4 March 2022
CONTACT US
Drystone Chambers
35 Bedford Row
London
WC1R 4JH
DX: 332 London/Chancery Lane
CONTACT US
Drystone Chambers
35 Bedford Row
London
WC1R 4JH
DX: 332 London/Chancery Lane
Call 2017
Georgia Luscombe
Call 2017
Georgia has a strong criminal practice, and is regularly instructed to defend and prosecute serious matters in the Crown Court, both on her own and as a led junior, with particular expertise in cases involving serious violence and sexual misconduct.
She has a range of experience across the full spectrum of criminal offences, having represented defendants at trial for allegations including the supply of Class A drugs, conspiracy to supply drugs, sexual assault, rape, knifepoint robbery, s. 18 GBH, fraud and public order act offences. Georgia is equally adept at dealing with allegations of financial crime, including fraud and money laundering.
Georgia has developed an extensive practice in Professional Discipline, having completed a secondment as an advocate with the Regulatory team at Kingsley Napley LLP in 2019. She has since acted for regulators including the HCPC, GOC and ACCA at final hearings. Georgia has a particular interest in health and care regulation, having also appeared for the Care Quality Commission at the First-Tier Tribunal in various appeals.
As such, Georgia is alert to the specific issues that regulated professionals face when facing criminal investigations and/or prosecutions and can assist clients in navigating their regulator.
Georgia also accepts instructions in Regulatory Crime. Her experience includes the prosecution (as led junior) of a company and its Director for Fraudulent Trading and breaches of the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008, lasting six weeks. The case involved complex legal arguments of time limits, abuse of process and challenges to the admissibility of evidence.
Georgia is a CPS Level 3 Prosecutor.
Georgia is experienced in dealing with cases involving NRM referrals and defences under section 45 of the Modern Slavery Act 2015. She has previously drafted representations to the CPS in respect of clients who were victims of exploitation. She was recently instructed in a case of ‘county lines’ drug and human trafficking, involving offences under section2 of the Modern Slavery Act 2015.
R v JL
Successful application to vacate plea in the Crown Court, after JL had pleaded guilty to offences in the Youth Court and been committed for sentence. The application was on the basis that JL was a victim of modern slavery and should not have entered pleas. The matter was remitted to the Youth Court and the prosecution offered no evidence.
R v DW
Successful appeal to the Court of Appeal with the sentence reduced from 9 years to 8 years for an individual convicted of trafficking children to another part of the country to deal drugs.
Georgia has experience of dealing with a range of offences under the Sexual Offences Act 2003. She has completed her ‘vulnerable witness training’ with the Inns of Court College of Advocacy and is familiar with the section 28 procedure for pre-recorded cross-examination.
R v SG
Led junior for the defence in a case involving a series of child sex offences and rape. The issue for trial was whether the complainant’s apparent consent at the time of the sexual relationship (aged 16 – 21) was vitiated by the grooming which occurred prior to her obtaining the age of consent.
R v ZA
Secured an acquittal as a junior alone in a case of alleged rape following a 5-day trial. Involved careful consideration of hundreds of messages to establish the complainant’s state of mind around the time of intercourse and her subsequent disclosures to others.
R v RK
Represented a university professor accused of harassment of a woman via Tinder.
R v GB
Acquittal on two counts of Sexual Assault. Case proceeded in the absence of the defendant as he had returned to Romania. Both assaults were alleged to have taken place at a care home. Involved cross-examination of the complainant, a carer who worked with the defendant at the time of the allegation.
Georgia has experience of cases involving various offences under the Firearms Act 1968, including consideration of expert evidence in these cases. She has advised on the applicability of an ‘antique’ defence.
R v HE, AB, HN, BN and BF
Prosecution junior in a six-week trial of conspiracy to possess firearms with intent to endanger life. Involved analysis of a significant amount of cell-site evidence and telephone billing data to establish the conspiracy between the 5 defendants.
R v KK
Referral Order obtained for youth charged with possession of a firearm (sawn-off shotgun) and ammunition.
Georgia has appeared for the Metropolitan Police and various London Boroughs in obtaining Closure Orders for anti-social behaviour issues
Georgia has represented individuals for drink and/or drug-driving. She is experienced in making representations in relation to special reasons/exceptional hardship to avoid or shorten obligatory driving bans.
Georgia has experience of dealing with a range of offences under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002, both standalone and when charged alongside other offences
R v LM
Obtained a Community Order for client charged with money laundering over £19,000
Georgia is experienced in cases involving the Fraud Act 2006. She is currently instructed as defence junior in a case involving allegations of fraud against six defendants
R v BM
Represented a man charged with fraud in a four-day trial which resulted in a hung jury. Crown decided not to proceed with a re-trial. Involved cross-examination of four witnesses as to their business practices
R v CA
Obtained a suspended sentence for a client convicted of 2 counts of Securing Unauthorised Access to Computer Material with Intent. The offences involved the defendant’s colleague, with whom he was said to be “fixated” so he hacked into her accounts.
Georgia acts for regulators at fitness to practise hearings, including the Health and Care Professions Council and the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants
She is experienced in dealing with a range of misconduct issues, from dishonesty to sexual assault. She is able to cross-examine witnesses effectively, including in cases which require an understanding of specific working practices and procedures
ACCA v GS
Allegation of dishonesty and/or lack of integrity in relation to audit files
HCPC
Allegation of sexual assault by a physiotherapist, resulting in strike-off
GOC
Allegation of dishonesty of a student Dispensing Optician
Georgia has experience of dealing with offences under the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008. She is often asked by local authorities to advise on the evidence and form of indictment in such cases, including where accompanied by offences under the Fraud Act 2004
West Sussex County Council v AM & LPG
Prosecution junior in six-week trial of a company and its Director for Fraudulent Trading and breach of the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008. The case involved complex legal argument on time limits, abuse of process, admissibility of evidence and the directions which should be given to the jury regarding the Regulations
