Carole Fern

About Carole Fern

Call: 2010, Middle Temple
CPS Level 3 Panel
CPS Grade 3 Serious Crime Panel
Direct Access qualified
Former Chair, Surrey Domestic Violence Court implementation team
Former litigation partner in New York
Former Deputy Attorney General in New York
Service as arbitrator and counsel in commercial disputes

Areas of Experience

General Crime
Domestic Violence
Fraud and Business Crime
International

Contact Clerks

Telephone: 020 7242 3918
Email: clerks@blackfriarschambers.com
Email: clerks.room@bfchambers.cjsm.net

Contact Carole

Email: carole.fern@blackfriarschambers.com
Email: carole.fern@bfchambers.cjsm.net

Testimonials

Carole is one of the best prosecutors our teams have ever worked with. Her commitment to the needs and rights of victims and witnesses as well as justice is evident … Carole ensures that the voice of the victim is considered and valued … She has exceptional interpersonal skills and in my experience is able to react to and interact with people from all aspects of the community and across professions/ranks…. She picks up on technicalities which I have seen others miss or not understand the significance of… I believe the judiciary have enormous respect for her.
CEO, East Surrey Domestic Abuse Service

Carole has excellent advocacy skills and she is able to command the full attention of the Court…. She is well-liked by the Bench who admire her professionalism and efficiency (always well prepared, always on time). She is courteous and has earned their respect.
Partner, The Castle Partnership

Practice Profile

Conducts all aspects of Crown Court work acting for the Crown and for Defence, including jury trials and appeals to the Court of Appeal Substantial instruction by the CPS at Level 3. Appearances at trials, bail, PTPH, appeals, and sentences. Significant experience in matters of domestic violence. Successful defence in serious matters.

Appointments & Memberships

CPS Level 3 Panel
CPS Grade 3 Serious Crime Panel
Criminal Bar Association
Southeastern Circuit
Female Fraud Forum
Previously Domestic Violence Co-ordinator, CPS Surrey
New York Bar
United States Courts of Appeal for 2nd, 3rd, 4th Circuits

Notable Cases

R v F, Court of Appeal, 10 July 2018
Represented Respondent Crown on appeal regarding the jurisdiction of the Crown Court to sentence on committal when adult pleaded guilty in the Youth Court

R v C, Court of Appeal, 21 March 2017
Represented Respondent Crown on appeal in which immediate custody resulted in dangerous dog case under the 2016 Guidelines.

R v M, Isleworth Crown Court, March 2019
Prosecuted multi-week jury trial involving stalking of a lecturer at a leading London University and his partner, resulting in a lengthy custodial sentence.

R v I, Blackfriars Crown Court, November 2019
Represented Defendant I on sexual assault charges. Acquitted following application made on I’s behalf to dismiss charges as an abuse of process for issues concerning CCTV evidence.

R v D, Croydon Crown Court September 2019
Prosecuted week-long jury trial alleging Section 18 wounding. Defendant was convicted following admissions made during cross-examination.

R v S, Snaresbrook Crown Court, February - March 2019
Prosecuted multi-week jury trial involving grievous bodily harm and armed robbery in which a car was used as a weapon to knock moped and motorcycle riders off their vehicles, resulting in a finding of dangerousness and a 99-month extended custodial sentence.

R v A, C and H, Snaresbrook Crown Court, June-July 2018
Prosecuted 8 day, three-handed robbery case involving issues if identification and character, resulting in convictions for all Defendants.

R v B, Woolwich Crown Court, April 2018
Prosecuted multi day jury trial of domestic violence involving armed attack and robbery against nephews and vulnerable elderly mother, resulting in 5-year sentence.

R v E, Snaresbrook Crown Court, April 2018
Represented Crown prosecuting multi-day bladed article jury trial, resulting in conviction.

R v B and F, Lewes Crown Court, March 2018
Prosecuted PWITS Class A and conspiracy to supply case, resulting in guilty plea and out of court resolution.

R v M, Warwick Crown Court, March 2018
Prosecuted multi-day burglary trial in which Defendant fired his representatives, and other challenges presented in the course of trial. Defendant sentenced to 42 months’ custody.

R v W, Snaresbrook Crown Court, February 2018
Prosecuted multi-day robbery and dangerous driving jury trial, resulting in significant custodial sentence.

R v. A, Snaresbrook Crown Court, February 2018
Prosecuted multi-day armed robbery jury trial, resulting in significant custodial sentence.

R v E, Lewes Crown Court, January 2018
Represented Crown prosecuting multi-day POCA and PWITS Class A jury trial. Confiscation pending.

R v A, Northampton Crown Court, January 2018
Represented Defendant in PWITS and cultivation case, resulting in non-custodial sentence.

R v A, Northampton Crown Court, December 2017
Represented Crown prosecuting breach of trust theft of large sums against step-grandson of vulnerable Victim. Defendant pleaded guilty on the day of trial and received a substantial custodial sentence.

R v H and R, Birmingham Crown Court, December 2017
Prosecuted violent carjacking case, resulting in late guilty pleas at and just prior to trial. Very significant custodial sentences.

R v B, Blackfriars Crown Court, October 2017
Represented Crown prosecuting four-day jury trial of two counts of racist and anti-Islamic behaviour. Defendant convicted unanimously of both charges; custodial sentence.

R v P, Lewes Crown Court, October 2017
Represented Crown prosecuting multi-day knifepoint robbery at jury trial. Defendant convicted unanimously.

R v G, Cambridge Crown Court, September 2017
Represented Defendant at sentence of multiple charges of fraud against her vulnerable mother-in-law. Successful in reducing initial indication of sentence by more than one-half due to extenuating personal mitigation.

R v C, Leicester Crown Court, September 2017
Represented Defendant charged with sexual exposure at jury trial.

R v B Wolverhampton Crown Court, September 2017
Represented Crown prosecuting dangerous driving case at jury trial; conviction by unanimous verdict.

R v S, Croydon Crown Court, June 2017
Represented Crown prosecuting multi-day drug importation case at jury trial. Defendant convicted and sentenced to immediate custody.

R v M, Croydon Crown Court, 21 April 2017
Represented Crown on sentence of Police exhibits room staff member for theft by employee of ammunition and indecent images matters.

Crown v P and B, St. Albans Crown Court, February 2017
Represented Crown in jury trial on conspiracy to steal high-end cars; guilty pleas acceptable to Crown obtained shortly before jury empaneled.

R v H, Guildford Crown Court, January 2017
Represented Crown on a series of sentencing matters resulting in a five-year custodial sentence; offences included dishonesty and domestic violence.

R v B, Luton Crown Court, January 2017
Represented Defendant originally for trial, but eventually in guilty plea and sentence; authority for mental health report obtained which assisted reduction of sentence.

International

Dual UK/US National
Conversational French
US experience includes prosecution of complex consumer fraud on behalf of the New York Attorney General, defence and prosecution of complex commercial litigation including fraud and RICO, and service as an arbitrator and counsel in numerous arbitrations. Experience includes acting in cross-border litigations and arbitrations for US, UK, Canadian, French, and Algerian entities.

Qualifications

JD, Harvard Law School
BA, The Johns Hopkins University, Phi Beta Kappa