Year of Call: 2014
Inn of Court: Inner Temple
Clea Topolski
‘A dedicated advocate who will go the extra mile’ – Crime – Leading Juniors (Legal 500 – 2019)
Clea Topolski has an extensive general crime and extradition practice spanning over 12 years having been called to the Bar in 2014 after qualifying as a solicitor six years previously.
Clea is adept at making clients feel at ease, and is able to combine professional advice and representation with a friendly manner. She has extensive experience in dealing with both the extremely vulnerable who suffer from mental illness, and with younger clients.
Clea is a specialist in serious violence and serious sexual offences. She is regularly instructed in matters of historic sexual offences, rape and matters involving both vulnerable defendants and witnesses. She is expert at and has been commended for careful and concise cross-examination.
She is regularly instructed in serious violence involving gang members. She is often instructed in high profile murders and s18 assaults. She consistently applies her meticulous case preparation with any case she is instructed on. Her manner and professionalism puts both the lay and professional client at ease, whatever the case.
Clea is a Pupil Supervisor
Significant Cases
- R v D 2019 – Kingston crown court successfully argued a stay of proceedings as an abuse of process in a multi handed s18 trial
- R v F 2019 – Maidstone crown court defended in the first of three trials of a large scale prison mutiny case. One of the few defendants to be acquitted of Criminal Damage
- R v T 2019 – Blackfriars Crown Court – defended in the original trial of this modern slavery case which resulted in a hung jury in January. Made a successful half time submission in the re-trial in October.
- R v B (Feb 2018) historic sexual assault on the step child in the familial home
- R v D (Jan 2018) multi-handed s18 assault
- R v J (Jun 2018) historic sexual assault and buggery of children
- R v. H [2017] – Defended a man charged with multiple rapes, false imprisonment and assault which included careful cross-examination of a witness with learning difficulties
- R v. R [2016] – Successfully defended a man charged with sexual assault
- R v. D [2016] – Represented a man in a large conspiracy to burgle residential properties spanning over 5 years
- R v. O [2014] – Represented the bride in a sham marriage trial
Qualifications
- LL.B (Hons), University College London
Affiliations
- Criminal Bar Association
Areas of Specialism
Crime
A specialist in serious violent crimes, she is well-known for her client care and ability to provide advice regarding often complex cases in a friendly and clear manner. She has substantial experience dealing with vulnerable clients, whether suffering from mental illness or of a young age.
Extradition
She has a growing practice in extradition where she represents clients from final hearings to appeals in the High Court.
Other Details
She is a member of both Amnesty International and Liberty.
When she is not working, she enjoys spending time with her family, including her two young children, and is a keen runner.