Employment

Self-Employed Barrister:  Jan 2020 – Present

Instructed by various firms for Youth court, Magistrates and Crown court matters. Experienced trial advocate in the Youth, Magistrates and Crown court.

Current notable cases:

• R v A (2021): Trial Counsel in an attempted murder

• R v A (2021): Trial Counsel in Possession with intent to supply class A, B and C. Possession of offensive weapon (Samaria sword x 2)

• R v C (2021): Trial Counsel in s18 GBH and robbery (Youth Court Trial) 

 
Employed Barrister. Head of Branch Office: Jan 2017-Dec 2019

• Kaim Todner Solicitors/One Legal   

• Notable cases (not an exhausted list)

• R v M (2019) Blackfriars Crown Court (Trial) - Six hander defendants; conspiracy to supply class A

• R v A (2019) Lewes Crown Court (Trial) – four hander defendants; conspiracy to defraud (Mandate fraud)

• R v M (2019) Isleworth Crown Court (Trial) – s18 GBH

• R v O (2019) Snaresbrook Crown Court (Trial) - Robbery

• R v F (2019) Snaresbrook Crown Court (Appeal against Conviction) – Possess bladed article

• R v S (2019) Blackfriars Crown Court (Newton Hearing) – Convey Article (mobile phone & drugs) into prison.

• Also conducted trials at the Magistrates and Youth Courts. 

  
  

 Senior Associate/ Supervising Duty Solicitor: June 2015 – Dec 2016

 Goldkorns Solicitors/Stokoe Partnership

• Legal compliance officer

• Supervised solicitors, file review

• Had conduct of Indictable only case files

• Conducted Magistrates and Youth Court trials

• Police station attendance for Indictable matters

Consultant Duty Solicitor: July 2012- June 2015

 Criminal Defence Solicitors, London

• Covered own duty slots for Police station and Magistrates’ Court

• Deal with cases generated from the slots from start to conclusion

• Involved in all aspects of case preparation

• Conduct trials at the Magistrates’ and Youth Court

Associate Solicitor, Head of Criminal Department: June 2010-July 2012     

Dean Manson Solicitors, London 

• Set up, headed and managed the criminal department for newly franchised criminal legal aid contract

• Managed a busy, broad based and challenging criminal caseload

• Extended out of hours duty work followed by court work

• Experienced in the defence of fraud and complex crime

• Experienced in Extradition & Immigration cases

• Conducted advocacy/trials at the Magistrates and Youth court

• Complied with LSC compliance requirements

Freelance Advocate/Locum Solicitor: Nov 2006-Jun 2010

• Worked for various firms across London (for example; Hodge Jones & Allen, Powell Spencer & Partners): took on varied caseloads from simple theft case to serious indictable offences involving complex evidential and forensic issues. 

• Police station representative: attended police stations to represent clients’ under arrest for various alleged offences including indictable only offences. Dealt with various matters including murder, GBH, rape, fraud, robbery, kidnapping and false imprisonment

• Magistrates’ and Youth Court advocacy: all stages, from first appearance, making bail applications, committal, case management hearing, sentencing, to conducting trials.

• Represented clients at Immigration Appeal Tribunal including: student visa refusal, holiday visa refusal, spouse visa, Right of Abode/Indefinite Leave to Remain. 

Chambers of H. N. C Moghalu, Nigeria: Oct 2005-Sept 2006            

• General civil and commercial litigation, contentious & non contentious.

• Attended clients in conference, took detailed instructions, identified goals, analysed relevant factual issues, summarised strengths and weaknesses and advised on possible outcomes.

• Drafted statement of claims, counter claims, statement of defence, conducted legal research, prepared papers for trials and assisted senior counsel in High Court and Court of Appeal Hearings

General Criminal Litigation (Paralegal): Sept 2001-Sept 2005

Farrell Mathews & Weir Solicitor, London                                                                     

• Had conduct of both Magistrates and Crown court files, involved in all aspects of case preparation

• Attended clients in conference both in the office and on prison visits, advised on evidence, pre-trial procedures, bail and plea. Took and drafted detailed instructions

• Instructed experts and analysed expert reports

• Clerked cases at the Crown Court

• Regularly corresponded and liaised with the Crown Prosecution service

Contact: cordeliakanife@gmail.com