Oliver Whitworth is a member of the Crime and Family Groups, and has quickly developed a very successful practice.
Olivia has quickly developed a very successful Crown Court practice on circuit and is considered to be a strong junior with a practice beyond her year of call. She is a grade 3 prosecutor and is often instructed against senior practitioners who are of significantly more years call. She regularly undertakes multi day trials on behalf of both the prosecution and the defence. Outside of court she undertakes instructions as a disclosure junior. Olivia has advised on Court of Appeal cases against both conviction and sentence and often undertakes matters with complex legal issues. She also accepts instructions in youth court work.
Olivia is recognised for her calm, clear and practical approach to cases as well as her strong interpersonal skills which allow her to develop a strong rapport with her clients. She is also know for her succinct and concise advocacy style and incisive cross examination skills.
Olivia also has an advanced family practice which allows her to have an insight and understanding beyond that of her peers into issues that arise from family proceedings and social services disclosure which give her useful skills which directly apply within her criminal practice. She has also undertaken cross examination of medical professionals and other experts which assists her in understanding complex disclosure within criminal proceedings.
Olivia undertakes a range of both private and public childrens work. Since beginning her second six she has appeared on behalf of both parents and guardians in public work and has represented individuals in a number of private law children’s cases. She also acts for individuals seeking occupation and non-molestation orders.
Olivia represented a youth defendant in a trial on a number of aggravated burglary charges which required a number of legal submissions including bad character and s.78 alongside extensive cross examination of a number of police officers.
Olivia was instructed on behalf of the defendant in his Crown Court trial for robbery and assault occasioning actual bodily harm. She undertook extensive cross examination of the complainant as well as calling the defendant to give evidence. The defendant was facing serious charges and a lengthy sentence if convicted. She successfully secured his acquittal on all counts.
Olivia was instructed on behalf of the prosecution for a trial of issue following a plea by the defendant to a count of s.18 wounding. The case involved particular sensitivities due to the defendant being transgender. Following substantial prosecution and defence evidence she was successful in ensuring the basis of plea put forward by the defendant was rejected.
Olivia was instructed on behalf of the defendant in his multi day burglary trial. There were a number of complex legal issues which required consideration and applications including; opposing hearsay applications, opposing a non-defendant bad character application, making an application to have evidence declared inadmissible and an application to discharge the jury.
Olivia was instructed on behalf of a defendant who had previously been found to be dangerous and had now pleaded to a knifepoint robbery. Olivia was successful in making submissions that a previous finding of dangerousness did not mean the court needed to find him dangerous on this occasion and therefore he was made subject to a sentence of 4 years, the minimum on the guidelines, and not made subject to dangerousness provisions on this occasion.
Olivia was instructed to represent a defendant who was found in possession of 11kg of cocaine and heroin. She assisted in advancing his basis that he was a courier only and under a degree of coercion. He received a sentence of 3 years and 4 months.
Olivia is instructed for a lead defendant who faces serious charges of modern slavery and blackmail. The trial is expected to take place in 2022.
Olivia Whitworth was called in 2018 having completed an undergraduate degree, master’s degree and a scholarship funded PhD at the University of Birmingham. Post graduation she worked in Parliament alongside undertaking the GDL and BPTC which she completed in 2018, having been awarded the Lord Mansfield scholarship by Lincoln’s Inn.
Olivia has quickly developed a very successful children law practice on circuit and is considered to have a practice beyond her year of call. She regularly undertakes multi-day fact finds and final hearings and has been instructed for local authorities, parents and on behalf of the children. Olivia has regularly appeared in the High Court on complex matters including proceedings involving deprivation of liberty orders and jurisdictional issues.
In care proceedings Olivia is often instructed on behalf of parents with cognitive challenges and is adept at making part 25 applications to ensure they are sufficiently assessed and supported throughout proceedings.
Olivia is recognised for her calm, clear and practical approach to cases as well as her strong interpersonal skills which allow her to develop a strong rapport with her clients. She is also know for her succinct and concise advocacy style and incisive cross examination skills.
Olivia also has an advanced criminal practice which allows her to have an insight and understanding beyond that of her peers into police disclosure and the complex issues which arise when there is a crossover with criminal proceedings.
Olivia represented a mother in complex private law proceedings in the High Court after the father was convicted of a serious violence offence against her. She secured the appointment of a guardian for the children and ultimately orders limiting the father’s parental responsibility and preventing him from knowing the location of the children. The case involved complex police disclosure and advanced legal argument.
Olivia represented a father in lengthy proceedings involving serious allegations of FII and that included a fifteen day finding of fact hearing. The fifteen day finding of fact hearing required consideration of over 6000 pages of medical records, social services records, police disclosure and preparation of a lengthy chronology.
Olivia appeared in the High Court representing a mother in care proceedings for her sixteen year old daughter who had travelled from Malawi to give birth. There were jurisdictional complexities, issues with threshold and FGM protection orders. Cultural experts were instructed. In addition deprivation of liberty orders were put in place. The proceedings concluded with no orders being made and the local authority withdrawing proceedings.
Olivia was instructed on behalf of the child in an application by the local authority for discharge of a placement order. The final care plan had been placement for siblings together and had changed after the conclusion of court proceedings. Olivia was required to prepare a detailed advice on whether the child’s human rights had been breached and argue accordingly at final hearing.
Olivia was instructed to represent the children in private law proceedings involving serious allegations of non-accidental injury between 2017 and 2020. The three-day fact-finding hearing was complicated further by extensive police disclosure and medical evidence. Complex submissions were required after findings were made on the appropriate way forward.
Olivia represented a father who had significant cognitive difficulties in care proceedings from the ICO throughout. She secured a PAMS assessment and ultimately the transition of the child back into the care of him and the mother.
Olivia represented the children in care proceedings where their sibling was deceased as a result of disputed parental neglect.
The two defendants were 15 years old and Ali was only 17 years old at the time of his death. The murder took place on…
No5 Barristers’ Chambers are proud to support the 10,000 Black Interns initiative, which offers university students and graduates of Black heritage an opportunity to gain…
The two defendants were 15 years old and Ali was only 17 years old at the time of his death. The murder took place on…
No5 Barristers’ Chambers are proud to support the 10,000 Black Interns initiative, which offers university students and graduates of Black heritage an opportunity to gain…
