Shannon has a wide range of experience in a range of matters in both private and public law proceedings from inception to disposal. She has represented parents, Local Authorities and children in complex matters including cases of non-accidental injury, and has conducted lengthy fact-finding hearings and final hearings involving the intricate cross-examination of various experts.
She has experience in complicated matters of jurisdiction, having provided both written advice and representation during the substantive hearings, resulting in an extensive working knowledge of the various statutory instruments and their interplay in a post-Brexit world.
Shannon is always meticulously prepared and professional, whilst priding herself on a friendly and client focused approach, recognising the difficult and often stressful nature of proceedings for parties. She is adept at dealing with sensitive matters, for example having conducted a lengthy final hearing involving a father who had transitioned into a female resulting in implacable hostility from the children, as well as clients with particular participation issues, having been instructed on matters through the Official Solicitor.
Her oral advocacy skills are parallel to her written skills, having produced written advices and taking a particular pride in all aspects of drafting, including threshold documents.
Shannon has a particular interest in Parental Alienation and issues surrounding implacable hostility, having conducted seminars on the topic. Her Masters degree surrounded procedure and the best way to actively manage cases involving Parental Alienation.
Prior to commencing pupillage, Shannon worked as a Family Billing Clerk and as a result is very knowledgeable in all aspects of the legal aid process in relation to FAS and VHCC matters.
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Shannon is a Grade 2 Prosecutor and has dealt with a range of matters in this role in the Crown Court arena, and has recently been instructed as disclosure junior in a complex non-recent sexual abuse case, and is therefore meticulously well versed and up-to-date in all aspects of disclosure.
Shannon has also defended in a range of matters from first hearings in the Magistrates Court to multi-handed matters in the Crown Court. She also has experience of dealing with sensitive matters in the Youth Court, for example having defended both a vulnerable youth accused of sexual assault, and a separate matter where the child was charged with a s.18 GBH. Accordingly, she has extensive experience in providing advice, both written and during conference, on the often-complicated nature of youth sentencing.
Shannon has a meticulous approach to her preparation in all aspects of her work, and prides herself on her friendly and client focused approach, and her ability to deal with and relate to a range of different people, and recognising the difficult and often stressful nature of proceedings for clients.
Shannon has a strong academic background in relation to Crime, having achieved the highest grade across the entirety of her cohort in the Criminal Litigation examination on the BPTC.
Contact Shannon’s clerks
Andrew Thornton on 0113 213 5202
Rebecca Wilson on 0113 213 5203
Hannah Dempsey on 0113 213 5211
Shannon has a growing regulatory and public law practice. She has developed a particular proficiency for environmental offences, in particular matters relating to trade effluent and breaches of the Water Industry Act, having conducted a number of these cases for first hearing, sentence and through to trial where the defence had instructed a QC.
Shannon has completed a large scale Disclosure Review project for the Government Legal Department. This exercise involved reviewing large volumes of documents and making decisions on disclosure and redaction based on a number of factors including LPP.
She has undertaken secondment work for Humberside & South Yorkshire Police advising on legal matters as well as dealing with sensitive disclosure work. More recently she was advising on the COVID-19 health regulations procedure used by the police throughout lockdown.
Shannon has also undertaken work for Social Work England with very positive results and is readily accepting instructions in this area
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Shannon has extensive experience of credit hire and general RTA matters, supported by her in-depth knowledge of the case law in this area.
Contact Shannon’s clerks
Senior Clerk – Andy Reeves on 0113 213 5252
Talia Webster on 0113 202 8609
Mike Alexander on 0113 2135268
Ben Ellison-Tope on 0113 2135207