Chantel Gaber

Pupil Barrister

Chantel is a criminal defence specialist and a passionate, committed advocate, with an outstanding presence in Court. She has experience defending in cases involving all types of allegations, including fraud, violence, drugs, sexual and public order offences. She has experience in serious youth cases, modern slavery defences and complex mental health cases.

Chantel has acted in cases across the spectrum of financial wrongdoing including acting in proceeds of crime proceedings (POCA) and account freezing, restraint, forfeiture, confiscation and money laundering hearings.

Chantel is a member of the Association of Regulatory and Disciplinary Lawyers and undertakes regulatory work. She has received full training from the Nursing and Midwifery Council in the preparation and presentation of disciplinary hearings.

Chantel acts both alone and as a led junior. Recent substantial cases in which she has been led include modern slavery and human trafficking, conspiracy to supply Class A and assisting an offender in a complex homicide case.

Chantel has worked on a number of cases involving allegations against Grime artists, and has made successful bail applications on behalf of high profile artists.

Chantel has undertaken vulnerable witness training.

Background

After studying law, Chantel worked in a number of roles including as a personal assistant to the Chair of one of the UK’s largest charities. After this, she completed the BPTC alongside working full time for the Law Society of Scotland and volunteering with organisations such as the Centre for Criminal Appeals. She has also worked as a paralegal at a number of firms.

Chantel’s previous experience also includes working as a legal caseworker at the Levsos Legal Centre in Greece, an organisation which supports asylum seekers based in the Moria Refugee Camp and Detention Centre, focusing on Syrian refugees and female trauma.

Professional Memberships

Criminal Bar Association
Female Fraud Forum
Women in Criminal Law
The Honourable Society of Middle Temple
Bar Human Rights Committee
Young Fraud Lawyers Association

Homicide and Serious Violence

R v KC & Others – Central Criminal Court, acquitted of murder and two counts of wounding with intent in a multi-handed murder. Vulnerable defendant who was granted intermediary. Led by Trevor Burke KC.
R v KS – Central Criminal Court, attempted murder and possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life. Crown offer no evidence at start of trial after disclosure requests and opposition of introduction of bad character regarding music lyrics and alleged gang affiliation. Led by James Scobie KC.
R v AM – Snaresbrook Crown Court, female defendant, significant mental health difficulties, arson with intent to endanger life.
R v ZE – Isleworth Crown Court, Section 18, Crown offered no evidence, after section 8 applications and extensive correspondence and representation to CPS.
R v SB - Southwark Crown Court, multi-handed murder trial, instructed for female defendant accused of assisting an offender, where the first defendant was a close relative – Acquitted.
R v MG & Others – Woolwich Crown Court, assisted defence team with the representation of a defendant accused of murder in the Woolwich area. Convicted of manslaughter. Led by James Scobie KC and Beth O’Reilly.
R v CC & Others – Central Criminal Court, assisted defence team with trial of defendant accused of manslaughter relating to events over a decade earlier. Acquitted. Led by Sallie Bennett-Jenkins QC and Beth O’Reilly.
R v G – Youth Court, Section 18. Prosecution accepted section 20 basis, non custodial sentence after lengthy representations.
R v B – Croydon Magistrates’ Court - Child abuse/neglect trial requiring cross examination of two child witnesses, prior to section 28 roll out.
R v TJP – Harrow Crown Court, multiple robberies, Covid offence, all committed to Crown Court, secured bail and paused sentence pending outcome of NRM, sentenced to YRO ISS – also required substantial liaison with YOT.
R v JM – Maidstone Crown Court, basis submitted that the correct charge was theft then assault by beating, not robbery, accepted by Crown, substantially reduced custodial sentence and outcome for co-defendants.

Drugs, Organised Crime Offences and Modern Slavery

R v MD & Others – Southwark Crown Court, significant modern slavery, human trafficking and money laundering trial, with 12 vulnerable complainants and over 1500 hours of CCTV requiring review and analysis.
R v MH – Led in Guildford Crown Court in a multi-kilo drugs conspiracy. (Encro case).
R v NL – Drugs Supply - withdrawal of charges pre first appearance after public interest representations, without modern slavery report necessary on this occasion due to serious vulnerability.
R v YG - Lewes Crown Court - sentence of 16 months suspended sentence for possession with intent to supply Class A drugs case after submissions as to role and vulnerability. No Newton Hearing required.
R v KG - Crown offered no evidence in relation to a female youth defendant, charged with blade offence, after modern slavery submissions, public interest representations and provision of case law.
R v CW – Represented the first defendant, acquitted of being in possession with intent to supply nitrous oxide at London Festival.
R v M – Group of youth school friends charged with conspiracy to supply Class A and B drugs with aggravating features. Client charged with supply class B. Removed from other matters, plea at first appearance, basis accepted, Community Order.
R v IB – Southwark Crown Court, SSO for possession with intent to supply Class A drugs.
R v HW – Wood Green Crown Court, SSO for possession with intent to supply Class A drugs.
R v KB – Croydon Crown Court, persuaded Judge to defer sentence for progress update for defendant with excellent personal mitigation – possession with intent to supply Class A drugs.

