Rebecca’s practice is cross-border and cross-discipline. She specialises in all areas of corporate crime and corporate wrongdoing and financial, environmental, and professional regulation. She both defends and prosecutes.
The Directories list her as a leader in financial crime, business & regulatory crime (including global investigations), fraud and Environmental Regulation.
She advises and acts on behalf of corporates, high net worth individuals, in-house and City solicitors in areas such as compliance, Insolvency, corporate governance, business investigations, dispute resolution, fraud, Restraint, Freezing Orders, Norwich Pharmacal Orders, and private prosecutions.
Rebecca has been and is instructed in the largest Private Prosecution before the courts and is recognised as a leader in that field. She has been ‘spotlighted’ as such in Chambers UK.
She has been instructed in various cases which resulted in Deferred Prosecutions Agreements (DPA), including that obtained against Rolls Royce PLC.
She is described in the directories as “the Queen of Disclosure”. In July 2022 she conducted and co-authored with Brian Altman KC the SFO’s independent review into the collapse of the R V Woods and Marshall trial (SERCO), The Altman Review. She has vast experience with regards to Legal Professional Privilege (LPP) and regularly advises on such matters.
She was until her appointment as King’s Counsel, Standing Counsel to the Department for Business and the Insolvency Service and consequently advised that department on their most complicated issues of policy and their prosecutions. She has a vast experience of matters relating to Insolvency and Bankruptcy, as well as Director’s Disqualification and matters under the Companies Act. She regularly advises and acts for individuals and companies in such matters.
Rebecca is frequently instructed in regulatory and quasi-criminal matters on cases involving breaches of Regulatory & Professional Discipline and on behalf of and against regulatory bodies. This includes the Health and Safety Executive, the Environment Agency, the Financial Conduct Authority, the General Medical Council, and the General Optical Council. She is regularly instructed in Extradition cases. This includes cases involving the USA, the Russian Federation and Bermuda.
She has been instructed by various government departments, including in cases before the Special Immigration Appeals Commission (SIAC). Rebecca was instructed by the Government, in the Kamoka litigation, concerning allegations of rendition and ill treatment sustained in Libya, brought against the British Government.
Rebecca practices in the following areas:
Rebecca is ranked as a leading junior for Financial Crime and Business and Regulatory Crime (including global investigations).
She specialises in all areas of corporate crime and corporate wrongdoing and financial regulation. She has extensive experience of Bribery & Corruption cases, serious and complex Fraud cases. Rebecca is often instructed to act pre-charge or at the early stage of proceedings. She currently holds a number of pre-charge instructions on which she is advising.
She advises and acts on behalf of corporates, high net worth individuals, in-house and City solicitors in areas such as compliance, Insolvency, corporate governance, business investigations, dispute resolution, fraud, restraint, Freezing Orders, Norwich Pharmacal Orders, and private prosecutions.
Rebecca has been and is instructed in the largest Private Prosecution before the courts and is recognised as a leader in that field. She has been ‘spotlighted’ as such in Chambers UK.
She has been instructed in various cases which resulted in Deferred Prosecutions Agreements (DPA), including that against Rolls Royce PLC.
She was until her appointment as King’s Counsel, Standing Counsel to the Department for Business and the Insolvency Service and consequently advised that department on their most complicated issues of policy and their prosecutions. She has a vast experience of matters relating to Insolvency and Bankruptcy, as well as Director’s Disqualification and matters under the Companies Act. She regularly advises and acts for individuals and companies in such matters.
She is a member of the LexisNexis Corporate Crime Consulting Editorial Board
Featured cases
Rebecca has been instructed for the last 25 years in a very large number of drug trafficking and money laundering cases, involving various national and international law enforcement agencies. This has included prosecuting the largest on-land seizure of cocaine. The drugs had a street value of in excess of £65m.
She has considerable experience of working with policy, training and various specialist teams, including those responsible for the gathering and handling of intelligence and witness protection. She also has extensive experience of Part 1 RIPA material and the use of undercover officers and informant involvement both in this jurisdiction and abroad. She is alert to the competing issues in relation to KE witnesses and is thoroughly familiar with all aspects of public interest immunity (PII). She has current DV clearance.
Rebecca has significant experience of cases involving bribery and corruption, particularly with an international dimension. She was instructed in the SFO’s investigations into Rolls Royce PLC as well as ENRC. These attracted extensive media and public interest both nationally and internationally.
She is currently instructed to defend a CEO of a multinational company under investigation for allegations of bribery. She has experience of advising corporate clients upon self-reporting and corruption responsibilities.
Rebecca has detailed knowledge of both Part One and Part Two of the Extradition Act 2003. She is regularly instructed in Extradition cases. This includes cases involving the USA, the Russian Federation and Bermuda.
Featured cases
Rebecca is ranked as a leading junior for Financial Crime and Business and Regulatory Crime (including global investigations). She has experience in cases conducted by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and the Accountancy & Actuarial Discipline Board (AADB).
She advises and acts on behalf of corporates, high net worth individuals, in-house and City solicitors in areas such as compliance, Insolvency, corporate governance, business investigations, dispute resolution, fraud, restraint, Freezing Orders, Norwich Pharmacal Orders, and private prosecutions.
In 2012 Rebecca was appointed to the Attorney General’s Regulatory List of prosecutors which includes the Health & Safety Executive, Office of Rail and Road and the Environment Agency. She has since then been regularly instructed to both prosecute and defend in such matters.
Rebecca is ranked as a leading junior for Environmental Regulation. Rebecca has been, and is currently, instructed in some of the Environment Agency’s largest and most high-profile recent prosecutions.
She has been instructed for the last 3 years to prosecute Water Companies for sewage pollution. She recently acted for DEFRA in a prosecution on behalf of the Drinking Water Inspectorate.
Rebecca has also extensive experience and expertise in “waste crime” relating to both legal and illegal waste sites.
Rebecca successfully prosecuted the first case under the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Regulations.
Rebecca regularly acts in cases brought by the General Medical Council, and the General Optical Council. She acts for both the Registrants and the Regulators.
Rebecca has been instructed by various government departments, including in cases before the Special Immigration Appeals Commission (SIAC). Rebecca was instructed by the Government, in the Kamoka litigation, concerning allegations of rendition and ill treatment sustained in Libya, brought against the British Government.
Rebecca was instructed by one of the core participants in the Azelle Rodney Public Inquiry and advised another in the Public Inquiry into the shooting of Mark Duggen.
She has advised in a number of Judicial Reviews arising from criminal proceedings.
No5 Barristers’ Chambers are delighted to announce that Sally Howes KC (formerly of 2 Kings Bench Walk) and Holly-Louise Kilbey (Cornwall Street) have joined No5…
"A pleasure to work with, always available and approachable."
"Fearless in court, and unafraid of making difficult decisions."
"Incredibly imaginative and creative in her approach, and also completely fearless."
"She’s a good advocate, who is hot on the law and really efficient."
No5 Barristers’ Chambers are delighted to announce that Sally Howes KC (formerly of 2 Kings Bench Walk) and Holly-Louise Kilbey (Cornwall Street) have joined No5…
