Fiona Horlick KC was consistently ranked as a Band 1 (top tier) leading junior before her elevation to silk, in both Chambers & Partners and Legal 500. She is now ranked as a respected New Silk. She is praised for her unrivalled advocacy skills, her unbending will to succeed as well as her charisma and her ability to handle clients with sensitivity.
“Incisive, intelligent and brilliant at cross-examination”
“She has a phenomenal understanding of her cases and is always able to pick up on the key issues, regardless of the volume of information”
“Her advocacy skills are unrivalled and she is fantastic to watch. She knows when to have a fight and when to have people listen to you and like you”
“Persuasive and appropriately firm in her advocacy, making her a fearsome opponent”
“Her approachable manner puts clients at ease”
Fiona’s practice encompasses Health and Safety, a wide variety of Regulatory work, Disciplinary proceedings and Specialist Crime – particularly business crime, medical crime, and health and safety criminal proceedings. She has extensive experience as an advocate in all courts from the Privy Council (defending in murder appeals), the Court of Appeal, the High Court, Crown Courts (all types of crime), regulatory proceedings and inquests. She honed her skills on criminal work and jury trials before expanding her work profile.
Fiona is the co-editor and major contributing author of the leading work on the Bribery Act 2010 Lissack and Horlick on Bribery published internationally by LexisNexis. The 3rd edition was publishes in September 2020 and is available for Lexis subscribers here. This renowned publication provides a comprehensive and detailed overview of bribery in both a national and international context. Fiona advises and represents companies with regard to business crime.
This renowned publication provides a comprehensive and detailed overview of bribery in both a national and international context. Fiona advises and represents companies with regard to business crime.
Fiona’s health and safety practice specialises in regulatory law which is complimented with many years of experience in criminal enforcement. Her practice is predominantly defence work with particular interest in criminal proceedings, inquests and inquiries, fire safety, food safety and Maritime regulatory law.
Fiona is regularly instructed by large multinational companies and/or their Directors, concerning fatalities or serious accidents in the workplace, as well as regulatory breaches concerning HSWA, food safety and fire safety. She appears in proceedings before the Crown Court, Magistrates Court and in Coronial proceedings in courts in England and Wales. She is particularly sought after by clients for her strategic input into investigations pre PACE interview with a target of achieving a result of no further action.
Her recent and current instructions include advising a participant Grenfell Tower Inquiry, defending a care home in a prosecution brought by the Care Quality Commission and prosecuting a large multi-national security services company as a result of a suspected legionnaires outbreak at their premises.
Re Harlow District Council v G4S Cash Solutions Limited
Acting for Harlow District Council in a successful prosecution of a large multinational security company with regard to a Legionnaires’ outbreak at one of their sites. Defendant fined £1.8 million.
Food Standard Authority v AC Hopkins Limited
Defending a company in a trial at the Old Bailey for criminal breaches relating to food hygiene. Involved complicated expert evidence.
Southern & Scottish Gas Networks
Advising a major UK utilities company with regard to gas network liabilities and public safety.
British Airways PLC
Advising a major UK airline with regard to Health & Safety issues.
HSE v Mr X
Defending at the Crown Court a managing director of a company whose employee had been crushed to death.
HSE v Y Company
Defending at the Crown Court a company whose employees had suffered severe burns at their factory.
In An Inquest
Defending a well known building company in a jury inquest where a worker had died as a result of a fall from height on one of their sites.
In An Inquest
Defending a company in an inquest where a worker had been killed on a building site.
Fiona has a regular and extensive practice both defending and prosecuting regulated professionals.
This practice encompasses:
The professionals include but are not limited to:
She has represented many top consultants and surgeons in a wide variety of matters including poor clinical practice, dishonesty and sexual misconduct allegations. She has defended in the full range of performance, misconduct and health cases, often working in sensitive cases.
Fiona has conducted a number of serious and complicated cases regarding the regulation of actuaries on behalf of the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries. Such cases invariably involve complex matters of expert evidence with regard to pensions and insurance.
PSA v GMC & Uppal
Defending Dr Uppal both at the original GMC FtP hearing and in the PSA’s High Court appeal. Now a reported and widely used case on dishonesty and FtP.
GMC v Yasin
Defending Dr Yasin in his appeal to the High Court against erasure.
GMC v Khetyer
Defending Dr Khetyer in the GMC’s appeal to the High Court.
GMC v Haynes
Defending a consultant surgeon in a multiple patient case involving deaths and complex expert evidence.
GMC v Anderlic
Defending a GP in case involving 30+ charges of dishonesty, working whilst suspended and clinical matters.
GMC v McLellan
Defending a consutant psychiatrist in dishonesty case.
