Kate Wilkinson

Kate is an extremely experienced and able criminal advocate. She has defended in sensitive and complex cases ranging from murder and rape to fraud. As a Treasury Counsel monitoree, Kate is also regularly instructed to prosecute serious crime including murder, armed robbery, drugs importation and sexual offences as well as high-profile cases. She has been appointed as a Grade 4 prosecutor on the specialist Serious Crime Group panel. She has also been instructed as a leading Junior in a multi-handed drugs exportation case with terrorist funding connections. Kate has a wealth of experience in difficult criminal appeals both in relation to conviction and sentence, including providing advice to the Attorney General.

Kate is experienced in this increasingly important area of advisory and litigation work. She has advised on the international complexities of data retrieval from remote server hosts involved in the commission of terrorist offences using cyberspace and regularly advises officers from the High Tech Unit and Digital Media Exploitation Unit. She is also familiar with the technical details involved in computer, website and file-sharing analysis having defended in Op Ore (indecent images of children) cases.

Kate has an eye for detail and for simplifying complex matters which makes her a versatile fraud practitioner. She has defended in frauds including trademark infringements, benefit fraud and payroll dishonesty. She also prosecuted the largest PAYE tax and National Insurance evasion case where her command of the voluminous exhibits permitted them to be skilfully presented to the jury in both hard copy jury bundles and electronically on screen.

Kate has been appointed as a Grade 4 prosecutor on the specialist Proceeds of Crime panel and is very familiar with confiscation proceedings. She regularly advises on, and conducts hearings in, complex and protracted cases. Her experience prosecuting such matters makes her an ideal choice for those seeking advice in defending potential confiscation claims.

Kate is regularly instructed to prosecute by the Counter Terrorism Division and has extensive experience in dealing with extremely complex and sensitive matters of disclosure. She conducts prosecutions alone as well as being led. She is also familiar with advising on how to shape difficult cases and in particular on the use of the Electronic Presentation of Evidence to assist a jury’s understanding of the case.

Kate has appeared in Courts Martial in Germany. She also regularly advises in criminal cases where jurisdictional issues arise from evidence gathered abroad.

Kate has advised individuals involved in the police enquiries into practices at News International and has been frequently instructed by publishing companies to assess video material for potential defamation claims. Kate has lectured on the topic of how the media can influence legal proceedings.

Kate has conducted judicial review proceedings in respect of several matters including a decision not to prosecute a youth for rape. She has also conducted appeals by way of case stated in respect of matters such as the proper procedure for providing a sample at the police station for alcohol tests and the criteria to be met before imposing a hospital order in the Crown Court.

Kate advises and prosecutes for the Bar Standards Board and is therefore familiar with conducting hearings before disciplinary tribunals.

Given her work advising and prosecuting for the Bar Standards Board, Kate is well versed in regulatory proceedings.

Kate has experience of appearing in the First-tier Tribunal (Tax Chamber) and is instructed by HMRC to act as Respondent in VAT appeals.

• Attorney General’s Panel of Prosecuting Advocates
• Treasury Counsel Monitoree

• Criminal Bar Association
• Central London Bar Mess
• South Eastern Circuit

University of Sheffield (LLB Hons)

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