Criminal Work
Mary initially practised in London for a number of years where she developed an extensive practice covering a wide range of serious criminal matters. She was predominantly a defence advocate but did prosecute for the CPS and a number of local agencies.
Mary continues to have a wide-ranging criminal practice involving both prosecution (as a Grade 3 CPS prosecutor) and defence work.
She has particular experience in cases of a sexual nature, especially those involving children both as complainant and defendants, drug offences, conspiracies and violent crime. She also has extensive knowledge of the ancillary orders that frequently arise out of these types of cases such as Sexual Offences Prevention Orders and Cash Seizures.
Mary is recognised as being especially skilled in dealing with cases where there are Mental Health Act issues, or vulnerable witnesses, bringing her warm, open yet sensitive approach to them. She both prosecuted and defended cases of this nature.
Confiscation And Asset Recovery
Mary is an active member of the Confiscation Team with considerable experience of issues arising out of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 including asset recovery cash seizures and restraint which she also frequently applies in the course of her defence work. Mary has appeared in a number of these cases prosecuting for the local Police Force.
Regulatory
As a member of the Team Mary is continuing to develop a Regulatory practice involving a wide range of criminal matters under instructions from various local authority clients and she is keen to expand this area of her practice over the coming years.
Public Law
Mary undertakes all aspects of criminal litigation and has experience of case stated and judicial review - see for example DPP v Ng EWHC 26 (Admin).
She regularly advises and appears on public interest immunity applications on behalf of third parties who are typically Local Authority children's departments, the Probation Service and National Health Trusts.