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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
Qualifications – LLB Law
Professional Associations
Criminal Bar Association
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