Ria is a bright and tenacious advocate and experienced junior in serious multi-handed trials.
Her practice includes a wide range of offences including murder (as led junior), manslaughter, serious and organised crime, financial crime, firearms, drugs, serious violence, and sexual offences.
She is highly skilled in identifying and advancing legal arguments and works tirelessly in seeking the best outcomes for her clients. She has a no-nonsense approach to advice and is thorough in her case preparation.
Ria recently completed a secondment to the Post Office Ltd where she provided advice in relation to ‘Horizon’ appeals, oversaw all internal aspects of post-conviction disclosure and liaised with the MoJ in the months prior to the introduction of legislation exonerating those convicted on the basis of ‘Horizon’ evidence.
Ria has also conducted review work for the Post Office and in relation to the Grenfell Tower Inquiry.
Ria is reliable, diligent and extremely personable. Prior to joining the Bar, she worked as a paralegal and accredited Police Station Representative at a Solicitors firm. Her client care is second to none.
Instructed by Peters & Peters, Ria worked in-house within the Remediation Unit of Post Office Ltd, concentrating on criminal appeals relating to ‘Horizon’ evidence. She provided advice in relation to whether convictions had been obtained through abuse of process, co-ordinated multiple aspects of post-conviction disclosure to individuals, other prosecuting bodies, the MET Police and the CCRC. She also liaised directly with the Ministry of Justice in the lead-up to the introduction of the Post Office (Horizon System) Offences Act 2024.
Ria was led by James Scobie QC of Garden Court Chambers and instructed to represent RK who faced trial for Murder and Conspiracy to Pervert the Course of Justice. It was alleged that RK and one of his co-defendants jointly attacked the deceased and then spent days covering up the death, ultimately setting fire to the deceased’s body in a public park. Shortly before trial, the Crown accepted a guilty plea to Manslaughter and Perverting the Course of Justice.
Ria was instructed to represent ZW who was the sole tenant of a property where a significant quantity of Class A drugs were found. Ria successfully argued that a video ostensibly showing ZW preparing crack cocaine was inadmissible, leading to the video being excluded and the Crown offering no evidence.
Ria represented HS in a three-week multi-handed trial (one of five tranches) involving 29 defendants alleged to have been part of a lengthy conspiracy to supply Heroin, Cocaine and Cannabis at street level.
Ria was led by David Nathan QC of 33 Bedford Row and instructed to represent DB in a ten week trial involving two allegations of conspiracy to murder and alternative offences of Conspiracy to Cause GBH with Intent and Conspiracy to Possess Firearms with Intent to Cause Fear of Violence. The Crown’s case was that DB had been enlisted by the first defendant to carry out contract shootings on behalf of a senior gang member residing in Turkey and operating on an Encrochat phone. DB was acquitted of all conspiracies arising from the allegations of planned contract killings.
