arranged to debate the proposed changes to the Gender Recognition Act 2004. Following detailed submissions to the CPS, including that the defendant had a defence of freedom of speech under Article 10 of the ECHR, the CPS exercised its statutory powers to take over the prosecution and discontinued it. The case attracted widespread publicity.