Back to Members

Education

1990 LLB Hons. (2:1)

Practice

Specialising in criminal defence work with particular expertise in offences of serious violence including murder, firearms, kidnapping and drugs.

Emma Akuwudike is associated with the following areas of expertise:

Crime
General Fraud

Cases

Fraud and Financial Regulation

  • R v Macro - junior counsel in a “cut-throat” million pound aviation re-insurance fraud between a senior Lloyds underwriter and broker. Represented the broker. Case attracted media coverage.
  • R v Hussain - defended a young woman on a 14 count indictment on charges of deception.
  • R v Marsden - junior counsel in a serious Conspiracy to Defraud banks. One of the co-defendants was Ambrose Mendy (former sports boxing promoter to Nigel Benn and Michael Watson).

Crime

  • R v Sokolowoski -Successfully acted for a young female defendant indicted for importation of 6kg cocaine at 100% purity.
  • R v Uddin - Acted as led junior for a defendant accused of murdering his mother.
  • R v Lawrence - Successfully defended one of nine defendants in a very high profile Conspiracy to rob Graff Jewellers, a very exclusive diamond jewellers  in Mayfair.  Losses   amounted to £40 million, making this the UK’s largest ever robbery heist. The case received significant national media coverage.
  • R v S - 2009 and 2010 Inner London Crown Court- Successfully acted for a 50 year old defendant following a re-trial indicted for rape and sexual activity with a child resulting in pregnancy.
  • R v Casey - Represented a defendant for possession of Firearms and drug offences. Successfully argued exceptional circumstances on a Newton hearing avoiding the statutory minimum sentence
  • R v Sehra & Ors - Represented one of 7 defendants in a multi handed "cut throat” trial involving serious violence.
  • R v Pedro Frota & Ors - acted for one of 3 defendants who received a life sentence and recommendation for deportation following pleas of guilty to a series of robberies. The defendant was part of an organised criminal gang who carried out a campaign of violent robberies within the London area. Described by police as "the worst of its kind". Case attracted substantial national media coverage.
  • R v Rudanec – instructed to act in kidnapping/false imprisonment.
  • R v McGovern – instructed on 19 count indictment of rape/sexual assault.
  • R v J & Ors - instructed as a junior for a young defendant on a plea to manslaughter (initially indicted for murder) at the Central Criminal Court. Instructed as a junior brief for the same defendant on multiple counts of Attempted Murder GBH, and Firearms offences.
  • R v Mayers - instructed as a junior for a 16 year old boy, one of ten defendants on a murder trial.
  • R v Koffi - acted for one of five defendants on multiple counts of robbery, kidnapping, blackmail and witness intimidation.
  • R v Sindimwo - junior counsel for a defendant accused of serial rape of prostitutes.
  • R v Gordon - acted for one of three defendants charged with four counts of Attempted Murder, of which two victims were children.
  • R v Best - defended a 15 year old boy accused of rape against a teacher on school premises. Case attracted substantial national and local media coverage.
  • R v De Goze - a two handed kidnapping.
  • R v Phillips & Ors - multi-handed armed robbery.
  • R v Obileye - acted for first defendant on a multi-handed kidnapping of a 15 year old girl.
  • R v Tulloch- acted for a 60 year old defendant on S18 GBH, causing very serious facial injuries.
  • R v Azimi - acted for defendant charged with arson with intent to danger life.
  • R v Belete – representing main defendant in a 20 count firearms indictment.
    R v Anucha - acted for defendant on multiple counts of false imprisonment and blackmail of a spiritual leader.
  • R v Wright - junior on a multi-handed gang rape and kidnapping.
  • R v Mason - junior in the six handed CCTV murder of Marcus Hall following a “So Solid” event in Luton. Case attracted national media coverage and was featured regularly on “Crime Watch UK”.
  • R v McGarvey - junior counsel in the attempted murder of an 11 year old boy Daniel Herbert by two teenage girls. Case attracted national media coverage.

Reported Cases

  • R (on the application of the Crown Prosecution Service) v Bow Street Magistrates Court and Samuel James & Ors 2006 EWHC 1763 - appeared for an interested party in relation to whether S44 (2) Identity Card Act 2006 had repealed S5 Forgery and Counterfeiting Act 1981.
  • R v B 2006 EWCA Crim 330 - Leading authority on rape sentencing.

Articles & Publications

Contribution to article in the Times relating to women’s court attire and the entitlement of women to wear trousers in court.

Associated Work

  • Registered Pupil Supervisor from October 2003.
  • On CBA working party advocating the retention of Queen’s Counsel (2003).
  • Presentation at the House of Commons to school children (2005).
  • Member of the Executive Professional Network (an organisation targeted at networking for black professionals in London).
  • On working party regarding reform of legal education courses.
  • Mentoring for schools and undergraduates.

Professional Memberships

Member of the Criminal Bar Association

Contact

T. 020 7067 1500

E. eakuwudike@25bedfordrow.com