Biography

Kirsty Brimelow QC is a barrister at Doughty Street Chambers. Kirsty is a criminal law specialist who is instructed in the most serious and prominent cases nationally and internationally. In particular, she is sought after to act in cases with a human rights law element. Also, she is one of a handpicked number of barristers who defends private high profile/celebrity clients. Kirsty defended in the first murder case where the defence was heard "in camera" on grounds of national security. She was leading counsel defending in the first "juryless trial". In the previous three years, Kirsty has acted for two Chief Justices (the Chief Justice of Trinidad and Tobago and the Chief Justice of Gibraltar) and a solicitor. She has been appointed by the Government of Antigua and Barbuda as Counsel to a Commission of Inquiry into international fraud. She is an experienced appeal advocate (four substantive appeals on law in the preceding two years). She first led other counsel in 1999 and maintained this level of practice so as to be appointed Queen's Counsel in 2011. As vice-chairwoman of the Bar Human Rights Committee, Kirsty has carried out international trial observations, worked on death penalty cases from within the Jamaica and carried out training. In 2009, she led a delegation of UK barristers in providing human rights law training in Colombia.

Kirsty was twice listed in Management Today's most influential 35 women under 35 (2003 and 2005). She was appointed a spokesperson for the Bar Council between 1998 - 2008 and remains a regular legal commentator in the media. Her hundreds of television and radio appearances include: Newsnight, Panorama, Dispatches, Law in Action, File on Four, Today programme, breakfast television and news programmes. She has made one television show "You be the judge" (2005).

Kirsty was a member of the inaugural Times Law Panel from 2007 -2009 (classified as being one of the "Top 100 Lawyers") and nominated as The Times "Lawyer of the Week". She continues to advise upon consultation documents, Bills and other legislative measures - the latest being the Coroners and Justice Bill. She was an elected and co-opted to the Criminal Bar Executive for 7 years.

Kirsty is licensed to accept Direct Public Access work.

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Kirsty Brimelow QC's picture

  • Year Qualified

    1991

    Year appointed QC

    2011

    Education

    University of Birmingham

    Memberships

    Representative for the Bar Human Rights Committee on the Euro - Med Human Rights Network (2005 - 2010), Central London Bar Mess Committee (2004 - 2007), Founder and Chairwoman of 187 Fleet Street Chambers' Human Rights committee (2005 - 2007), Opinion Leader Research Panel (2005-2008), CBA committee executive (2004 - 2010) - organiser of CBA seminars at Bar Conference 2006-2008; representative at DNA workshops o, Bar Council Public Affairs Committee (2000-2007), Pro Bono Bar Caribbean Committee (2005 -2008), Spokesperson for the Bar (1998-2008), Bar Conference Organising Board 2006 and 2007, Vice-Chair of the Bar Human Rights Committee (2009 - ), Populus Research Panel (2006-2008)

    Qualification

    LLB (Hons)