Firearms and Weapons Offences

R v B – Sentence for a youth. Third-strike knife offence with aggravating factors. Youth Referral Order with Intensive Supervision received.
R v P – Sentence for multiple unconnected matters - Stun Gun, two blades, breach of Suspended Sentence, Failure to surrender.

Sexual Offences

R v BM – lsleworth Crown Court, section 28, sexual assault and ABH, child witness, complex mental health matters.
R v W – Croydon Crown Court, Committal for Sentence. Make/Possess Indecent Images and Extreme Pornography.
R v J – Wood Green Crown Court, Breach of notification requirements. Prosecution discontinued due to arguments regarding mental health.
R v B – Inner London Crown Court, outraging public decency, Crown offered no evidence after representations and provision of defence material.

Miscellaneous Offences

R v F – Stalking trial - successfully stayed proceedings as an abuse of process involving a defendant with disabilities and mental health vulnerabilities.
R v KS – Crown accept encouraging and assisting an offender rather than conspiracy to burgle, SSO achieved due to delay and personal mitigation.
R v H – Dangerous dogs charge, prosecution basis included that the owner was not fit and proper. Prevented destruction.
R v M – Committal for Sentence for non-dwelling burglary from adult learning centre, breach of previous court orders. Suspended sentence and Drug Rehabilitation Requirement.
R v W – Breach of CBO relating to exclusion from areas of London. Successfully argued against the activation of a suspended sentence.
R v D – Allegations of assault by beating and criminal damage to vehicle in domestic context. Secured acquittal after trial.
R v D – Trial for assault in domestic context. Acquitted after legal arguments.
R v D – Successfully persuaded DJ not to activate suspended sentence for a vulnerable adult despite arson conviction, breach of suspended sentence.

Fraud, Dishonesty and Money Laundering Offences

R v PD – instructed junior counsel, led by Ms Dashani, involving allegation of trademark offences and associated Money Laundering offences which was heard before Southwark Crown Court. Achieved SSO and substantial reduction in equivalent value categorisation for sentence and POCA.
R v T – instructed as sole counsel – a case involving a fraud using the cover of businesses. Involves a complex analysis of the movement of funds into business and expert witnesses.
RE Operation X – Engaged by Kingsley Napley to review document and examine Legal Professional Privilege in significant SFO case.
RE: Y – Pre-charge document review for individuals investigated in relation to high-profile allegations of corruption in the construction sector.
RE: UB – Wood Green Crown Court. Successfully opposed production order. Hearing required cross-examination of investigating officer. Significant impact on individual as regulated professional.

Proceeds of Crime Act Offences

R v JKC – represented defendant convicted of the Hatton Garden robbery at final POCA hearing on behalf of Nathaniel Rudolf QC.
R v LS – Final contested POCA hearing post-conviction in conspiracy to supply class A drugs.
R v AS – Settlement in previously contested POCA hearing in respect of supply drugs conviction.
R v SR – Contested substantial POCA hearing, settled at Court favourably.
R v PM – Southwark Crown Court, junior counsel assisting with case management.
R v T – instructed junior counsel for the first defendant in multi million-pound POCA at Southwark Crown Court, led by Nathaniel Rudolf KC.

R v MA – Successful in Court of Appeal reducing confiscation order (POCA) and default sentence.
'We are very grateful to the parties for placing this matter before the court in a sensible and clear way. We have been assisted in our consideration of this case by the concise written submissions…prepared for us by Miss Gaber.' - Court of Appeal Judgment
R v G – Appeal against sentence. Assault by beating in domestic violence context. Sentence reduced.
R v AN – Supporting senior member of chambers with drafting appeal against sentence to the Court of Appeal on a substantial drugs supply case, involving complex medical arguments.
R v HG – Assisting with preparation and drafting of grounds to appeal against sentence on case concerning supply of class A drugs, sentence reduced.