Frances Ibekwe
Year of Call: 2008
Specialist practice areas: Serious Crime; Serious Sexual Offences; Fraud: Criminal / Civil; Extradition; Anti-terrorism; Prison Law; Immigration; Asset Forfeiture; Regulation & Compliance; Health & Safety; Police Disciplinary; Courts Martial; Inquests & Public Inquiries
Email: fibekwe@furnivallaw.co.uk
Frances practises across the range of chambers' specialist areas.
She is known for her persuasive advocacy and perseverance in steering each case towards the best result.
Instructing solicitors also comment on her particular ability to quickly secure relationships of trust and confidence with clients, including those who are young, vulnerable, and have mental health issues.
Before joining chambers, Frances assisted in representing defendants on death row, at the Independent Jamaica Council for Human Rights in Kingston. She has also worked as a legal assistant at the International Criminal Court in the Hague, and at an East London law firm.
Frances has taught criminal law at King's College London, and she is an advocacy advisor for BVC students at the College of Law.
NOTABLE CASES:
R. v. McManus & 16 Others, Bristol Crown Court - violent disorder between two football teams, including successful legal argument against a football banning order.
R. v. Dyntu, Central Criminal Court - 5 fraud offences and 1 offence of handling stolen goods, within an overall operation of systematic thefts of high value cars.
R. v. Begum, Snaresbrook Crown Court - theft from employer, involving 74 fraudulent, post office computer transactions over an 8 month period.
R. v. Wells, Reading Crown Court - fraud against disabled complainant.
R. v. Vesin, Kingston Crown Court - aggravated vehicle-taking, interference with a motor vehicle endangering road users, driving with excess alcohol, failing to stop at an accident, no insurance, no licence - gaining entry onto a London bus, driving it whilst drunk, then jumping off leaving the bus to crash.
R. v. Adeniyi, Kingston Crown Court - possessing a false identity card and assisting unlawful immigration to the UK, in the context of alleged sham marriages conducted by priests.
R. v. AK & Another, Wolverhampton Crown Court - allegation of attempted rape outside a high street restaurant.
R. v. Thi, Southwark Crown Court - successful application to vary confiscation order for client concerned in trafficking women.
R. v. Atkinson, City of Westminster Magistrates' Court - alleged soliciting in Soho by client who accepted she was a "common prostitute" for the purposes of the law.
R. v. ST, Croydon Youth Court - 2 offences of GBH including burning, 2 offences of ABH, harassment, and theft against girlfriend's parents who had learning difficulties. The young client was also vulnerable with an IQ 10 years below his age and mental health issues.
QUALIFICATIONS / PRIZES:
BVC, Inns of Court School of Law - Middle Temple Queen Mother Scholarship.
LLM, Master of Laws, University College London.
LLB, Law with European Legal Studies, King's College London & Katholieke University Leuven, Belgium - Erasmus Scholarship.
Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition:
- National Rounds, Brussels - Individual Prize for Best Advocate, Team
Awards for Best Written Argument & National Champions.
- International Rounds, Washington D.C - Certificate of Merit for Advocacy.
Borough of Havering Award for Outstanding Achievement.
Prize-Giving Awards including the Zurich Municipal Prize for Academic Excellence & Head Girl's Prize.
LANGUAGES:
French.