Katherine Robinson

Kat Robinson
Year of call:

2002

Education:

1999 - Durham University, BA (Hons) English Literature & Philosophy

2000 - College of Law, PgDL (Distinction)

2001 - College of Law, BVC

Career:

2002 - Pupil of Jeremy Hill-Baker, No 6, Leeds

2003 - Tenant at No 6, Leeds

2015 - No 6 becomes Park Square Barristers

Appointments:

Grade 4 prosecutor

Specialist POCA Panel

RASSO Panel

Memberships:

North Eastern Circuit (York Junior)

Criminal Bar Association

Proceeds of Crime Lawyers Association

Awards:

2000 - David Karmel Entrance Award (Grays Inn)

2001 - Lord Justice Holker Award

Ranked in The Legal 500 (2024) for Crime.

“She has a superb ability to get to the point, and she is excellent with young and vulnerable witnesses. A very calm and collected barrister.” – The Legal 500 (2024)

Katherine has been a grade 4 prosecutor for more than 8 years, and is regularly instructed in all areas of criminal law, including terrorism, serious violence and sexual cases and complex conspiracies. She is often requested t represent defendants with particular vulnerabilities or difficulties.

Katherine prosecutes and defends in a range of complex cases. She is regularly instructed in serious sexual offences, Multi defendant conspiracies and violence / homicide. She is regularly requested to provide pre-charge advice to the Complex Casework Unit in unusual cases with novel issues of law and fact.

Katherine has particular experience of money laundering and proceeds of crime proceedings, including all aspects of confiscation. She has lectured extensively on the Proceeds of Crime Act both from a prosecution and defence perspective for a variety of audiences including the Regional Assets Recovery Team and Local Authorities.

As the UK governments Criminal Justice Advisor to Somaliland, Katherine worked in the Horn of Africa on Counter Terrorism between 2015 and 2019. Since her return to practise, she is regularly contracted on international Government projects in the fields of Terrorism and Serious Organised Crime. She was also the Senior Legal Advisor to the EU SOC project in Georgia. Katherine is currently working part time on criminal justice reform in the Maldives.

Notable cases:

  • Operation L. Leading junior for the Crown on 9 defendant drugs and firearms conspiracy in which loaded automatic pistols were transported around West Yorkshire.
  • R v K and R instructed with Mr Moulson QC to prosecute a murder with complex psychiatric evidence on the issue of diminished responsibility.
  • R v H Briefed to defend a historic child sexual offence trial with multiple allegations over many years. Defendant acquitted on all counts.
  • R v A Briefed to defend a child sexual offences trial with complex legal and cultural issues. Defendant did not speak English. Defendant acquitted on all counts.
  • Operation G: Instructed by CPS Complex Casework Unit to prosecute firearms importation conspiracy.
  • Operation P: Instructed by CPS Complex Casework Unit to prosecute​ a care home abuse trial, including pre-charge advice on legal complexities.
  • R v C: Instructed to prosecute alone a murder against a QC and Junior for the defence.
  • Op Tendersea: Instructed for a defendant with mental health issues in a 10 defendant historic grooming trial.
  • R v B: Instructed for a defendant with mental health issues charged with rape of his 4 year old step granddaughter
  • Leading junior R v C and others. 7 week trial, Conspiracy to defraud and money laundering in excess of 2 million involving 3 companies. Successful prosecution securing convictions for all defendants.
  • R v S successful prosecution of fraud on Morrisons involving complex computer evidence including the  Dark Web.
  • R v GS successful defence of female charged with large scale fraud / money laundering
  • R v I, R and T successful prosecution appeal against terminatory ruling in regulatory case. Issues concerned the admissibility of complex scientific evidence
  • R v C and others. Confiscation proceedings, succeeded on behalf of defendant in reducing benefit figure from more than 2 million to less than 250k in Multi million £ counterfeit currency case.
  • R v T instructed on behalf of defendant in complex confiscation proceedings involving international property issues, rights of spouses outside of the jurisdiction and the availability of funds to satisfy an order in a country not recognised by UK authorities (TRNC)
  • R v R successfully defendant charged with child sexual abuse allegations dating back 38 years. Complex third party disclosure and abuse of process issues.
  • R v Rose & Rose 2010 – Prosecuted multi million pound fraud
  • R v Tiffany (Arthur Geoffrey) AG Ref 52 of 2009 – Represented the defendant in a reference by the Attorney General in a serious child sexual abuse case
  • Junior to Richard Wright – R v Singh & others (2009). Defended in multi-defendant fraud and money laundering trial
  • Junior to Kama Melly QC in Multi defendant death by dangerous driving trial involving the first prosecution of spectators in a road race leading to the death of 4 teenagers.
  • R v Umakanthan & others 2009 – Prosecuted large scale fraud
  • R v Silvester [2009] EWCA Crim 2182 – Appeal against sentence – Confiscation order quashed as the victim of the relevant offences has obtained a civil judgment against the offender
  • Junior to Andrew Dallas – R v Young & Others (Prosecution of four youth Defendants for Murder)
  • Junior to Tim Capstick – R v Cleary & Others 2006, R v Busby & Others (both Prosecutions of large scale Class ‘A’ drug dealing conspiracies)
  • West Yorkshire Probation Board v Townend [2005] EWHC 1953 & West Yorkshire Probation Board [2005] EWHC 2342 v Boulter – Advised and appeared for the Probation Service in the High Court. Cases concerning proof of identity of defendants and breach of probation order hearings

Contact Katherine’s clerks

Andrew Thornton on 0113 213 5202

Gina Hawkins on 0113 213 5205

Rebecca Wilson on 0113 213 5203

Hannah Dempsey on 0113 213 5211

Lucy Finney on 0113 213 5220