Charlotte Compton

Practice
Charlotte’s practice is split between South Eastern and Western Circuits. She is regularly instructed to conduct summary trials in both regions and additionally defend in the Thames Valley area. Even at this early stage in her career Charlotte has clients who specifically request her services.

Charlotte has a long-standing interest in fraud and financial crime and hopes to develop this. Apart from experience of fraud work in her own practice, she has previously assisted in the preparation of a number of significant fraud prosecutions and spent time at RCPO (Revenue and Customs Prosecutions Office). Further to her fraud interest, since arriving at One Paper Buildings Charlotte has also gained a reputation as an animal welfare specialist and is also aiming to build upon this.

Charlotte is a Grade 2 CPS Prosecutor.

Defence
Charlotte's defence practice is general crime. She defends in the Crown and Magistrates' courts on the South Eastern and Western circuits and is also regularly instructed in the Thames Valley. She has represented defendants charged with a variety of offences from assault to attempted murder, and frequently is instructed to deal with youths charged with offences such as robbery and burglary. She has particular experience of dealing with clients who are young, vulnerable or suffer personal difficulties, and is interested in the current state of the law in relation to mental health. Charlotte regularly defends in summary trials, with a particular track record in successfully defending persons charged with domestic and family-related violence.

She also regularly conducts appeals and sentences in the Crown Court, notably securing a suspended sentence for a defendant who had pleaded guilty to benefit fraud totalling over £44,000.

Charlotte has developed a specialism in defending animal welfare cases. Since her first case, successfully representing a teenager accused of cruelty to chickens and a dog, she has been regularly instructed in this area and successfully defended in two cases regarding cruelty to horses. She is looking to develop her practice into related areas like rural regulatory matters. Proof of her developing expertise can be found by accessing this link to her recent article in Chambers newsletter.

Charlotte also has experience of representing defendants who are charged with relatively unusual areas of criminal law. She recently appeared for a coach driver charged with a number of offences relating to tachographs and European provisions relating to drivers' hours, and as a result has developed knowledge of this field of law. She has also recently represented a couple charged under the Education Act 1996 with failing to ensure that their child attended school. In addition, Charlotte is very experienced in defending cases relating to the imposition of ASBOs and has experience of prison law.

Prosecution
Charlotte has prosecuted on behalf of the DWP and National Probation Service. Since being accepted by the CPS as a Level 2 prosecutor on both circuits Charlotte has prosecuted trials in the Crown and Magistrates' courts.

She is keen, in time, to apply to the CPS specialist fraud panel in order that she can expand her experience and skill set within fraud by acting on behalf of the prosecution.

Previous relevant experience
Charlotte holds dual capacity with the Bar Council and is currently employed by a London law firm to assist with the preparation of a VHCC concerning insider trading. She considers this an important method of gaining experience in financial crime and establishing contacts in this area of law.

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