Libby has a busy Crown Court practice both prosecuting and defending in cases of serious violence, drugs, driving offences, conspiracies, and offensive weapons, as leading junior, led junior and junior alone. Libby has been appointed to the CPS Specialist Panel for Serious Crime. She has recently been involved in several cases involving gang violence, firearms, and drug conspiracies, involving evidence of drill music as evidence of gang affiliation, and expert evidence relating to Encrochat, cell site, drugs, and firearms. Libby has been instructed as disclosure counsel in a number of historic cases including the Kenyan Emergency Group Litigation and the Cyprus Colonial Litigation, both of which alleged serious criminal behaviour by British forces, and claims arising from historic abuse by prison officers at borstals in the North East of England (Op Seabrook). She has attended advocacy training at the International Criminal Tribunal in The Hague and the SEC Advanced International Advocacy Course at Keble College, Oxford.

As led junior and junior alone, Libby prosecutes and defends in cases of fraud and money laundering at every stage including pre-charge, trial, and ancillary orders including forfeiture and confiscation under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002. She is currently instructed with Martin Goudie QC and Claire Robinson to prosecute a multi-million pound pensions fraud. Libby has been appointed to the CPS Specialist Panels for Proceeds of Crime and Fraud. Through secondments at the Financial Conduct Authority and the Serious Fraud Office, Libby has gained an understanding of the investigation and prosecution of large-scale frauds, money laundering enterprises, and insider trading.

Libby has represented registrants before the NMC, HCPC, GDC, BACP and SWE in cases involving sexual misconduct, dishonesty, alcohol misuse, referrals from the CQC, allegations of professional failings leading to serious harm, and registration appeals. Libby frequently represents professionals at appeals against decisions of the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Libby has been instructed in taxi licensing appeals on both medical and ‘fit and proper person’ grounds and has advised on appealing refusals of the Traffic Commissioner to grant an operator’s licence. Libby also represents landlords in proceedings relating to HMO licences and health and safety matters. Libby frequently represents barred individuals at appeals against decisions of the Disclosure and Barring Service. She also acts in registration appeals to the CQC and Ofsted when an organisation’s licence has been suspended or revoked. When seconded to the Financial Conduct Authority, Libby was part of a team conducting a complex investigation into directorial negligence and negligent misstatement following the collapse of a government contractor. She also acts for the Civil Aviation Authority, including the first prosecution of an airline for breach of Covid-19 regulations.

Libby has experience defending in extradition cases. Through her role as Pegasus Scholar at the Crown Law Office in Wellington, New Zealand, Libby has advised on all aspects of inter-jurisdiction mutual assistance and extradition, and has worked closely with agencies such as INTERPOL.

Libby represents prison officers, paramedics and nurses at inquest, including Article 2 and Regulation 28 cases. Previous instructions have seen her assisting legal teams representing the Ministry of Defence and the National Probation Service at inquest.

Drug offences and organised crime

• R v C (2024) Leading junior for the second defendant in an EncroChat conspiracy to supply 100kg of cocaine.
  
• R v B (2024) Defending a young man of previous good character in an EncroChat conspiracy to supply Class A and B drugs.
  
• R v W (2023) Persuaded the Crown to offer no evidence in a case of being concerned in the supply of Class B drugs and possession of criminal property, namely over £11,000 cash, four years post-offence.
  
• R v Z (2023) Led junior in the prosecution resulting from Op Tabernacler, an investigation into the largest ever inland seizure of cocaine in the UK.
• R v N (2022) As led junior, prosecuted the retrial of a chemsex drugs supply conspiracy. The case involved extensive expert and cell site evidence. The defendant was convicted.
• R v W (2020) Represented a 22 year old man of good character for plea and sentence for PWITS Class A. Negotiated an accepted basis of plea on the basis of social supply at a festival, and persuaded the court to impose a suspended sentence.
• R v G (2019) As led junior, represented the first defendant in a large-scale county lines conspiracy to supply Class A drugs. Involved consideration of voluminous cell site/telephone evidence.
• R v S (2019) Represented a young man charged with PWITS Class B. The client had a degenerative health condition and had supplied cannabis only to fund his own supply, which he used to self-medicate his pain. Persuaded the court to impose a suspended sentence.

Modern slavery and human trafficking

• R v S & others (2020) Represented a youth sent to the Crown Court alongside adult co-defendants. The youth was particularly vulnerable having been diagnosed with ADHD, and had a positive NRM conclusive grounds decision that found evidence of enforced criminality. Successfully applied to vacate guilty pleas to conspiracy to supply Class A drugs.
• R v S (2020) Represented a defendant charged with PWITS and cultivation of cannabis under threat of physical and sexual violence to herself and her daughter.

Serious violent and sexual crime

• R v M (2024) Defending in a conspiracy to sell/transfer prohibited weapons, namely converted handguns, and ammunition.
  
• R v B (2024) Defending in an allegation of rape and grievous bodily harm. This case involves an adult complainant with a number of psychiatric/addiction issues.
  
