Naomi Parsons

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“Great strength in depth both in relation to their expertise and breadth of experience from juniors through to their QCs.”
Legal 500, 2022

Personal profile

Naomi Parsons acts in Crime, Regulatory & Professional Disciplinary and Public & Administrative Law cases.

In recent years, her criminal practice has focused on financial crime and Terrorism.

Her public law practice encompasses Judicial Review and Inquests & Inquiries.

Naomi has taken instructions in both Russian and Spanish. Her language skills mean she is well suited to cases with an international dimension.

Fraud

Naomi is regularly instructed to prosecute and defend in cases of complex Fraud and money laundering. She was a led junior in the high-profile prosecution of the immigration fraud uncovered by the BBC Panorama (the ‘Tier 4 student visa scandal’), in which she also appeared in related judicial review proceedings.
Naomi represents the BEIS in insolvency offences. She also appears for the Department in the Companies’ Court in petitions to wind up companies in the public interest.

Featured cases

R v K and others (2016–2017) – Instructed as led junior in successful prosecution of six defendants for their involvement in fraudulently obtaining Tier 4 student visas.
R v H and P (2016) – Instructed as led junior in successful prosecution for fraud and money laundering offences.
R v S (2015) – Instructed as led junior defending a company director in trial of £14m money laundering allegations in the under bond alcohol trading industry.

Terrorism

Naomi has extensive experience in terrorism cases, both as sole counsel and a led junior. She understands well the particular demands involved in preparing and conducting terrorism trials.

Between 2018-2022, Naomi has been junior counsel in 12 linked cases involving membership of a proscribed far right group (National Action).

Featured cases

R v DM (2021) – Neo-Nazi charged with incitement of terrorism (ss1 and 2 TACT 2006), possession of terrorist materials (s58 TACT 2000), and making explosives (s4 Explosive Substances Act 1889).
R v ODK and MS (2019) – Teenage neo-Nazis who set up Sonnenkrieg Division were charged with encouraging and disseminating far-right terrorist material (ss1 and 2 TACT 2006).
R v HA (2019) – Teenage Isis supporter charged with preparation of a terrorist act; a stabbing attack on a London train.
R v A (2017) – ISIS supporter charged with encouraging terrorism and distributing terrorist material (ss1 and 2 of Terrorism Act 2006).
R v C (2017) – Neo-nazi teenager charged with preparation of terrorist acts (s5 Terrorism Act 2006) and making explosive substances (s4 Explosives Act 1884).
R v A and others (2016) – ISIS supporters charged with allegations of preparation of terrorist acts (s5 Terrorism Act 2006). Prosecution of individuals upon return from travel to Syria.

Regulatory & Professional Disciplinary

Naomi appears before professional disciplinary and medical regulatory panels, including the Nursing and Midwifery Council, the Teachers Regulation Agency and the Bar Standards Board.

She accepts instructions from both professionals and regulatory bodies.

She has experience of all forms of Interim Order and Fitness to Practise proceedings involving issues of performance, health and misconduct. The cases frequently require cross-examination of vulnerable witnesses in respect of sensitive subject matters and expert evidence.

She advises on appeals to the High Court, and appears frequently in the High Court on judicial review.

Featured cases

Nursing and Midwifery Council v CS (2019) – Successful defence of registrant on charges of dishonesty and clinical misconduct.
Nursing and Midwifery Council v TB (2019) – Successful defence of registrant on charges of dishonesty. Successful argument that admitted clinical misconduct did not amount to impairment.

Public & Administrative Law

In 2020, Naomi was appointed to the B Panel of the Attorney General’s Civil List, having previously been on the C Panel. She undertakes a wide variety of work on behalf of the government, including SIAC appeals, judicial review, civil claims and inquests. She has advised and represented a number of government departments, including the Home Office, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, Ministry of Defence and Ministry of Justice.

Since 2014, Naomi has acted regularly on behalf of the government in national security-related civil litigation, and in particular in cases involving national security deportations and exclusions, terrorism prevention and investigation measures, and claims for damages arising out of British Military involvement in Iraq and Afghanistan. Naomi has been instructed in ‘closed’ proceedings, both in the High Court and in SIAC.

Featured cases

B and S v Ministry of Defence (2019-2021) – Instructed as junior counsel acting for MoD in respect of claims of misconduct and torture made by Afghan civilians.
XYZ v Ministry of Defence (2016-2019) – Instructed as junior counsel acting for the MoD in respect of claims of torture by Iraqi civilians.

Inquests & Inquiries

Naomi’s inquest experience includes deaths in custody, deaths in care and hospital deaths. She has extensive experience in inquests engaging Article 2 and those involving complex factual and expert evidence.

She also has inquiry experience, and was instructed on the Al-Sweady Inquiry at both the investigation and evidential stages. The Inquiry explored alleged torture by British soldiers against Iraqi civilians in 2004.

Featured cases

Inquest into the death of TD (2021) – Five-week jury inquest into the death of a remand prisoner who died unexpectedly from gastrointestinal haemorrhage (issues involved complications arising from prescription medication, the adequacy of healthcare provision in custody, and the interaction of mental health issues on physical health care).
Inquest into the death of VH (2020) – An in-patient who died following a delayed diagnosis of cancer. Issues involved training of contract staff, treatment and Article 2).
Al-Sweady Public Inquiry – Instructed as support counsel, and later judicial assistant to the chairman to the inquiry, Sir Thayne Forbes. Responsible for analysis of the evidence during the course of the oral hearings.