Libby Anderson

Year of Call: 2016
Inn of Court: Gray’s Inn

Libby Anderson

Libby has developed a practice covering all areas of general crime, financial crime, military justice and international public law, in particular the law of armed conflict. She also appears in extradition and regulatory matters.

Particularly respected for her attention to detail, Libby is recognised for her ability to cross-examine upon memory contamination issues and Turnbull challenges. Having acted in fitness to plead proceedings, Libby has experience of cases involving vulnerable clients and witnesses. She has also appeared in actions against the police.

Through the GLD’s Junior Junior Panel, Libby has been instructed in a number of high-profile public law matters. Previous instructions have involved legal research, analysis, drafting statements, and assessing quantum in historic abuse claims. She was instructed on behalf of the Home Office in the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse, and as a member of the team representing the National Probation Service in the inquest into the death of a man murdered by a prolific offender on licence.

Prior to the Bar, Libby gained experience of social security, employment and housing law through her role as a volunteer caseworker at the Z2K Trust in Westminster, and as a Gateway Assessor at North Lancashire Citizens Advice Bureau.

Crime – as led junior

  • R v MA [2019] – Snaresbrook Crown Court – Represented an 18 year old defendant accused of possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life in the context of a gang dispute. Involved cell site and electronic tag expert evidence and interpretation of drill videos.
  • R v LG [2019] – Isleworth Crown Court – Represented the first defendant in a large-scale county lines conspiracy to supply Class A drugs.

Crime – as junior alone

  • R v GK [2019] – Maidstone Crown Court – Prosecuted a man for a serious ABH on an intoxicated female. The defendant was convicted.
  • R v JS [2019] – Isleworth Crown Court – Represented a young man at sentence for PWITS Class B. The client had a degenerative health condition and had supplied cannabis only to fund his own supply, which he used to self-medicate his pain. Persuaded the court to impose a suspended sentence.
  • Valiati v DPP [2018] EWHC 2908 (Admin), [2018] WLR(D) 676) – Represented the Appellant in a successful appeal by way of case stated in which the issue was the use to which the Magistrates’ Court can put statements made in a PET form.
  • R v M [2018] – Harrow Crown Court – Represented a father convicted of two counts of ABH upon an 8 year old child. Persuaded the court to impose a conditional discharge.
  • R v SS [2018] – Leicester Crown Court – On day of trial, negotiated an acceptable basis of plea in a joint enterprise robbery of a vulnerable victim in his own home. (Reported in Leicester Mercury)
  • R v KH [2017] – Wolverhampton Crown Court – Defendant was sentenced for multiple offences including robbery, ABH and dangerous dogs. Dealt with issues of dangerousness and totality. (Reported in Birmingham Mail)
  • R v AS & ors [2017] – Leicester Crown Court – In a 19-handed conspiracy to supply drugs, represented a defendant who was sentenced to time served.

Courts Martial

  • SPA v Sig A [2017] – Colchester Military Court Centre – Represented a soldier with a poor disciplinary record charged with disgraceful conduct of an indecent kind. The defendant received a sentence of 60 days detention. His co-defendant received 90 days.

Environmental

  • Birmingham City Council v JD [2018] – Birmingham Crown Court – Represented defendant charged with environmental offences involving using a vehicle to deposit controlled waste. (Reported in Birmingham Mail)

Qualifications

  • Direct Access qualified
  • Vulnerable witness training completed
  • ADR Group Accredited Civil & Commercial Mediator
  • LLM Professional Legal Practice, BPP University Law School
  • Bar Professional Training Course, BPP University Law School
  • Graduate Diploma in Law, University of Sheffield
  • MA Medieval Studies, University of York
  • BA (Hons) English and Philosophy, University of Bristol

Scholarships & Awards

  • Pegasus Scholar (2019)
  • Criminal Bar Association Bursary for Excellence in Advocacy (2019)
  • Ann Goddard Pupillage Scholarship, Gray’s Inn (2017)
  • BPP University Law School Outstanding Performance Award (2016)
  • Bar Council Law Reform Essay Competition – Highly Commended (2016)
  • Birkenhead Award BPTC Scholarship, Gray’s Inn (2015)
  • Ann Ebsworth CPE/GDL Award, Gray’s Inn (2013)

Affiliations

  • CPS General Crime Panel, Grade 2
  • CPS Proceeds of Crime and Fraud Specialist Panels, Grade 2
  • Government Legal Department Junior Junior Scheme
  • Criminal Bar Association
  • Association of Military Court Advocates
  • South Eastern Circuit
  • The Honourable Society of Gray’s Inn
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Areas of Specialism

Crime

 

Libby has a busy Crown Court practice both prosecuting and defending in cases of fraud, drugs, driving offences, serious violence, conspiracies, and offensive weapons, as led junior and junior alone. She prosecutes and defends in hearings under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002, and has experience of POCA beyond her years of call.

 

International Law

Libby has a stand-alone interest in international law, and has attended advocacy training at the International Criminal Tribunal in The Hague. Through the GLD Junior Junior Scheme, Libby has been instructed in the Kenyan Emergency Group Litigation and the Cyprus Colonial Litigation. As a Pegasus Scholar placed in the Crown Law Office in Wellington, New Zealand, Libby has advised on all aspects of inter-jurisdiction mutual assistance and extradition, and has worked closely with agencies such as INTERPOL. She brings this international perspective to all aspects of her work.

Military Law

She has a strong interest in the law of armed conflict and all aspects of military justice. Libby receives instructions from AFLAA to defend service personnel at court martial. Through the GLD Junior Junior Scheme, she has been instructed in the Castlemartin Firing Range Inquest.

 

Environmental Law

Libby has appeared in a range of environmental cases including a prosecution for substantial fly tipping in Birmingham, statutory nuisance claims under the Environmental Protection Act 1990, and private prosecutions for unlawful eviction and harassment by landlords.

 

Professional Discipline and Regulatory

Libby has experience in both healthcare and financial regulatory law. She has represented registrants before the NMC and HCPC in cases involving sexual misconduct, dishonesty, and allegations of professional failings leading to serious harm. Through secondments at the Financial Conduct Authority and the Serious Fraud Office, Libby has gained an understanding of the investigation and prosecution of large-scale frauds and money laundering enterprises. She has also been instructed in taxi licensing appeals and on behalf of the Insolvency Service.

Other Details

Publications