Eleanor practices in all areas of criminal law, known for combining sharp legal analysis with a calm, strategic approach to advocacy. In court and in conference, she brings clarity to complex issues and a steady hand to high-pressured situations. She has proven to be astute in analysing her client’s case with a meticulous eye for detail.

Prior to call, Eleanor obtained a First-Class degree in Law with Criminology. During this time, she managed the Brighton University Pro Bono Legal Clinic where she gained valuable experience in providing clients with legal advice on issues involving domestic abuse and the Victims’ Right to Review scheme, as well as housing and environmental matters. She continued developing this experience whilst studying for the Bar Practice Course and master’s in law (LLM).

Eleanor worked at a pro bono legal centre in Birmingham guiding clients through the process of applying for non-molestation orders and restraining orders. She has also received training from Women’s Aid in answering the domestic abuse hotline and gained experience in benefits tribunals. Additionally, Eleanor volunteered in women’s prisons working with the inmates on a restorative justice scheme and providing training in new skills and qualifications in preparation for their release.

Eleanor’s academic background, practical experiences, specialised training, and commitment to justice position her as a capable and compassionate barrister. She brings a unique perspective that combines legal expertise with a deep understanding of social issues. While Eleanor practices in all areas of criminal law, her areas of interest are youth court cases, mental health cases, female defendants, drugs and fraud cases, serious violence and sexual offences. She also has experience in regulatory work and LPP reviews.

Notable cases:

Youth cases

• R v AM – a defendant who had been sent to the Crown Court with adult co-accused on a joint enterprise robbery. The case was to be sentenced and Eleanor made meticulous submissions to ensure this case was remitted to the Youth Court to ensure her client received a Youth Referral Order.
• R v IM – a defendant jointly charged with adult co-defendants for an assault occasioning actual bodily harm. The defendant had become an adult between commission and sentence. Eleanor made focused submissions on how the court should approach sentence in the circumstances, securing her client a community order while his co-defendants received immediate imprisonment.

Female defendants

• R v JL – Eleanor successfully made a robust submission of no case to answer following an allegation of domestic abuse perpetrated by the complainant. The Defendant called the police as the original complainant, but she was arrested as she had headbutt her perpetrator in self-defence. At half time, Eleanor made a submission of no case to answer on the basis that the Prosecution bore the burden of disproving self-defence beyond reasonable doubt, and they had not done so. The Court dismissed the case after the close of the Prosecution evidence.
• R v Z – this defendant was facing the fifth breach of her community order. Eleanor successfully convinced the court not to revoke and resentence, but to amend the order to ensure she can comply with it. The order at the time of the breaches involved unpaid work which she could not attend due to childcare commitments. Eleanor drew the Court’s attention to the relevant parts of the overarching sentence guideline which details on how the Court should sentence mothers with dependant children.

Violence offences

• R v JL – Eleanor successfully secured an acquittal after trial on an allegation of assault occasioning actual bodily harm with the defence being self-defence. There were three prosecution witnesses all corroborating each other’s accounts. Yet, Eleanor submitted that the Court could not be sure as there were gaps in the witness’ recollection and CCTV footage that had conveniently gone missing.

Sex offences

• R v LA – Eleanor represented her client on his third breach of his sexual harm prevention order and secured him a suspended sentence order on the basis that himself and community were better served with him keeping his liberty and being taught and supported to help him understand his behaviour.

Perverting the Course of Justice

• R v Z – Eleanor represented a defendant who was facing an allegation for perverting the course of public justice at his sentence hearing. Courts normally impose immediate imprisonment, but Eleanor successfully convinced the Court to suspend the period of imprisonment due to the defendant’s physical health.

Regulatory

• R v SB – Eleanor represented a director of a company facing overwhelming allegations of improper waste disposal. She secured her client a community order.

Scholarships and Prizes

Lord Denning Scholar, The Honourable Society of Lincoln’s Inn.

The Burt Brill and Cardens award for the best performing Law LLB (Hons) student in the final-year Equity and Trusts module.

The 1 Crown Office Row, Brighton award for students who have made an outstanding contribution to the University of Brighton Pro Bono Legal Clinic.