No5 Barristers' Chambers - Excellence is at the heart of everything we do.
Background

Rhia Abukhalil

Barrister

Call: 2019

Rhia is a public law and criminal defence barrister. Her practice spans crime, inquests, actions against police, prison law, and Court of Protection. Her knowledge and experience of working within the criminal justice system makes her particularly skilled at dealing with quasi-criminal public law matters.

Expertise

Inquests & Inquiries (Public Law)

Rhia is currently seconded part-time to Barts Health NHS Trust. With Barts she has been involved in the inquest process at all stages, including representing the Trust at inquests and pre-inquest review hearings.

Whilst her time at the Trust has given her experience in representing public bodies at inquests, she welcomes instructions from all different types of interested persons, including families of the deceased. She is able to advise concisely and sensitively on a broad range of issues.

Crime

Rhia spent the first 4 years of her career practising exclusively at the Criminal Bar. She is an experienced trial advocate who is able to cross-examine witnesses robustly. She builds a strong rapport with both her lay and professional clients and she is able to advise in a manner that is easy to understand.

She is particularly experienced in cases involving violence, drugs, and sexual offences.

Notable Crime Cases


R v LB

Defendant acquitted of S20 Grievous Bodily Harm after a successful submission of no case to answer. The issue related to identification evidence.


R v ME

Defendant acquitted of Assault Occasioning Actual Bodily Harm after a 4-day trial. The jury had heard evidence from the complainant and 3 eyewitnesses.


R v AB

Defendant acquitted of PWITS Class A after submissions were made to the jury regarding the definition of ‘possession’.


R v BH

Defendant acquitted of 2 counts of Sexual Assault where the issue was reasonable belief in consent.


Prison & Police Law

Rhia’s experience at the Criminal Bar has given her a strong understanding of sentencing principles that are often very relevant to parole hearings. She is keen to build her experience in front of the Parole Board.

Rhia is also keen to develop her practice and undertake actions against police. She has significant experience cross-examining police officers from her criminal defence practice, and she also has a solid understanding of PACE codes of conduct.

Court of Protection

Rhia’s ongoing part-time secondment with Barts Health NHS Trust will give her an insight into Court of Protection considerations within the hospital setting. She has also shadowed a broad range of COP hearings within chambers and looks forward to expanding her practice into this area.

Education

Rhia also appears in front of the SEND tribunal. Her experience in other areas mean that she has a good grasp of the issues involved in such appeals, and she is able to work sensitively towards resolution for the child or young person involved.

Related News, Resources and Events

News


We are delighted to announce three new tenants have joined the Public Law group at No5 Barristers’ Chambers.

Ffyon Reilly was called to the Bar in 1999 and specialises in Public Law. Ffyon has a multidisciplinary background including significant experience in criminal law, both…

View all related news

Related News, Resources and Events

News


We are delighted to announce three new tenants have joined the Public Law group at No5 Barristers’ Chambers.

Ffyon Reilly was called to the Bar in 1999 and specialises in Public Law. Ffyon has a multidisciplinary background including significant experience in criminal law, both…

View all related news

Clerk Team

Abdul Hafeez

Practice Director, Immigration & Public Law

abdulh@no5.com

07957 403805

Lucas Bennett

Practice Manager, Immigration & Public Law

lucasb@no5.com

Hannah Muxlow

Immigration & Public Law Clerk

hannahm@no5.com

Emily Johnston

Immigration & Public Law Clerk

emilyj@no5.com

Jordan Lloyd

Immigration & Public Law Clerk

jordanl@no5.com

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