Catherine Farrelly KC

Catherine Farrelly KC is a highly regarded criminal advocate with extensive experience leading complex litigation, particularly in the fields of sexual offences, homicide, and serious and organised crime.

Skilled as both a prosecutor and defender, Catherine’s faultless attention to detail, procedural expertise and ability to get the best out of vulnerable and anxious witnesses set her apart. She has great emotional intelligence and is able to connect with and put at ease witnesses and defendants who might otherwise be overawed by the experience of appearing in court. Allied to her relentless professionalism, this ability to establish trust and build rapport with individuals who have been traumatised or who might be suspicious of or intimidated by the legal process is a key part of her success.

Catherine is adept at building cases and leading prosecution teams, marshalling the resources of CPS and police colleagues to maximum effect, and determining which aspects of a case to focus on. She is well organised and has fine command of the detail, even in the most complex cases, making the right tactical decisions and empowering her team to contribute effectively. This leadership and mastery of case information is critical, especially in cases of organised crime and homicide where there are often multiple defendants, each of whom may be arguing a different defence.

Catherine’s experience in both prosecution and defence is a particular asset. As a prosecutor she understands how to build a strategy, focusing on those aspects of the case that are most likely to bear fruit and dispensing with aspects that, however relevant, may not withstand cross-examination. As a defence counsel, she recognises which aspects of a case are most likely to be vulnerable and is ruthless in exposing weaknesses in the prosecution’s evidence and approach. Her communication and relationship-building skills are also important in representing defendants who are reluctant to trust the system.

She has been instructed in the cases of some of the UK’s most prolific offenders and is widely recognised as a technical expert – a go to in complex and challenging cases that require technical knowledge, determination and sensitivity. She is also a first choice for cases with an international dimension. She has a wide experience of assisting in drafting ILORs, arguing the admissibility of foreign evidence and mutual legal assistance more generally.

Catherine is an accredited trainer, delivering lectures to the Criminal Bar Association and training to the CPS.