Charlotte Newell KC
- Criminal Bar Association, Education Committee
- Grays Inn, Advocacy Trainer
- Grays Inn
- Criminal Bar Association
- Direct Access Qualified
- “She is superbly composed and an excellent lawyer. She brings empathy but tempers it with toughness” Chambers UK 2025
- “Her tactical decisions are impeccable, laying the foundations for effective legal argument. She perfectly balances empathy with a razor-sharp eye for delivering effectively.” Chambers UK 2025
- “Charlotte is tactically astute, her drafting skills are great and her level of preparation for every hearing is unusually impressive. She cuts to the chase when giving tough advice to vulnerable defendants, but demonstrates compassion at the same time” Legal 500 2025
- “Fantastic and such a great brief. She is a down to earth advocate who speaks the language of the jury.” Chambers UK 2024
- “She was the perfect opponent: she took all the right points, her witness handling was excellent and she made the very best of what was a difficult case” Chambers UK 2024
- “Her advice and guidance were spot on at every stage and she was tactically astute” Chambers UK 2024
- “Charlotte rightly made the progression from junior to silk as a consequence of her excellent advocacy, mastery of the details of briefs, tactical prowess and ability to charm jurors.” Legal 500 2024
- “Carving a name for herself in silk as both a talented prosector and defender.” Chambers UK 2023
- “Charlotte has a wonderfully calming and reassuring nature when advising clients. Her advocacy is exceptionally clear and easy to digest, which is essential for a complex criminal case when people’s lives are on the line.” Legal 500 2023
- “She deals with sensitive subject matters well and her closing arguments are very persuasive. She is an impressive court performer whom you definitely want in your corner.” Chambers UK 2022
- “An extraordinary barrister – she’s insightful, tactically aware and good on her feet. She commands the respect of the tribunal” Chambers UK 2020
- “An outstandingly skilled advocate, especially in dealing with extremely vulnerable witnesses.” Legal 500 2020
Instructing Charlotte Newell KC
To instruct Charlotte or for any further information please contact our clerks on +44 (0)20 7440 8888 or clerks@2br.co.uk.
Charlotte Newell KC is an experienced criminal practitioner, renowned as both a prosecutor and defence counsel at the very highest level. She is ranked in both the Chambers & Partners UK Bar and Legal 500 Guides.
She has developed a formidable practice, appearing in cases of the utmost gravity in the Crown and Appellate Courts and has particular expertise in the prosecution and defence of serious sexual allegations, homicide and cases involving young and vulnerable witnesses. Charlotte is also regularly instructed in multi handed allegations of fraud and money laundering and is counter terrorism accredited.
Charlotte is known for early and thorough case preparation and her incredible attention to detail. She is tenacious and fearless in court and works tirelessly on every instruction to secure the best possible outcome for her clients. She is an approachable but no-nonsense advocate who regularly wins praise from the judiciary and those that instruct or oppose her, both for her commitment to her clients’ cases and her capacity to work effectively with opposing counsel. In fact, she is frequently rebriefed by opposing solicitors who have been impressed by her advocacy. Alongside the professional rigour that she brings to her cases, Charlotte is also calm and empathetic with young and vulnerable witnesses, empowering them to give the best evidence.
She has a proven track record of successful pre-charge engagement; advising those who have been arrested and are awaiting charge on the strategic approach they should take and the drafting of representations to police and CPS to ensure that allegations do not proceed to Court.
Charlotte has led witness familiarisation and cross-examination training for witnesses in multi-million-pound civil litigation.