• R v S (2024) Defending in an alleged sexual assault on a teenage girl by an elderly male in the street.
  
• R v F (2023) Represented a 43 year old man of good character facing allegations of serious sexual assault in the workplace. Following a hung jury at the first trial, the defendant was acquitted at the re-trial.
• R v B (2022) Represented a defendant facing a life sentence on the basis of dangerousness following a second conviction for s.18 wounding. Persuaded the court that although the defendant was dangerous, a life sentence was not necessary.
• R v O (2022) Represented the defendant at the first Crown Court hearing of murder proceedings.
• R v P (2021) Represented one of three members of a family charged with affray, having gone to the house of a rival family with whom there was a feud. The defence was that Mr P had only been present to act as peacekeeper. The defendant was acquitted.
• R v N (2021) Defended a young man of good character accused of causing grievous bodily harm in the course of a drunken street brawl. Following cross-examination eliciting inconsistencies in witness evidence, the defendant was acquitted after only 17 minutes.
• R v A (2019) As led junior, represented an 18 year old defendant accused of possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life in the context of a gang dispute. Involved cell site and electronic tag expert evidence and interpretation of drill music videos.
• R v K (2019) Prosecuted a man for a serious assault on an intoxicated female, causing permanent scarring. The defendant was convicted after a retrial.
• Valiati v DPP [2018] EWHC 2908 (Admin), [2018] WLR(D) 676) Represented the Appellant in a successful appeal by way of case stated in which the issue was the use to which the Magistrates’ Court can put statements made in a PET form.

• R v O & others (2023) Prosecuted four individuals for various fraud offences related to finance applications made using third party details bought on the dark web.
  
• R v C (2023) Libby is currently instructed to represent the second defendant in a case involving improper use of company and investment funds by directors.
• R v S & M (Op Sannicle) (2023)  Libby prosecuted a fraud conspiracy involving bank employees overriding security checks on genuine accounts to allow other conspirators to make large outgoing transfers.
• R v P (2023) Represented a young man with no previous convictions for dishonesty for an offence of possessing an article for use in fraud, namely stolen bank details on a mobile phone registered to the defendant. The prosecution case rested on attribution and Libby successfully undermined the cell site evidence and interpretation of the text messages, resulting in an acquittal.
• R v P (2023) Libby is currently instructed as led junior representing a defendant in POCA proceedings arising from the fraudulent sale of counterfeit northern soul records.
• R v S & S (2022) Represented a woman of previous good character who, along with her husband, had pleaded guilty to a nine-year benefit fraud, fraudulently obtaining over £120,000. Libby drafted a sentencing note and persuaded the Judge that sentence could be imposed in this case.
• Project V (2020) Instructed pre-charge with Martin Goudie KC and Claire Robinson in a multi-million pound pensions fraud prosecution.
• R v G & others (2020) Led junior prosecution counsel. Multi-handed conspiracy to launder money; large quantities of cash collected around the UK and intercepted at airports (Op Leadbelly).

Registration and licensing

• FCA v T (2023) Libby advised a dentist whose practice was under FCA investigation for offering unregistered finance agreements.
• LK v Ofsted (2022) Libby was instructed to advise a nursery whose Ofsted registration had been suspended following an allegation of assault on a child by a member of staff.
• H v Liverpool City Counsel (2022) Libby advised an HMO landlord who had been issued with a prohibition order, improvement notice, and enforcement notices. Following successful representations as to the status of bunk beds for the purposes of calculating room height, the prohibition order was revoked.
• S v CQC (2022) Libby is currently instructed to represent a care home whose CQC registration has been revoked following alleged continued failings at repeated inspections.

Professional discipline

• HCPC v S (2023) Made a successful submission of no case to answer, in the course of which the panel made findings that the complainant had lied on oath, in a case involving sexual allegations made by a mentee about their mentor.
  
• BACP v T (2023) Currently instructed to represent a physiotherapist in fitness to practise proceedings.
• SWE v S (2023) Currently instructed to represent a social worker in fitness to practise proceedings.
• F v GDC (2022) Successfully appealed a refusal to allow a foreign-qualified dentist to register in the UK, arguing that he did in fact have the required knowledge and skill for the purposes of Section 15 of the Dentists Act 1984.
• NMC v C (2022) Represented a care home manager accused of multiple breaches of Regulations following a CQC inspection.
• NMC v E (2022) Represented a nurse accused of failing to administer medication and failing to keep adequate records. Following consideration of the facts and impairment, the NMC was persuaded to grant an application for voluntary removal.
• HCPC v W (2021) Represented a physiotherapist accused of failing to carry out a proper DWP examination and dishonestly completing the documentation. No facts were found proven.
• HCPC v E (2021) Represented a paramedic in a mentoring role accused of dishonestly plagiarising her university coursework. Libby persuaded the panel to impose a caution order rather than suspension.
• NMC v C (2020) Represented a nurse who was 3.5 times over the drink-drive limit on her way to work at a Covid-19 testing station.
• HCPC v K (2019) Represented a registrant accused of improperly accessing data and sending sexually inappropriate messages to service users. Involved delicate cross-examination of the service user, and consideration of the meaning of sexual motivation and gratification.

