Kate Brunner
Degree: MA (Hons) (Edinburgh) Psychology, Diploma in Law (City University)
Year of call and Inn: 1997; Inner Temple
Professional Membership: Western Circuit; CBA
Practice:
Formerly at 36 Bedford Row, London; Kate Brunner joined Albion Chambers in 2002. Kate has a busy practice in crime, regulatory work and inquests. She is recognised for her detailed case preparation and effective advocacy.
Criminal law
Kate has undertaken prosecution and defence work since joining the bar in 1997. She is a CPS grade 3 prosecutor and is on the approved list of counsel for the Attorney General (unified prosecuting list B) and the CPS Casework Directorate. Kate is also instructed by the Fraud Prosecution Service and the Health and Safety Executive.
She specialises in fraud and finance cases, and has considerable experience in cases involving serious violence, drug importation/supply, and test-purchase operations. Kate is frequently led in lengthy cases, including conspiracies to defraud, and murder.
Regulatory Work
Kate has represented companies and the HSE in health and safety cases, providing a full service from advice at a pre-interview stage through to representation at court. Such cases have included complex fatalities at work, and cases involving COSHH.
She has experience of the Health, Education and Social Care Tribunal and has frequently appeared for the Care Quality Commission in cases involving refusal to register, and cancellation of registration. She provides expert advice and advocacy in linked criminal proceedings.
Inquests
Kate has significant experience in inquests both with and without juries. Clients have included police forces, NHS Mental health trusts, ambulance trusts and the Health and Safety Executive. Kate often advises at an early stage, in relation to obtaining expert evidence, and preparing witnesses and documents for the hearing. She puts her extensive advocacy skills to good use at inquests to explore issues of causation and neglect. She has also represented families at inquests following death of servicemen abroad and advised on associated Human Rights issues.
Training
Kate has extensive experience in designing and presenting training sessions for bodies including the Avon and Somerset Constabulary, the Care Quality Commission and the National Association of Police Lawyers. She has been a speaker at numerous public seminars on criminal evidence, inquests and advocacy. Kate is an accredited advocacy trainer for the Western Circuit.
Criminal Cases of Interest
R v Peter Knight – CA; court of appeal rule that diary entry is not hearsay;
R v M and M – Prosecution Counsel for a multi-handed conspiracy to obtain £2million by deception through abuse of the banks’ clearing process;
Operation digits – Defence junior in a VHCC tax fraud, involving appropriation of £5million through misuse of building industry documentation;
R v R – Defence junior in a money-laundering case involving the processing of millions of pounds, allegedly generated through the sale of red fuel, with significant cross-jurisdictional issues;
R v B – Prosecution counsel in historic rape involving three complainants;
R v N – Defence counsel in two-week trial involving allegations of forging wills and theft of almost £1million.
Public Access:
Kate Brunner is licensed to accept work under the Public Access rules and undertakes such work in the regulatory, disciplinary and inquest areas of her practice. Click here for further details about the Public Access scheme.
Recommendations:
“Greatly in demand and extremely hard-working.”
Chambers and Partners 2010
Recommended in the Legal 500
Albion Chambers, Broad Street, Bristol BS1 1DR
T: 0117 927 2144
F: 0117 926 2569
kate.brunner@albionchambers.co.uk
Clerk: Nick Jeanes
T 0117 311 0307
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