Katherine Higgins
Kingston upon Thames,Surrey
Summary
- Experienced barrister with a track record in providing consequential legal advice across a wide range of sectors.
- Strong analytical skills, excellent judgement and a knack for developing strategic solutions with a variety of stakeholders both within the public sector, the private sector and the judiciary.
- Consistently delivering clear and concise advice focused on enabling operational objectives in often complex and novel scenarios.
Overview
22
22
years of professional experience
Work History
Barrister
Ministry of Defence
London, UK
04.2021 - Current
- Advise operational teams by providing highly specialist legal advice to facilitate the achievement of objectives.
- Collaborate with diverse stakeholders ranging from operational staff to senior officials, including the Secretary of State and No. 10.
- Assist in navigating intricate legal challenges within a dynamic operational environment shaped by HMG policy requirements.
- Engage across Whitehall and beyond, including the private sector, to promote novel applications of the law to drive operational success.
Barrister
National Crime Agency
London, UK
10.2017 - 04.2021
- Spearheaded the utilisation of POCA 2002 to drive civil recovery initiatives. Including obtaining the first Unexplained Wealth Orders under the Criminal Finances Act 2017.
- Directed negotiations with Barclays to secure $65 million from suspense accounts through a novel use of POCA 2002.
- Oversaw all civil claims, including public inquiries and judicial reviews, as head of civil litigation.
- Created and headed up a new team to deliver civil disruptions to serious orgnaised crime including the use of immigration powers and Serious Crime Prevention Orders.
Barrister
Three Raymond Buildings & 6 King's Bench Walk
London, UK
09.2011 - 09.2017
- Pupillage at Three Raymond Buildings.
- Obtained a wide range of experience across crime, regulatory and public law.
- Prosecution and Defence Counsel as both a junior and being led.
- Considerable experience of complex fraud and money laundering trials including the application of POCA 2002.
Legal Researcher
Odgers Berndston
London, UK
04.2008 - 08.2010
- To fund and support law school I worked as a full time legal researcher at Odgers Berndston, a city headhunter, while completing law school part time.
Officer
British Army
04.2004 - 04.2008
- Completed leadership training at Royal Military Academy Sandhurst and commissioned into Royal Artillery as junior officer.
- Led 30 soldiers during a 7 month deployment to Barsa City, Iraq navigating a kinetic operational environment.
- Achieved promotion to captain and served as reconnaissance officer on exercises both domestically and internationally.
- Recognised as top junior officer within regiment and resigned commission to pursue training as barrister.
Education
Pupillage -
Three Raymond Buildings
2012
Bar Vocational Course -
University of Newcastle
2011
Graduate Diploma in Law -
BPP University
2010
BA Hons - History
Durham University
2003
A-Levels - History, English Literature, Economics
Stowe School
1999
Scholarship and Awards
- BVC Scholarship
- Winner of the Park Lane Plowden Prize for best Advocate on the BVC
- Winner of the Kalisher Scholarship, 2012
- NCA- Director General Commendation, 2019, foroutstanding work on Project Refire, developing the NCA’s strategic approach to the use of new legislation under the Criminal Finances Act 2017. Enabling the Agency to secure the United Kingdom’s first Unexplained Wealth Order.
Timeline
Barrister
Ministry of Defence
04.2021 - Current
Barrister
National Crime Agency
10.2017 - 04.2021
Barrister
Three Raymond Buildings & 6 King's Bench Walk
09.2011 - 09.2017
Legal Researcher
Odgers Berndston
04.2008 - 08.2010
Officer
British Army
04.2004 - 04.2008
Pupillage -
Three Raymond Buildings
Bar Vocational Course -
University of Newcastle
Graduate Diploma in Law -
BPP University
BA Hons - History
Durham University
A-Levels - History, English Literature, Economics
Stowe School