IFoA v Oketch
Prosecuting a South African actuary involving Kenyan pension law.
IFoA v Head and Hudson
Prosecuting 2 senior scheme actuaries and complex expert evidence.
IFoA v Black and Yule
Prosecuting 2 scheme actuaries and complex expert evidence.
GMC v Mehboob
Defending a psychiatrist in alleged sexual case involving a child member of his family.
GMC v Jackson
Defending a doctor in a case involving drug theft.
GDC v Rahman
Defending a dentist in a multi defendant dishonesty case.
GDC v Mabasa
Defending a dentist in multiple clinical failings and dishonesty.
GDC v McKeown
Defending a dental technician in a case involving uncover investigators.
GMC v Ademola
Defending a consultant psychiatrist in assaults against a vulnerable patient.
GMC v Dr Burley
Defending a doctor who had a long standing sexual relationship with a patient. He was also charged with serious dishonesty.
GDC v Mr Harrison
Defending a dentist who was alleged to have allowed illegal practice to have happened at his practice.
Coming originally from a criminal practice background with experience in cases involving murder, manslaughter, assisted suicide, fraud and sexual misconduct, Fiona is perfectly matched to conduct criminal cases involving health professionals. These trials require a combination of criminal trial experience, cross examination skills and in-depth knowledge of the health profession.
In particular Fiona has many years of experience both defending and prosecuting in very serious sexual allegations including rape, child abuse and pornography.
Fiona is known in the directories as ‘at the top of the list of very able barristers for medico legal matters’ with regard to medical crime.
Fiona has co-written the chapter on Prosecuting Health Professionals in the Oxford University Press book Witness Testimony in Sexual Cases: Evidential, Investigative and Scientific Perspectives.
R v Kay Gilderdale
In a case garnering international press coverage, Fiona defended Kay Gilderdale who was charged with the attempted murder and assisting suicide of her gravely ill daughter by means of an overdose of morphine. Acquitted by the jury of attempted murder. Pleaded to assisting suicide and sentenced to a conditional discharge.
R v Dr H
Defending a doctor in 3 sequential trials involving serious sexual offences against vulnerable male patients. Acquitted.
R v Dr B
Defending a doctor charged with multiple sexual assaults on a patient over many years. Acquitted.
R v Dr K
Defending a doctor charged with sexually assaulting an elderly patient in her home and a nurse. Acquitted
R v Dr B
Defending a consultant charged with sexually assaulting 3 female patients. Acquitted.
R v Dr M
Defending a doctor charged with sexual offences involving two women. Acquitted.
R v Dr Z
Defending a doctor charged with sexual assault of a woman on London Underground. Acquitted.
R v Dr M
Defending a doctor charged with assaulting a family member. Acquitted.
Against a long career in criminal cases, Fiona has both prosecuted and defended in the range of business and financial crime.
Her experience of financial crime, regulation and enforcement is wide ranging. It includes large scale MTIC fraud, international advance fee fraud, tax fraud, fraudulent trading, mortgage fraud, money laundering and asset recovery.
Fiona is the co-editor and major contributing author of the leading work on the Bribery Act 2010 Lissack and Horlick on Bribery published internationally by LexisNexis. This work is now in its 3rd edition and provides a comprehensive and detailed overview of bribery in both a national and international context. The current edition has a foreword by the Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales and a number of chapters not only on the law with regard to bribery both nationally and internationally, but also subjects such as bribery in sport, in the defence industries, the extractive industries and construction as well as DPAs and sentencing.
The current edition has a foreword by the Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales and a number of chapters not only on the law with regard to bribery both nationally and internationally, but also subjects such as bribery in sport, in the defence industries, the extractive industries and construction as well as DPAs and sentencing.
Fiona advises companies with regard to business crime, in particular bribery and corruption matters and money laundering.
Re X Company
Advising a multinational company involved in the extractive industry with regard to bribery.
Re Y Company
Advising a multinational company with regard to money laundering.
Re v M & Another
Defending a solicitor in a multi million pound mortgage fraud with international aspects. Acquitted.
R v S & Another
Defending an accountant charged with criminal offences under the Insolvency Act with regard to his professional conduct. Acquitted.
Re v H & Others
Prosecuting multi million Euro laundering operation from drug dealing and other criminal activities involving several different trials and asset confiscation. Convicted.
Fiona’s public law practice includes appeals to the High Court on often for healthcare professionals. Fiona has also advised on Court of Protection matters in relation to treatment matters.
Fiona Horlick KC is regulated by the Bar Standards Board (BSB) and holds a current practising certificate. If you are not satisfied with the service provided, please click here.
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