Serena Palastrand

Call July 2001 – Inner Temple

Qualifications – LLB Law

Professional Associations

Criminal Bar Association

Areas of specialisation

Criminal Practice

Serena has a predominantly criminal practice. She defends in all areas of criminal law including serious sexual and violent offences.

Serena also has significant experience as junior counsel in substantial fraud cases

In addition she prosecutes on behalf of customs, the DWP, the NSPCC, Royal Mail and Probation.

Civil Practice

Serena’s civil caseload includes instruction on behalf of Claimants and Defendants in the following range of matters: personal injury (small claims to multi-track trials), road traffic claims, landlord and tenant cases (including possession hearings) and contract disputes. 

Recent Experience

R v Kostap (trial: end of 2006)

·     Junior defence counsel in a VHCC trial at Harrow Crown Court

·     Indictment related to an international large-scale fraud

·     Allegations consisted of conspiracy to defraud banking institutions of approximately £1million in a variety of ways (including identity theft, opening bank accounts using       fake passports, stealing money from bank accounts online and either gambling online with the  funds or buying items online with them and selling them on via ebay at a profit) and money laundering

·     Approximately 50,000 pages of evidence

·     Electronic Presentation of Evidence and Live Note utilised

·     Jury retired with laptops of exhibits shown during the course of the trial

·     Confiscation ongoing

R v Abbas & Ors (Sept to Dec 05)

·     Junior defence counsel in a three month VHCC trial at Harrow Crown Court

·     Representing one of six defendants

·     Allegations consisted of a large-scale conspiracy to defraud insurance companies by planning and/or falsifying road traffic accidents

·     Value of fraud estimated to be in the region of £1million.

·     Approximately 30,000 pages of evidence

·     Electronic Presentation of Evidence and Live Note utilised

Other Notable Experience

R v S (February 2007)  – defended successfully a 46yr old man accused of sexually assaulting a 17yr old female by digital penetration

R v M (2006) – defended successfully a 16yr old boy accused of rape on and incest with his sister, mental health issues involved

R v A (2006)– defended successfully a 15yr old boy accused of forcing a 15yr old girl to commit a non - consensual sexual act on him. Defence was that incident occurred but was consensual. He was technically guilty due to the complainant’s age but was sentenced on the basis of consent.

Publications

Serena is published in the Journal of Money Laundering Control 

“A Guide to Money Laundering Legislation” by Robert Rhodes QC and Serena Palastrand

Volume 8 Issue 1 2004, p 9 - 18