Jennifer Brenton

  • Year of Call 2013

Introduction

Introduction

Jennifer is a committed junior barrister with significant experience in fraud and white collar crime, regulatory offences and licensing law. She accepts instructions for both Prosecution and Defence work. She regularly provides written advice and is recognised for her concise analysis and pragmatism. As an advocate, she is clear and direct.

Crime

Crime

Jennifer began on her feet with 68 CPS trial lists in her second six of pupillage. Her practice developed through defending a full range of criminal offences including; drugs, dishonesty, offensive weapons, proceeds of crime and road traffic.

She was then seconded to two local authorities to work on white collar prosecutions for abuse of public funds. At the latter of these, she oversaw the Prosecutions and Licensing legal team for 16 months and was responsible for all criminal cases brought by the authority. She appeared in the Crown Court in the more serious and complex matters including fraud, proceeds of crime, false identity documents and forgery and counterfeiting offences.

Jennifer has advised on prosecutions from their inception and is therefore particularly adept at offering practical advice on evidential issues to ensure the best prospects of conviction. This equally enables her to pinpoint and exploit the weaknesses in a prosecution case.

She has both made and opposed a significant range of legal applications including; abuse of process, applications to admit or exclude evidence, submissions of no case to answer, compensation, confiscation and costs applications.

 

Regulatory

Regulatory

Jennifer has prosecuted a broad range of regulatory offences including environmental protection, housing, health and safety at work, planning and licensing charges. She has appeared on behalf of the Defence in cases brought by Transport for London, the RSPCA, the Nursing and Midwifery Council and in Contempt proceedings in the County Court.

Jennifer has advised on and overseen associated matters including Enforcement Policies, Public Spaces Protection Orders and Cumulative Impact Zones. She has further advised on and drafted secondary legislation and guidance for a public regulator and bye-laws for a local authority.

Jennifer accepts advisory and advocacy instructions across the full spectrum of regulatory matters.

Licensing

Licensing

Jennifer is experienced in the full range of proceedings under the Licensing Act 2003 including New Grant and Variation applications, Reviews by Responsible Authorities, expedited Reviews for Serious Crime and Disorder and Appeals.

Jennifer spent two years at a local authority working within and (for the latter 16 months) managing the prosecutions and licensing legal team. She oversaw all decisions of the licensing committee and appeals against those decisions, she acted as legal advisor on the more complex and controversial applications. From this experience, she has gained insight into the concerns of licensing authorities and is able to offer practical advice on how to meet those concerns to ensure the best outcome for both current and prospective licence holders. This also places her well to address such decisions on appeal.

Jennifer accepts instructions for both local authorities and licence holders.

Awards & Prizes

Awards & Prizes

Inner Temple BPTC Exhibition Award

City Law School – Stephen Seabrooke Memorial Prize (for highest marks in year in Advocacy and Criminal Litigation)

Inter-Inn Mooting Competition (2013) – Winner, Inner Temple 

Qualifications

Qualifications

University of Edinburgh: MA (hons) 

College of Law: GDL – Distinction

City Law School: BPTC – Outstanding