Law and Guidance Podcast with Sally Penni MBE, Barrister at Law

Season 2 of the Law and Guidance Podcast begins with a discussion between Dr Sally Penni MBE and Simon Spence KC on proposed reforms to the criminal justice system, particularly the partial abolition of jury trials. 

Simon Spence KC undertakes both prosecuting and defending crime across East Anglia and London. Before taking silk, he worked regularly as a leading junior and often led in high-profile cases. In 2008 he was the prosecution junior in the successful prosecution of Steve Wright, the man accused of murdering five Ipswich women.

In this episode of The Law and Guidance Podcast, Dr Sally Penni MBE interviews Dr Shaun Wallace and Tom Lyas.

Dr Shaun Wallace has over 35 years’ experience as a senior criminal defence advocate. He is also an Honorary Doctor of Laws and a familiar face on TV as a ‘The Dark Destroyer’ on The Chase.

Tom Lyas is Head of Resourcing at Browne Jacobson LLP and sits on the firms Diversity & Inclusion Board. He is passionate about social mobility, equal opportunities and breaking down career barriers.

Oliver is an experienced criminal advocate. He represents clients in the most serious and complex criminal cases. Prior to being called to the Bar, Oliver was a solicitor for 22 years and a Higher Courts Advocate for the last 10.​ 

Here he discusses "Disclosure rules in criminal cases" with Dr Sally Penni MBE

Dr Sally Penni MBE interviews Judge Rosa Dean, a member of the Sentencing Council since 2018, about the sentencing guidelines, in this episode of her Law and Guidance podcast. Judge Dean was recently appointed as a Senior Circuit Judge, Resident Judge at Snaresbrook Crown Court, after five years as Resident Judge at Harrow Crown Court.

Michael Mansfield KC joins Dr Sally Penni MBE to discuss the law on Human Rights in her Law and Guidance podcast.

Called to the Bar in 1967 and took silk in 1989, Michael has represented defendants in some of the most controversial legal cases including issues of Civil Liberties. His clients have included the families of the Hillsborough  victims, the family of Stephen Lawrence and the Birmingham Six.

This episode features Nina Grahame KC, a formidable criminal defence barrister called in 1993. She has spoken in the media many times about the Bar Strike and Dr Sally Penni MBE interviews her about the reasons for the protests, in our podcast.

Nina has specialist expertise with cases involving vulnerable witnesses and complainants and is highly respected for her representation of defendants with complex mental health needs. She also lectures on a variety of topics, including cross-jurisdictional disclosure, joint enterprise and vulnerable defendants and is a mentor with the Association of Women Barristers.

Dr Sally Penni MBE interviews Michelle Heeley KC, the youngest ever leader of the Midlands Circuit. Michelle took Silk in 2017 as the youngest criminal silk in the country, is Deputy Head of the Crime Group, and also the Head of Advocacy Training for the Midland Circuit. She sits as a Recorder, holds a Serious Sexual Offences Certificate and is experienced in mentoring, promoting social mobility and inspiring women. Michelle shares her tips on advocacy in our podcast.

Sally Penni interviews expert Dr Abenaa Owusu-Bempah about the use of drill music as evidence and the prejudicial effect of this in criminal trials.

Dr Abenaa Owusu-Bempah is an Assistant Professor of criminal law and criminal evidence at the London School of Economics. 

 Felicity Gerry is an international QC at Libertas Chambers, London and Crockett Chambers, Melbourne, largely defending in serious and complex criminal trials and appeals, often with an international element, recently defending three major terrorism trials including the Christmas Day bomb plot in Melbourne. 

Admitted to the list of counsel for the International Criminal Court (ICC) and the Kosovo Specialist Chambers (KSC) in The Hague and in England & Wales and in Australia (Victoria and the High Court Roll) and has had ad hoc admission in Hong Kong and Gibraltar. She led the appeal in R v Jogee in the UK Supreme Court which was described by the BBC as a ‘moment of genuine legal history’ , she is one of the few women silks to defend in a terrorism trial and led a team of academics and practitioners who were given leave to file an Amicus Curiae brief in the ICTY on JCEIII liability. She has also advised in relation to death penalty matters in Indonesia and the Philippines, on Australian citizens held in Syrian camps and on complicity in international cases involving torture.

Felicity is  also Professor of Legal Practice at Deakin University where she lectures in MLL419/MLJ728 Contemporary International Legal Challenges – including Modern Slavery, Terrorism, War Crimes and Climate Change law and is involved in the clinical programs. She has a long history of cases and research on human trafficking / modern slavery.

An interesting episode looking at the law and protests .