Transport and housing

• H v Liverpool CC (2022) Represented the landlord of an HMO in an application to vary a prohibition order and subsequent appeal.
• J v Transport for London (2022) Represented a taxi driver appealing refusal of his licence on medical grounds.
• M v Crawley BC (2022) Represented a taxi driver accused of a road rage incident and deemed to be not a fit and proper person to hold a taxi licence.
• CAA v Blue Air (2022) Prosecuted an airline for breaches of Covid-19 regulations, in the first prosecution of its kind. The airline pleaded guilty and received a fine of £40,000. Full details here.
• CAA v H (2020) Prosecuted an aircraft operator for breaches of air navigation orders.
• S v Traffic Commissioner (2020) Advised on appeal against a refusal to grant an HGV operator’s licence.
• B v NHG (2018) Represented a landlord in a claim made by tenants arising from a bed bug infestation.
• F v Transport for London (2018) Represented a taxi driver appealing refusal of his licence on medical grounds.

Inquests

• Inquest touching upon the death of CC (2023). Currently instructed to represent a mental health nurse in an ongoing inquest.
  
• Inquest touching upon the death of DG (2023). Currently instructed to represent a reception nurse based in HMP Bronzefield in an ongoing inquest.
  
• Inquest touching upon the death of Dylan Archibald (2022). Libby represented a prison officer with decades of experience at this article 2 inquest arising from the death of an inmate at HMP Hull, following a deterioration in his mental health. Issues included failings in carrying out regular overnight checks and in assessing the risk he presented to himself. Further information here.
• Inquest touching upon the death of David Morgan (2022). Libby represented a senior prison officer at this article 2 inquest arising from the death of an inmate at HMP Chelmsford. Issues included excessive restraint, reporting of an alleged overdose, and the policy for in-possession medication. Further information here.
• Inquest touching upon the death of Brett Lowe (2022). Libby represented a prison officer at this article 2 inquest arising from the death of an inmate at HMP Nottingham. Mr Lowe had been murdered by his cellmate after reports of bizarre and threatening behaviour by the cellmate had been ignored. Further information here.
• Inquest touching upon the death of Christopher Stephenson (2022). Libby represented a paramedic at the inquest into the death of a service user where the issue was whether adrenaline had been administered correctly.
• Inquest touching upon the death of Hoolickin (2019) Member of the case team acting on behalf of the National Probation Service. The deceased was murdered by a Prolific and Priority Offender who posed a serious risk of harm to the public and was subject to the provisions of the Integrated Offender Management Scheme. Article 2 ECHR was engaged.
• Inquest touching upon the deaths of Cpls Neilson and Hatfield (The Castlemartin Inquest) (2018) Part of the case team for the inquest into the deaths of two servicemen following the explosion of a Challenger 2 main battle tank, leading to a report under Regulation 28.

Disclosure and Barring Services

• J v DBS (2024) Represented the Appellant at permission and final hearing stages. The appeal involved allegations of sexual assault and abusive behaviour towards a child.
  
• A v DBS (2024) Instructed to represent the Applicant at permission stage in a case involving allegations of abuse towards elderly patients.
  
• L v DBS (2024) Instructed to represent the Applicant, a nurse, at permission stage in a case involving repeated errors in medication administration.
  
• B v DBS (2023) Currently instructed to advise on appeal and represent the Applicant at the Upper Tribunal in relation to matters arising from an allegation of harassment.
• M v DBS (2023) Applied for permission to appeal on the basis that the DBS had failed to give adequate weight to remediation, insight, and lack of risk of repetition.
  
• C v DBS (2023) Applied for permission to appeal citing mistake of fact in a case where C had been barred following repeated safeguarding concerns.
  
• O v DBS (2022) Sought permission to appeal to the Upper Tribunal on behalf of a man placed on the barred list as a result of convictions and cautions gained as a youth of 16.
• J v DBS (2022) Represented the Appellant before the Upper Tribunal. Mr J had a history of criminal conduct and drug use but, as a born-again Christian, wanted to enter ministry.
• P v DBS (2022) Represented the Appellant before the Upper Tribunal. Mr P had been placed on the barred list due to sexual concerns arising from his interactions with a vigilante group.
• L v DBS (2022) Sought permission to appeal to the Upper Tribunal on behalf of a carer placed on the barred list because of workplace allegations about a failure to wear PPE correctly during the Covid-19 pandemic.
• M v DBS (2022) Represented the Applicant seeking permission to appeal to the Upper Tribunal. Drafted written submissions on the impact of DBS v AB [2021] EWCA Civ 1575.
• A v DBS (2017) Representing a taxi driver seeking an enhanced DBS check for the purposes of obtaining a taxi licence, advised and prepared written representations arguing against disclosure of acquittals for sexual offences.