At New Park Court Chambers, we do things a little differently. With a total of 74 barristers, including 13 King’s Counsel, our reach and influence stretches far beyond the bounds of our Circuit.
As a Tier 1 Set based in Leeds and Newcastle we are home to a number of high profile and nationally and internationally reputable Counsel.
Felicity Hemlin has an established criminal and family law practice.
She has experience both prosecuting and defending serious cases in the Crown Court, both on her own and as junior counsel. Her family practice encompasses all aspects of both private and public law acting on behalf of family members, local authorities, the guardian and interveners in the High Court, County Court and Family Proceedings Courts.
She is known for her thorough preparation of cases whilst also putting clients at ease.
Felicity instructed on behalf of both the defence and the Crown Prosecution Service. She has also prosecuted on behalf of the police, Local Councils, the Probation Service and the Home Office.
Felicity is instructed on behalf of the Crown Prosecution Service exclusively in the Crown Court and is a Grade 3 Prosecutor.
Furthermore, Felicity acts in both the Crown and Magistrates’ Court in public and private defence cases and in parole hearings.
Both her prosecution and defence work cover a wide range of offences including:
She is also experienced in dealing with cases which involve: vulnerable witnesses, forensic and medical expert evidence, extensive amounts of disclosure and third party material, public interest immunity applications, cross admissibility, production orders, hearsay and bad character applications.
Prosecuting, led in a complex case before HHJ Bindloss at Newcastle Crown Court. The defendant was found guilty after trial of 36 sexual offences relating to 18 complainants over a 25-year-period. There was also the added complication of press involvement with witnesses having waived their anonymity and given interviews to the press. This resulted in a successful application, during the trial, by the Prosecution pursuant to s 9(1) and Schedule 1 of the police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984, for the disclosure of pre-interview notes which were then deployed successfully by the Crown. There were also numerous non-defendant bad character applications and legal arguments regarding cross-admissibility.
Successful prosecution of three separate cases of Dangerous Driving, Possession of Class A drugs with intent to supply and possession of an imitation firearm with intent to cause fear of violence all relating to the same defendant committed over a number of months whilst he was wanted by the police.
The defendants were charged with a conspiracy to defraud the life savings of elderly victims over a number of days to the value of £100,000. Secured a very favourable basis of plea which following mitigation lead to a sentence of 8 months with the other conspirators receiving sentences between 36 – 60 months.
Defending, led in a multi-handed child exploitation case in which we appeared for the first defendant accused of rape, sexual activity with a child and trafficking. I was Involved and responsible for reviewing thousands of pages of third party material and unused material which was ultimately used as part of a successful non-defendant bad character application against two of the three complainants. Acquitted by the jury of rape and the child exploitation on a legal submission. Convicted of transporting one of the complainants on two occasions (trafficking). There is an appeal outstanding against conviction and sentence.
Successful prosecution of two men, one found guilty after trial of armed robbery and the second of handling the vehicle taken in the robbery despite legal argument regarding identification.
Successfully defended a father accused of assaulting his 15-year-old daughter and her boyfriend with a machete. Crucially, a non-defendant bad character application to admit evidence of the daughters bad behaviour in school and whilst staying with her mother was successful.
Successful Prosecution of Step-Father accused of burning step-son and his friend with cigarettes. Both gave evidence as part of the s28 protocol being aged 14 and 15.
Felicity was instructed to undertake research for this Supreme Court case of on behalf of the appellant, Mr. Hughes, which dealt with complex issues of statutory interpretation and causation. She also had the privilege to attend the hearing at the Supreme Court conducted by Robert Smith KC where the appeal was successful.
Felicity has appeared in a number of complex regulatory cases with successful results.
Felicity is keen on expanding her regulatory practice in particular through representing public bodies, building upon her experience in prosecuting criminal matters for the CPS and others.
Taxi Licensing appeal against revocation of licence.
Lorry driver accused of tacograph offences kept his licence and was given a 3 week suspension.
Felicity has experience of dealing with public and private law proceeding under the Children Act 1989, financial remedy proceedings and applications for injunctions under the Family Law Act 1996.
Final Order made in favour of mother for no direct or indirect contact, at the request of the children, despite there being no welfare concerns regarding fathers care.
In an Interim Care Order where one of the five children had been accused of stabbing a neigbour whilst the other four children were left with inadequate living accommodation and supervision.
Private law family case in which previous attempts at negotiation had failed. On the day of the final hearing the parties managed to compromise and father received all of the contact that he asked for.
Secured the return of the child into mother’s care from father whose care for the child had significantly deteriorated.
Acted for the father who was seeking to enforce an existing court order and increase contact. This case was unusual as the child was residing with grandparents. The child was placed with mother whilst the father secured optimal contact arrangements as a result.
Represented Mother in a case where findings of serious sexual and physical assault and torture were made against father who was seeking contact and the disclosure of the child and mother’s address. No direct contact was ordered and the address remained confidential until further order.
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