Anna Leathem

Year of Call: 2019

Anna is a barrister practising in all areas of criminal law, extradition and regulatory and professional discipline.

Our specialist clerks can be contacted by email on clerks@5sah.co.uk or phone on 020 7332 5400. To contact our Chambers Director directly in relation to a specific members’ practice, please email dscothern@5sah.co.uk

Overview

Anna is a barrister practising in all areas of criminal law, extradition and regulatory and professional discipline.

Anna is currently undertaking a secondment with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (‘NMC’) and is building her practice in regulatory and professional discipline cases. Anna also has experience of defending and prosecuting in a wide range of criminal cases, and regularly appears in the magistrates’ and youth courts as well as in the Crown Court. She also accepts instructions in extradition and family law. 

Instructing solicitors have said:

"Anna is not only very personable with clients but is also very on top of the law, changes in statute and recent case authorities which gives her an edge over many new barristers."

Client Testimonials

"Anna is passionate and will always go that extra mile in securing the best possible outcome for her client."

Client Testimonials

Professional Panel Appointments

  • CPS Grade 1

Additional information

Prior to commencing pupillage, Anna worked as a paralegal at a criminal defence firm and assisted the head of litigation in a variety of matters including murder, serious violence, drugs conspiracies, sexual offences and proceeds of crime. She prepared cases for trial in both the Crown Court and the Magistrates’ Court and gained particular experience in tackling vast amounts of evidence in multi-handed organised crime cases.

Anna has also provided invaluable research assistance for the University of Southampton and University of Oxford produced report into the pains of indeterminate imprisonment for families of IPP prisoners.

Education and Awards

  • University of Law: BPTC (Very Competent).
  • University of Southampton: LLB in Law and International Legal Studies (First Class Honours).
  • University of Ottawa, Canada.
  • Lord Denning Scholarship, Lincoln’s Inn.
  • Lord Justice Fulford Scholarship, University of Southampton.

Professional Discipline & Regulatory

Anna has gained experience of a wide range of professional discipline cases, in a healthcare context during her secondment with the NMC. Anna has managed a large and varied caseload at the NMC, often presenting back-to back substantive hearings on behalf of the regulator, which vary from minor to the very complex.

Anna has acted on a range of cases at both the early stages where an interim order is considered to the final stages before a fitness to practise committee. These hearings have regularly involved serious and complex issues. 

She is keen to extend this experience to other regulators as well as acting for registrants.

Extradition & International

Anna has been instructed to act on behalf of clients facing extradition to a number of different countries. She is keen to develop her extradition practice and accepts instructions in this area. 

Criminal Defence

Anna has a busy defence practice and is regularly instructed in the Crown Court and Magistrates’ Courts dealing with a wide range of offences including drugs, fraud, robbery, domestic violence and sexual crimes.

She has experience in dealing with young and vulnerable defendants in the youth courts and has completed specialist training with the Youth Justice Legal Centre. 

Criminal Prosecutions - Private & Public

Anna accepts instructions to prosecute on behalf of the Crown Prosecution Service and Probation Service. She continues to build upon her experience prosecuting in the Crown Court and Magistrates’ Courts.

Anna has also been instructed in private prosecutions. 

Family, Children & International Family

Anna has represented both applicants and respondents in private family law proceedings including non-molestation orders, child arrangement orders and appeals. She has also appeared on behalf of parties in public children proceedings and accepts instructions in this area. 

Professional Memberships

  • Association of Regulatory & Disciplinary Lawyers (ARDL).
  • Defence Extradition Lawyers Forum (DELF).
  • Women in Criminal Law (WICL).
  • The Honourable Society of Lincoln’s Inn.