Louise Cowen

Louise became a tenant at Lincoln House in September 2011. She practices in criminal, regulatory and civil/public law.

Prior to joining Lincoln House, Louise read Law at Cambridge University before going on to study for an MPhil and PhD in Criminology at the Institute of Criminology at Cambridge University. Her PhD investigated how judges exercise discretion when sentencing mentally disordered individuals, and how psychiatrists and probation officers exercise discretion when preparing pre-sentence reports. She is consequently very familiar with mental health policy, legislation and case law.

Louise studied the Bar Vocational Course at Manchester Metropolitan University, and was awarded a Commendation achieving the highest mark in the Criminal Litigation exam. She was also the Richard Isaacson Scholar in 2010.

Louise combines her academic interests with her legal practice. She has worked as a Lecturer in Law at the University of Central Lancashire, where she taught criminal and civil litigation, criminal law and the law of evidence to undergraduate and postgraduate students. She is currently a supervisor in Law at Cambridge University, where she teaches criminal evidence and procedure to undergraduate students. She is a contributing editor to the Archbold Magistrates Courts Criminal Practice publication, and she is sentencing editor of the Archbold Review journal.

Criminal Law

Louise is an experienced criminal advocate. She has conducted jury trials on behalf of both the prosecution and defence in relation to the full range of offences. She is a category 3 prosecutor and has acted as prosecution and defence junior in serious and complex cases. She has advised on and conducted hearings in relation to POCA and other ancillary orders.

In 2020-2021 Louise undertook an 8-month secondment with the North West RASSO Unit, during which she acted as reviewing lawyer in cases involving serious sexual offences. During this secondment Louise received specialist training regarding the prosecution of sexual offences

Recent cases

R v KS (June 2021) Defence counsel in case involving controlling and coercive behaviour.

R v T and ors (January 2020). Prosecution junior in a multi-handed case involving allegations of conspiracy to steal/burgle.

R v R and ors (October 2019). Prosecution junior in multi-handed case involving allegations of attempted murder, infliction of GBH and violent disorder.

R v S and ors (June 2019). Defence junior in multi-handed case involving conspiracy to steal/ burgle.

R v R (February 2019). Prosecution counsel in case involving allegations of fraud and perjury.

Civil/Public law

Louise has been instructed in matters of national importance throughout her career. Since 2019, Louise has been instructed as junior counsel to the Manchester Arena Inquiry. In 2017, she was instructed as junior counsel to the Gosport Independent Panel. Louise was also instructed as junior counsel on behalf of the claimants in the Kenya Emergency Group Litigation, which related to the actions of the British Colonial Administration during the State of Emergency declared in Kenya in 1952.

Regulatory Law

Louise has advised on and conducted hearings on behalf of local authorities in relation to taxi licensing, housing and anti-social behaviour. Louise is regularly instructed by the General Medical Council (GMC) to conduct Interim Order Hearings.