Catherine Brown

Email: cbrown@furnivallaw.co.uk

Year of Call: 2005

General

Prior to commencing pupillage in 2009, Catherine gained valuable experience working for two large solicitors firms. She spent nine months in the Regulatory and Investigations Team at Irwin Mitchell assisting in a number of serious fraud cases. In addition she gained experience in civil fraud and directors' disqualification proceedings. She therefore has experience in large scale litigation and serious fraud which is significantly in advance of her call.

Catherine later worked for nearly three years at Hempsons Solicitors in the employment department dealing with professional clients within the National Health Service. In addition to employment law Catherine worked on a number of matters involving regulatory bodies such as the General Dental Council, General Medical Council and the Nursing and Midwifery Council. Her role included appearing on behalf of clients in Employment Tribunal Case Management Hearings in the ongoing national equal pay litigation. She took part in several of the monthly update sessions given to the firm aimed at knowledge sharing, including a presentation on the impact of European case law on domestic employment regulations. As a result of her role at Hempsons, Catherine has a great deal of experience in complex civil litigation.

General Criminal Practice

Catherine is instructed in varying areas of criminal law at each of the Crown, Youth and Magistrates' Courts.  She has received instructions for trial on indictment including allegations of burglary, possession of offensive weapons, theft and fraud and her trial experience includes cases involving the use of cell site evidence, "cut-throat" defences and substantial bad character evidence.

Before undertaking pupillage, Catherine volunteered as a panel member at Wandsworth Youth Offending Team implementing and reviewing youth referral orders and has considerable experience of dealing with young defendants. This experience assists enormously in her youth court practice and she is regularly instructed in serious matters in the youth court such as robbery, sexual assault, causing grievous bodily harm and possession with intent to supply drugs.

Instructions in the Magistrates' Courts also include driving matters with the advancement of arguments of "special reasons" and "exceptional hardship".

Other Crime

Catherine has been instructed in regulatory crime such as Local Authority Health and Safety prosecutions, and quasi-criminal actions such as applications for anti-social behaviour orders, both "post conviction" and "stand alone". Catherine has defended in a number of matters prosecuted by the Department for Work and Pensions.

Catherine's experience prior to pupillage with Irwin Mitchell and Hempsons greatly assists her when dealing with the more complex or unusual facets of criminal and quasi-criminal law.

Asset forfeiture and confiscation

Catherine is instructed in civil proceedings for detention and forfeiture of cash, and also receives regular instructions in the enforcement of confiscation orders.

Other Areas

Catherine has been instructed in a number of matters at the Immigration and Asylum Tribunal.

Professional Memberships

Catherine is a member of the Criminal Bar Association