Clare Dowse

Clare is a highly sought after criminal defence advocate, who is in huge demand at a national level for her meticulous case preparation and her persuasive and engaging court presence. She has experience of criminal advocacy at all levels up to and including the Court of Appeal.

Clare is a leading junior who is instructed to defend in cases at the highest level of complexity involving serious sexual, drugs or violent offences. In particular, her skills are in demand for complex sexual allegations, including historic abuse cases. Clare is experienced in cases involving additional complexities such as the involvement of intermediaries, parallel Family Court proceedings, third party materials held by various third party authorities and those necessitating the cross-examination of children.

Clare enjoys strong relationships with numerous professional clients. She is known for fighting extremely hard for clients, for providing robust and pragmatic advice when required, and for her ability to deal effectively and efficiently with complex matters of law and evidence.

For her lay clients, Clare is a confident and reassuring presence no matter at what stage of the proceedings she appears.

She also has substantial experience in advising upon and conducting cases with a mental health element, particularly relating to hospital order cases and M’Naghten defences or trials of issue.

Clare has exceptional strength in written work and is able to advise both private individuals/companies and public authorities on criminal and other regulatory issues.

Clare is able to accept instructions under the Public Access Scheme, for those cases which are suitable to be dealt with on a direct access basis. She is happy to accept private and publicly funded instructions in criminal and quasi-criminal matters.

Clare has regularly been invited to appear on radio to comment on topical issues related to the criminal justice system, including appearing on Radio 4, Radio 5Live and BBC Radio London.

Outside court, Clare previously trained undergraduate law students in the skills of advocacy and mooting in a highly successful programme at University of London (Birkbeck College), and has

Prior to coming to the Bar, Clare travelled extensively in Europe and the US in her work as a journalist in the music business.

Notable Cases

R v B – Inner London Crown Court (2024) – defending in Operation Lodgepole on three counts of attempted murder, following zombie knife attack in pub. https://metro.co.uk/2023/03/13/walthamstow-stabbing-three-charged-with-attempted-murder-after-attack-18431433/

R v T – Cambridge Crown Court (2024) – successful defence of man accused of sexual offences against his step-daughter, involving s28 and dealing with complex medical issues.

R v S – Isleworth Crown Court (2023) – defending in Operation Erant, relating to wholesale supply of class A drugs in West London and the West Country by an organised crime group.

R v J – Bournemouth Crown Court (2023) – defending in £2.5million fraud relating to cheating the public revenue.

R v Y – Central Criminal Court (2022) – successful defence in Operation Townsville of a client accused of assisting an offender in a knife murder. https://www.times-series.co.uk/news/23249217.dangerous-north-finchley-man-jailed-whetstone-murder/

R v H – Guildford Crown Court (2022) – Leading Junior for the Defence in Operation Hydrogen, a complex case of historical sexual offending involving eight separate complainants and complex issues of bad character, reported nationally. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11251689/Paedophile-football-coach-abused-boys-young-11-1996-2000-jailed-10-years.html

R v B & Ors – Court of Appeal (2022) – representing in successful appeal against conviction in ‘small boats’ cases which identified widespread errors of law, reported nationally. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/channel-crossing-court-appeal-jail-b2010191.html

R v M – Wood Green Crown Court (2022) – Led Junior in trial involving multiple serial stranger rapes at knifepoint, reported nationally. https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/rapist-who-filmed-attacks-may-26859883

R v G – Aylesbury Crown Court (2022) – successfully defending in re-trial of masseur accused of sexually assaulting three clients (original jury having been unable to agree on verdicts).

R v G – Bournemouth Crown Court (2021) – defending in familial sexual abuse allegations, involving cross-examination of children.

R v T – Norwich Crown C ourt (2021) – defending in historic familial sexual abuse allegations.

R v K – Harrow Crown Court (2021) – successfully defending in coercive and controlling behaviour trial involving complex cultural issues.

R v H – Winchester Crown Court (2020) – successful defence to murder as led junior in ‘Operation Highlander’.

R v O & Ors – Harrow Crown Court (2020) – defending in Operation Bolshoy Kamen, multi-handed firearms case with alleged ‘gang’ background, including successful complex legal arguments to exclude alleged ‘police expert’ evidence of both gang activity/background and cell siting/telecoms. Acquitted.

R v R & Ors – Maidstone Crown Court (2020) – defending in lengthy trial relating to large scale public disorder arising from proceedings in coroner’s court.

R v T & Ors – Liverpool Crown Court (2019) – defending in Operation Anvil, a huge scale conspiracy to supply class A and B drugs case involving over 30 Defendants, centred on Liverpool but involving offences nationwide. Clare’s client was one of only two Defendants in this Operation who were acquitted of the conspiracy at trial. https://www.devonlive.com/news/devon-news/notorious-gang-who-flooded-exeter-3666676

‘Clare forensically considers the evidence in a case, no matter how voluminous, and provides detailed analysis and advice. She is then able to implement this level of knowledge into her advocacy, allowing her to achieve excellent results.’ (Legal 500 – 2024)