Caroline Baker

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“Excellent criminal set with a justifiable reputation as a market leader.”
Legal 500, 2022

Personal profile

“A confident, tenacious and likeable advocate, Caroline Baker has defended and prosecuted in a wide range of criminal matters. She is regularly instructed in cases involving Serious Violence, Drugs Trafficking, Sexual Offending and Fraud, as well as confiscation and forfeiture proceedings.

She has experience in international law, investigating and analysing historic war crimes and current human rights abuses with a particular focus on sexual violence and torture.

Caroline is regularly instructed on behalf of defendants who are vulnerable by virtue of age, mental health or cognitive ability. Her easy and straightforward approach provides reassurance at each stage of the process.”

Serious & Organised Crime

Featured cases

R v S and others – Instructed in a case concerning the large-scale supply of crack cocaine and heroin in the London Borough of Newham using sophisticated operational methods to avoid detection. Throughput of Class A throughout the conspiracy estimated to be in excess of 120kg.
R v A and others – Instructed to prosecute an OCG involved in use of firearms and drug trafficking in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets.
R v V and others – Instructed in a case arising out of the NCA’s investigation into the encrypted messaging system EncroChat. Involved the importation and distribution of significant quantities of Class A drugs, conspiracy to commit GBH and money laundering.
R v M – Commercial scale production of cannabis relying on a defence under the Modern Slavery Act 2015 based on their status as victims of trafficking from Eastern Europe.
R v L – Sophisticated theft of over £500k worth of jewellery from a Hatton Garden jeweller.

Serious Violence

Featured cases

R v M and H – Independent review of material held by the Independent Office for Police Conduct in relation to a defendant in criminal proceedings who was shot in the back while fleeing from the police.
R v T and others – Stabbing of a teenager arising out of a county lines drug dispute.
R v B – Arson with intent to endanger life committed in a domestic context by a husband intending to kill his wife during the Coronavirus lockdown.
R v C – Section 18 in which a vulnerable woman with significant mental health issues is said to have stabbed her partner in the neck with a broken bottle.

Sexual Offences

Featured cases

R v H and others – Conspiracy to kidnap, assault by penetration, ABH, perverting the course of justice and multiple allegations of rape. The complainant was said to have been kidnapped at knifepoint, detained over the course of three days and submitted to physical and sexual violence.
R v A – Assault by penetration said to have been committed at a care home for vulnerable adults, against a young female employee.

International

Caroline has extensive experience investigating crimes against humanity, war crimes and human rights violations. She has worked alongside a multi-disciplinary team of experts in the field, including psychiatrists, survivors, and senior investigators. She has particular expertise dealing with unlawful detentions, sexual violence and torture perpetrated by the army, police and security services. She spent much of 2023 in Ukraine working for a foundation engaged with advising the Office of the Prosecutor General on the effective investigation and prosecution of conflict related sexual violence.