Louise Oakley KC

Louise Oakley was appointed Senior Treasury Counsel in April 2024, and she took silk in 2026. Prior to taking silk, she had been awarded ‘Crime Junior of the Year’ at the Chambers UK Bar Awards 2024.

Louise Oakley’s down to earth manner makes her an effective advocate and popular with both lay and professional clients who repeatedly instruct her.

Louise is described by instructing solicitors and counsel who have led her as “meticulous”, “extremely thorough”, “incredibly hardworking” and “highly knowledgeable”.

Louise is qualified to accept instructions on a public access basis and is registered with the Bar Council’s Public Access Directory.

Louise is frequently instructed in cases involving homicide and has a wealth of experience in this area, having acted in numerous trials of murder and manslaughter at the Central Criminal Court, including the ground breaking ‘double jeopardy’ prosecution of Michael Weir in 2019.

Louise is also instructed in cases involving serious violent and sexual offending. She is regularly instructed in cases involving historic allegations, abuse in children’s homes and cases involving extensive third party material. Louise has a particular proficiency questioning vulnerable witnesses and defendants, including those who are mentally disordered. Her cases often involve complex medical evidence involving the trauma associated with physical and sexual violence.

Louise was admitted to the Bar of the Turks and Caicos Islands in 2014 for the specific purpose of representing a former member of the Turks and Caicos government who is facing allegations of bribery and corruption. The allegations came to light in the wake of Sir Robin Auld’s inquiry into possible misconduct at the highest level of government in the Islands prior to the suspension of the constitution in 2009 by the British government.