Emma Phillips

Practice Areas

Criminal Defence, Prison and Housing law.

Emma is an experienced practitioner with a busy criminal defence practice. Her practice encompasses all areas of criminal law including confiscation, drug trafficking, firearms, fraud, sexual offences and offences of serious violence.

Current instructions include: murder, death by dangerous driving, violent disorder, conspiracy to supply class A drugs, grievous bodily harm and rape.

Emma also practices in all areas of housing and landlord and tenant law including anti-social behaviour and harassment, disrepair, homelessness, possession proceedings and unlawful eviction.

Emma is able to advise on all aspects of prisoner’s rights.

Notable Cases

R v B (2008) – defendant acquitted of making threats to kill towards his elderly grandfather.

R v W & Another (2008) – abuse of process argument resulted in acquittal of a woman accused of dishonestly obtaining £90,000 in benefits.

R v F & Others (2009) – successfully defended a man charged with importing liquid cocaine within rum bottles. Co-defendant charged with manslaughter following accidental consumption.

R v C (2009) – counsel for defendant who pleaded guilty to threats to kill and possession of offensive weapons. Defendant had complicated mental health issues.

R v M (2009) – represented first defendant in multi-handed false imprisonment/robbery of an 80 year old woman.

R v S (2009) – defendant acquitted of causing grievous bodily harm arising out of an attack on a stranger with a cut-throat razor.

R v L (2009) – represented defendant charged with fraud who has been dishonestly acting as a General Practitioner and operating a bogus surgery in London.

R v K (2009) – defendant acquitted of robbery involving the alleged use of a prohibited animal under the Dangerous Dogs Act.

R v K & Others (2009) – successfully resisted application for £2 million confiscation order on basis that defendant was ‘Hawala Banker’.

R v S & Others (2010) – large scale supply of heroin in east London involving covert police surveillance. Counsel for second defendant in cut-throat defence.

R v K & Others (2010) – series of sophisticated local authority frauds committed by defendant and siblings who absconded before the conclusion of the trial.

R v K (2010) – successfully defended a man accused of causing grievous bodily harm with a samurai sword.

R v M (2010) – defendant charged with attempted murder following unprovoked knife attack on a fellow student.

R v H & others (2010) – defendant charged with the armed robbery of a shop with firearms.

R v M (2010) conspiracy to supply cocaine and cannabis – defendant acquitted of £1 million conspiracy.

R v S (2010) – defendant charged with multiple counts of rape against ex-partner during a prolonged attack involving a co-attacker, who also sexually assaulted the complainant.

R v F (2011) – successfully represented a vulnerable young defendant charged with the attempted rape of a vulnerable young complainant. Complainant gave evidence through an intermediary.

R v W (2011) – defendant acquitted of assault occasioning actual bodily harm arising out of a road rage incident.

R v M (2011) – complex fraud involving the use of false identities by a husband and wife to claim benefits and attempt to obtain indefinite leave to remain.

R v M (2011) – defendant charged with arranging a child sex offence, which involved planned rape of two children under the age of 10.

Call:

2001 Middle Temple (Jules Thorn Scholar)

Qualifications:

LLB (Hons) University of Westminster

Before practising at the Bar, Emma spent time working for the whistleblowing charity, Public Concern at Work, advising on the recently introduced Public Interest Disclosure Act 1998.

Professional Associations

Criminal Bar Association
Housing Law Practitioners Association
Haldane Society of Socialist Lawyers
South Eastern Circuit.

Pro Bono Work

Free Representation Unit

Seminars:

Disrepair
Prison Law Adjudications.