Kate Stone

Practice

Criminal Law

Wide range of criminal defence work in the Crown and magistrates' courts including serious drug offences, serious violent crime (including Section 18 wounding), public disorder, ASBO proceedings, dishonesty including benefit fraud, criminal damage, theft, robbery, POCA and confiscation proceedings and immigration / passport offences. Also appears in the Court of Appeal. Has extensive experience of representing juveniles in the Youth Court and Crown Court. Experience of representing mentally disordered and other vulnerable defendants. Particular interest in cases with a civil liberties emphasis.

Recent cases have included:

• Appeared as a junior counsel in attempted murder (2007)
• Represented defendant in conspiracy to supply class A drugs (2006)
• Appeared in a multi-handed blackmail case (2006)
• Appeared as junior counsel in conspiracy to import cannabis; part of "Operation Dramaticus" (2005).

Prison Law

Undertakes a full range of prison law work including representation of prisoners at adjudications, recall hearings, parole board hearings and lifer panels. Practice includes judicial review arising from prison law.

Housing law

Civil ASBOs, injunctions and committals.

Employment

Representation and advisory work on behalf of employees and trade unions in Employment Tribunals and the EAT. Experience includes unfair and wrongful dismissal, redundancy, TUPE, equal pay, statutory dispute, disability discrimination and trade union related matters including victimisation. Particular interest in discrimination law.

Personal Injury

Claimant personal injury practice, including claims arising out of road traffic accidents. Undertakes written advisory work and drafting of pleadings.

Other areas

Keen to develop her experience in areas which complement criminal practice, such as civil actions against the police and inquests.

Other Activities

Contributor on criminal and prison law issues to legal publications. Recent article:

• Indeterminate ethics of sentences: What is the framework behind sentences of imprisonment for public protection, why are they so widely imposed and how can they be avoided? Farrhat Arshad and Kate Stone (Independent Lawyer, May 2008) > more

Employment representative for the Free Representation Unit.

Undertook an internship at JUSTICE (2003)

Member of Manchester Prison Law Practitioners Group (MPLPG)

Professional Associations

Amnesty

Criminal Bar Association

Lawyer for Liberty

Human Rights Lawyers' Association

Languages

Fluent French speaker.