Hannah Thomas

Hannah joined Chambers in March 2019 following the successful completion of her pupillage.

During her time in Chambers Hannah has established a busy practice, predominantly in criminal law. She also has a growing practice in the fields of professional discipline, civil asset recovery, and inquiry work.

Hannah has particular expertise in crime, having worked in the criminal team at a City solicitors’ firm prior to coming to the Bar. She now prosecutes and defends in the magistrates, Youth and Crown Courts. She is a Grade 1 prosecutor and also has extensive experience conducting private prosecutions, currently working with a team preparing a large-scale private prosecution for fraud. She also prosecutes on behalf of HMRC in contested cash forfeiture hearings.

In her defence practice, Hannah is regularly instructed in serious matters beyond her year of call. Most notably, she has appeared in the Divisional Court in an appeal by way of case stated. Owing to her excellent client care and communication skills, Hannah is often chosen to represent clients who have vulnerabilities.

In the professional discipline field Hannah is frequently instructed by the Nursing and Midwifery Council to present cases of all levels of seriousness and complexity before fitness to practice committees. She is often instructed in cases that are likely to raise complex issues or serious allegations such as sexual misconduct. She also accepts instructions defending in such cases.

Hannah is currently instructed as ‘second junior’ counsel to Ofsted in its capacity as a Core Participant in the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse in the Residential Schools Investigation. She also recently acted as disclosure junior to one of the Core Participants in the Inquiry into the Manchester Arena Bombing.