Constance Halliwell is an established junior practitioner who has quickly developed a criminal and regulatory practice well beyond her years. She is a driven, determined and fearless trial advocate, trusted by both solicitors and lay clients.

Constance takes instructions across the full spectrum of criminal cases. Her workload includes cases of both severity and complexity, including serious sexual offences; class A drugs trafficking and importation; human trafficking; fraud, and serious assaults (s.18).  Constance’s Crown Court practice extends to regulatory work, including Health and Safety related sentences; firearms licence appeals, and cases prosecuted by the HSE and Trading Standards. Her success rate in jury trials and legal argument alike is evidence of her effectiveness, persuasion and determination as an advocate.

Having often dealt with cases involving vulnerable defendants, Constance is well regarded for her personable approach to clients. Constance is regularly instructed to work with defendants with vulnerabilities including youth or mental health difficulties as a result of her adaptable nature and ability to put clients at ease. She is able to effectively communicate and build positive relationships with lay clients, often in the midst of evidentially complex and demanding trials.

Equally, Constance’s analytical and forensic approach to evidence renders her an asset as led junior in lengthy trials of complexity. Constance has been a led junior in a number of notable cases, including trials of conspiracy to control prostitution for gain; conspiracy to import drugs and fraud. She is regularly sought after as junior counsel by more senior advocates within Chambers as a result of her work ethic.

She is a natural choice for cases involving careful and considered legal argument, including cases involving the preparation of bad character applications, dismissal, disclosure and abuse of process.

Constance is a level 2 prosecutor and is able to utilise her communication skills with complainants and prosecution witnesses. Constance is frequently instructed to prosecute sensitive trials and is able to provide reassurance to those involved in such cases as witnesses, whilst maintaining her robust approach as advocate throughout the trial itself.

Cases of interest:

R v SW – Successfully defended at trial client charged with s.18 assault, attempt s.18 assault and s.20 assault in the alternative. Following careful cross-examination of the complainant, client was acquitted on all three counts.

R v CH – Succeeded in reducing sentence by 11 months on appeal against sentence before the Court of Appeal. Dealt with complex legal argument regarding an indictment issue that arose after obtaining permission for appeal. Provided written submissions that were ultimately accepted by the Court of Appeal at the appeal hearing.

R v Y – Defended 15 year old youth in 5 day trial on allegations of rape of a child and sexual assault. Involved cross-examination of numerous youth witnesses, not by way of s.28 procedure owing to Youth Court trial setting.

R v X – Secured not guilty verdict in Youth Court trial relating to a 15 year old client charged with assault by penetration on a joint enterprise basis. Successfully challenged the complainant’s evidence and made effective submissions on the complex issue of jointly charging this kind of offence.

R v Z – Achieved not guilty verdict on charge of sexual assault for 17 year old client charged with assaulting an adult.

R v PH – Successfully secured stand-alone suspended sentence order in relation to a six figure fraud spanning an indictment period over two years.

R v ME – Led junior in complex trading standards prosecution involving multiple counts of fraud. Formal not guilty verdict in respect of our client after submissions regarding his role in comparison to co-defendants.R v GW – Secured suspended sentence order for man convicted of supply class A drugs after trial.

R v IB – Led junior defending conspiracy to control prostitution for gain. Defendant received X.

R v NB – Successfully appealed conviction to the Crown Court in relation to summary convictions for failing to report an accident. The appellant was a HGV driver who had unknowingly hit and killed a man.

R v HA – Led junior defending conspiracy to import class B drugs.

R v PP – Secured community order before Chief Magistrate for client charged with one offence of malicious communications after posting comments on social media threatening to cause an explosion at the coronation of King Charles.