She is committed to continuing professional education and maintaining and promoting the high standards at the Bar. To this end, Charlotte has been a pupil supervisor since 2005, emphasising the professionalism, integrity and all-out commitment to clients that are the hallmarks of her practice. Many of her pupils have gone on to take tenancy. A member of the Criminal Bar Association Education Committee, Charlotte is involved in the organisation of lectures, conferences, seminars and webinars for the criminal Bar, notably the renowned bi-annual CBA sexual offences conference. Charlotte recently delivered training to RASSO on s41 YJCEA 1999. Charlotte is also an advocacy trainer for Gray’s Inn, has lectured the Criminal Injuries Compensation Appeal tribunal on the handling of vulnerable individuals and is a lead facilitator in the vulnerable witnesses advocacy training scheme.
Alongside her solicitor instructions, Charlotte has a growing practice in direct access work, typically in relation to accusations of sexual offences.
Practice Areas
Notable murder & manslaughter cases
R v MA [Isleworth Crown Court]
Murder of vulnerable male cuckooed by serial liar and drug user
R v A Youth [Liverpool Crown Court]
Prosecution of 14 year old boy for murder of 12 year old girl in Liverpool City Centre
R v RH [Inner London Crown Court]
Murder of teenager by best friend
R v AT & Ors [Central Criminal Court]
Unlawful killing following mass brawl in south – East London
R v B [Woolwich Crown Court]
Domestic homicide
R v R [Central Criminal Court]
Murder of homeless woman during covid lockdown
R v D & W [Central Criminal Court]
Loss of control murder
R v K & Ors [Central Criminal Court]
Prosecution of 3 men for “Revenge Execution” of rival gang member
R v S [Central Criminal Court]
Murder of girlfriend by jilted lover
R v M [Central Criminal Court]
Prosecution of 15 year old boy for murder after a fatal stabbing in the midst of a drug deal
Notable serious & organised crime cases
Operation Suina [Kingston Crown Court]
Prosecution of an organised crime network involving 11 Defendants for a £8 million pound nationwide Class A drug dealing operation, the proceeds of which were laundered. through a series of sham companies
Operation Boomeria
Instructed by CPS International & Organised Crime division to prosecute a network of individuals for offences by paedophiles including streaming child sexual abuse on an online conferencing platform including the live streaming of a rape of a child in the USA.
Operation Patipo [Woolwich Crown Court]
Represented young woman accused of conspiracy to possess firearms and live ammunition with intent to endanger life and conspiracy to possess large amounts of Class A drugs importing them in to the UK via the Eurotunnel. Found not guilty on all charges after trial.
R v A & Others [Central Criminal Court]
Defended a female defendant accused and cleared of conspiring to import vast amounts of automatic weaponry after a lengthy Old Bailey trial.
R v K & Others [Central Criminal Court]
Defended a greengrocer who was charged and cleared of smuggling £5m of cocaine in fruit and vegetables. Co-defendants sentenced to 17 years.
Notable rape & serious sexual offences cases
Operation Boomeria
Instructed by CPS International & Organised Crime division to prosecute a network of individuals for offences by paedophiles including streaming child sexual abuse on an online conferencing platform including the live streaming of a rape of a child in the USA.
R v SJ [Kingston Crown Court]
Successful defence of severely disabled woman accused of facilitating the rape of a child
R v Huckle [Central Criminal Court]
Prosecution of prolific sex offender Richard Huckle dubbed “Britain’s worst paedophile” for offences spanning a decade with numerous victims including babies and toddlers. 22 life sentences with a minimum term of 25 years imposed.
R v IK [Oxford Crown Court]
Successful defence of man accused of raping his wife.
R v C [Croydon Crown Court]
Defended elderly man accused of the rape and sexual abuse of numerous boys and young men over a 40 year period.
R v TP & AP [Inner London Crown Court]
Prosecuted brothers for historic rape and abuse of their 3 sisters.
R v B [Canterbury Crown Court]
Defended vulnerable adult with learning difficulties accused of historic sexual offences towards his learning disabled daughter. He was cleared of all charges following trial.
R v S [Snaresbrook Crown Court]
Successfully defended man who faced a four-day trial, charged with “Coercive & Controlling Behaviour” towards his wife.
