Brenda is a leading King’s Counsel (KC) and is regularly instructed to defend children in the most serious of criminal allegations including murder and terrorism, in addition, she is a highly respected Inquest and Public Inquiry Barrister. Brenda has also worked extensively in the field of human rights, both nationally and internationally, with a focus on women’s rights, children’s rights and the rule of law. She helped to draft the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, the United Nations Rules for the Protection of Juveniles Deprived of their Liberty, the UNHCR Guidelines on Refugee Children and the United Nations Programme of Action on Children in the Criminal Justice System.
Brenda is highly experienced in representing young people and ensuring their effective participation in the criminal justice system. She has represented children across the full spectrum of criminal allegations and is an experienced advocate in cases involving young and vulnerable witnesses. Her approach is always young person focused and she has particular expertise in representing children with special educational needs, learning disabilities and autism.