Rachel White

Rachel is a criminal specialist with 18 years of experience. Her practice encompasses complex and serious cases that include allegations of murder, organised crime, violence, child cruelty, sexual offences, drug trafficking, dishonesty and fraud.

She has appeared in several high-profile trials including R v RG (2017) (a murder committed during the course of a burglary where the householder was run over), R v GG (2018) (a fatal stabbing), R v GA (2018) (football related violence where the victim was left partially sighted) and R v DO (2018) (a husband accused of poisoning his estranged wife).

She acts in cases of gang violence with firearms and offensive weapons and large public disorders. She also appears in cases where the background is domestic and the allegations are of assault, coercive and controlling behaviour or child cruelty.

Rachel is regularly instructed to act for vulnerable defendants. She represented a mother accused of allowing the death of a child, who suffered from “battered wife syndrome”. She has defended veterans diagnosed with post-traumatic distress disorder and often acts for young adults with learning disabilities accused of crimes. Her particular expertise and sensitive approach to the preparation of such cases is seen as invaluable by both her clients and solicitors.

Rachel is instructed in the full range of sexual offences, some of which have involved witnesses as young as three years old.  She has great experience in dealing with historic allegations of a sexual nature and those arising in an employment or professional context. Rachel remains conscious that some of her clients have previously never been before the courts, and she is always astute to the stress and anxieties that a prosecution can create. She is a member of the sexual offences panel.

Rachel undertakes work involving financial misconduct by employees against large organisations, such as banks and care homes.  She also appears in complex frauds with multiple defendants, where the evidence is extensive and detailed. She has significant experience of defending those accused of dishonesty offences such as perverting the course of justice, blackmail and immigration offences associated with sham marriages.

Rachel advises on the complex confiscation matters that arise in drugs conspiracies and appeared for the principal defendant in Operation Nexus – a multi-million-pound conspiracy to supply significant kilos of heroin and cocaine.

In addition to appearing in criminal matters in the Crown Court and Court of Appeal, Rachel accepts instructions to act in inquests and in a range of regulatory actions. Rachel’s inquest expertise focuses on deaths in custody. She has been instructed in inquest matters by a wide range of interested parties and is particularly well placed to deal with deaths that have arisen from or involve criminal offending.

Rachel prides herself on maintaining excellent working relationships with her professional and lay clients. She has a conscientious and proactive approach to case preparation.

She is able to accept instructions via direct access where appropriate and undertakes private defence work, as well as legal aid cases.

Rachel is an extremely popular choice for demanding criminal cases. Her expertise encompasses complex and serious cases including allegations of murder, serious violence, child cruelty, sexual offences and drug conspiracies. Rachel has been instructed in several high profile murder and sexual offence cases that have gathered national public interest. Rachel has a wealth of experience in dealing with cases that involve medical evidence that arises in cases with non-accidental injury issues. Rachel’s commitment to client care, her sensitivity and her experience in getting the best from all her clients make her a frequent choice in cases involving young or vulnerable clients or witnesses who require very sensitive handling. She represented a mother accused of allowing the death of a child, who suffered from “battered wife syndrome”. She has defended veterans diagnosed with post-traumatic distress disorder and often acts for young adults with learning disabilities accused of crimes. Her particular expertise and sensitive approach to the preparation of such cases is seen as invaluable by both her clients and solicitors.

Murder & Manslaughter

Rachel has significant experience in a diverse range of murder and manslaughter cases. She has acted in cases involving gangs, firearms, fatal stabbings, poisoning, domestic murders, loss of control and other psychiatric issues.

Rachel manages her practice to ensure she is able to prepare the case at the earliest opportunity and spend significant time in conference with clients. Rachel is able to access some of the leading QC’s in the country and is known as an efficient, hard working and proactive junior. She has been instructed in several high profile murder cases in recent years.

Murder Case Examples

R v RG – A murder committed during the course of a burglary where the householder was run over by his own vehicle.

R v AF – A fatal stabbing in the context of a feud.

R v GG – A murder where the issue of fitness to plead and the defence of loss of control arose.

R v DO – A husband accused of poisoning his estranged wife.

R v F – Allowing the death of a child in circumstances where father had murdered baby.

Serious Violence

Rachel acts in cases of gang violence with firearms and offensive weapons and large public disorders. She also appears in cases where the background is domestic and the allegations are of assault, coercive and controlling behaviour or child cruelty.

Serious Violence case examples

R v GA – Football related violence where the victim was left partially sighted.

Sexual Offences

Rachel is instructed in the full range of sexual offences, some of which have involved witnesses as young as three years old. She has great experience in dealing with historic allegations of a sexual nature and those arising in an employment or professional context. Rachel remains conscious that some of her clients have previously never been before the courts, and she is always astute to the stress and anxieties that a prosecution can create. She is a member of the sexual offences panel.

Sexual Offences Case examples

R v RD – Sexual Allegations made against Medical Director NHS trust by trust employees.

R v EM – Sexual allegations against a grandmother by a 3 year old.

R v M – Secured acquittal in well publicised rape trial in which HHJ Kushner appeared in the media to comment on intoxication.

R V RD – Secured acquittal for soldier accused of historic sexual offences against three male complainants

Financial Misconduct & Dishonesty

Rachel often undertakes work involving financial misconduct by employees against large organisations, such as banks and care homes. She also appears in complex frauds with multiple defendants, where the evidence is extensive and detailed. She has significant experience of defending those accused of dishonesty offences such as perverting the course of justice, blackmail and immigration offences associated with sham marriages. Rachel involvement in the full spectrum of criminal offences also brings an expertise in POCA. In addition to POCA arising from financial misconduct Rachel also advises on the complex confiscation matters that arise in drugs conspiracies.

Financial Misconduct & Dishonesty Case Examples

R v W – Perverting the course of justice in relation to an offence of causing death by dangerous driving.

Drug Offences

Rachel is instructed in the full range of drug offences from simple possession with intent through to multi million pound multi defendant conspiracies to supply Class A drugs.

Drug Case Examples

Operation Nexus – Represented the main defendant in a conspiracy to supply significant kilos of Class A drugs.

Other Criminal Offences

Rachel’s work load is not limited to the offence groups shown above, she is regularly instructed to defend in cases across the full criminal spectrum, Rachel accepts private instructions in the Magistrates Court and is often instructed on a private basis for sexual offences, driving offences and lower level violence and drug offences in the Crown Court.

Appeal Work

Given Rachel’s extensive criminal practice, her skills with complex legal arguments and her desire to get the very best for her clients, Rachel is often instructed to pursue appeals to the higher courts. This applies to both cases in which Rachel has been instructed from the outset and also for clients who seek her assistance to appeal decisions in cases where she has not previously been involved.

Appeal Case Examples

R v SC – The Court of Appeal quashed Rachel’s client’s conviction for child cruelty on the grounds of the admissibility of expert evidence.

R v A – Successful appeal against a custodial sentence imposed for throwing a coin at a football match, causing the complainant to partially lose sight in one eye