Chiara Maddocks

Barrister

Chiara specialises in serious and complex crime, with a developing public law and regulatory practice.

About

Chiara is regularly instructed in complex and document-heavy criminal cases, through which she has developed a reputation for thorough case preparation, excellent client care and sound judgement. She has acted as both leader and junior in a number of cases, including long running frauds and has acted as junior alone in serious multi-handed cases. Chiara has extensive experience in cases involving mental health, fitness to plead and fitness to stand trial issues, and excels in representing young and vulnerable clients.

Prior to joining chambers, Chiara was instructed to prosecute on behalf of the Financial Conduct Authority, and has been instructed as disclosure and LPP Counsel for the Serious Fraud Office and Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs.

Alongside a busy court practice, Chiara has experience in inquiries, having been instructed for a core participant in the Undercover Policing Inquiry since 2019.

In 2015 Chiara acted as a consultant to the Supreme Court of Rwanda on sentencing principles where she was responsible for drafting a proposal for sentencing guidelines and advising on future issues in respect of youth and non-custodial sentencing. Whilst there she led a 4-day working group with the judiciary, including members of the Supreme Court and the Ministry of Justice.

Media/ Publications

Lecture on behalf of the International Commission of Jurists to Tunisian Judges on “Sexual and Gender Based Violence”.
Chaired a cross-disciplinary event on the trafficking of children at the 2022 Labour Conference.

Education

University of Reading, LLB
Bar Vocational Course, BPP Professional Education

Memberships

Secretary, Gray’s Inn Barristers Committee
South Eastern Circuit
Criminal Bar Association
Executive member, Society of Labour Lawyers

R v A [2023]: Junior alone on behalf of defendant charged with attempted murder and conspiracy to possess firearms with intent to endanger life.
R v R [2023] Junior alone in multi-handed drugs conspiracy involving secure encrypted mobile phones and “CLI spoofing” SIM cards.
R v M [2022]: Youth defendant charged with six counts of rape of an under 13 year old, sentenced to a Referral Order.
R v M & Others [2022]: Led junior in double attempted murder, convicted on the lesser offence of s18 (GBH) in relation to one of the victims. Involved a complex sentencing exercise given the defendant’s vulnerabilities.
R v DS [2022]: Harrow Crown Court: Junior alone defending claims of historic sex offences of various family members. The case involves the use of s28.
R v PS & Others [2021]: Instructed Counsel for the first defendant in a multi-handed drugs conspiracy (OCG). News Link: https://bit.ly/40yhupq
R v A [2019]: Led junior in a murder at the Central Criminal Court, involving gang affiliation evidence.
R v A [2019], Exeter Crown Court: A multi-defendant county lines drug conspiracy, where the defendant is also prosecuted under the Modern Slavery Act.
R v A [2019], Portsmouth Crown Court: Multi-handed conspiracy to traffic individuals in to the United Kingdom.
R v G [2018], Norwich Crown Court: Secured acquittals in familial historic sexual assaults. Considered issues of hearsay, bad character of the complainant and s41 applications arising out of disclosure of school and medical records.
R v H [2017], Central Criminal Court: An Uber driver accused of digital penetration of a sleeping passenger. Legal argument resulting in late disclosure of medical records which resulted in an acquittal for the client..
R v B & Others, Canterbury Crown Court: Sole defendant acquitted on multiple counts of Aggravated Burglary and s18, extensive cross-examination relating to identification.
R v M [2017]: St Albans Crown Court: Conspiracy to supply 10 kilograms of cocaine. Extensive phone downloads and multi-jurisdictional issues.
R v P & Others, Snaresbrook Crown Court: Successfully defended possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life at initial trial, following legal argument Crown offered no evidence on lesser charge of simple possession ahead of retrial. Youth defendant.
R v G & Other, Wolverhampton Crown Court: Acquitted of violent robbery of a Cannabis factory. Extensive legal argument and cross-examination involving bad character.
R v M & Others [2014 and 2016], Snaresbrook Crown Court & Kingston CC: Led junior on a 3-month human trafficking trial involving complex argument on legal definitions. A further retrial and additional rape and false imprisonment offences.
R v G & Others, Central Criminal Court: Instructed in own name in a murder, later granted a certificate for QC. Conviction for lesser offence of manslaughter.

Appellate Cases

Denecker & Another [2022] EWCA Crim 1815: AG-reference. Confirmation of the approach to sentencing in ‘drug line’ cases.
R v H [2019], Court of Appeal: Successfully argued against a finding of dangerousness in a case involving an historic series of rape against a child.
B v Luton Borough Council, Administrative Court [2018]: Successfully case stated a District Judge’s decision regarding whether an information had been laid in time. This has led to clarification and amendment of the Criminal Procedure Rules (https://www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWHC/Admin/2018/1044.html)

R v K & Others [September – December 2021]: Leading counsel in a complex multi-handed Immigration fraud trial.
R v B & Others [2018], Bristol Crown Court: Led Junior. Client acquitted in a complex multi-million pound fraud relating to the sale of Carbon Credits.
R v T & Others [2017], Birmingham Crown Court: Multi-handed nationwide fraud against John Lewis Partnership. Involved complex legal arguments as to abuse of process and admissibility
R v B & Others [2017], Harrow Crown Court: Led junior in multi-handed bank fraud. Involved detailed cross-examination of financial experts.

Chiara has acted on behalf of businesses in front of Licensing committees and in taxi licence appeals.
Chiara has appeared regularly before the Traffic Commissioner on matters under the Goods Vehicles (Licensing of Operators) Act 1995.