Kerrie Ann Rowan
  • A skilled, meticulous advocate, who is a star in the making.

    Chambers UK 2024, Up and Coming: Crime

  • She's got a brilliant manner and is calm in difficult situations.

    Chambers UK 2024, Up and Coming: Crime

Called 2015

New York (USA) 2013

Kerrie Ann Rowan

Barrister

Kerrie is dual qualified counsel who practises in all areas of criminal defence. She has broad experience in serious and complex cases, with particular experience in white-collar crime, human rights and international criminal law. Kerrie is regularly instructed in matters before the Court of Appeal.

Kerrie has particular experience in white-collar crime and investigations. In 2017-2018 Kerrie was part of the team representing a former FOREX trader who was prosecuted by the US Department of Justice for conspiracy to fix prices in the FOREX market. The trial ended in an acquittal in the Southern District of New York. In 2022, Kerrie was part of the defence team representing an executive of G4S, prosecuted by the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) for fraud. The allegations related to Electronic Monitoring contracts between G4S and the Ministry of Justice. The SFO ultimately offered no evidence in the case. 

Prior to joining 25 Bedford Row, Kerrie worked as a legal assistant with the white-collar criminal defence team at Arnold & Porter LLP. During that time, the team advised on the SFO investigation into GlaxoSmithKline; provided representation for News UK in respect of allegations of telephone voicemail interception and corruption of public officials; advised on an international investigation into a multi-billion dollar accountancy fraud and provided advice on financial regulatory matters.

Kerrie is regularly instructed as fresh junior counsel in appeal cases for serious offences, in relation to both appeal against conviction and sentence, and has appeared in numerous reported cases. 

Kerrie was appointed as junior counsel to the Grenfell Tower Inquiry (Module 4), investigating the humanitarian response of Category 1 and 2 responders and central government in the immediate aftermath of the fire. 

Kerrie also has broad experience in human rights and international criminal law. Kerrie is currently instructed as Co-Counsel in the matter of Prosecutor v Thaçi et al before the Kosovo Specialist Chambers, representing Mr Kadri Veseli. Mr Veseli is charged with war crimes and crimes against humanity. Before joining chambers, Kerrie served for two years as legal assistant and case manager for the first defendant in the matter of Prosecutor v Haradinaj et al (retrial) at the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia. During this time, she also worked as a research assistant for lead counsel at the International Criminal Court in the situation in the Republic of Kenya.

Kerrie went on to work as international law clerk to Justice Edna Arbel at the Supreme Court of Israel. In this role, her research focused on comparative international and domestic human rights law. 

Kerrie was awarded the Inner Temple Pegasus Scholarship to complete a fellowship with the Global Legal Program of the Centre for Reproductive Rights in New York. At the Centre her research focused on international human rights law and policy, with a particular focus on the jurisprudence of the various UN Human Rights Bodies and the European Court of Human Rights.

Whilst studying for her LLM, Kerrie volunteered with Innocence McGill and served as a fellow with the One Justice Project. Further, she was awarded the Inner Temple Internship Award in 2015 for her work as research assistant with the Capital Sentencing Institute at St. Louis University, Missouri.

Qualifications

  • Barrister, England and Wales (2015)
  • Attorney at Law, New York, USA (2013) 

Testimonials

  • "A skilled, meticulous advocate, who is a star in the making."- Chambers UK 2024, Up and Coming: Crime
  • "She's got a brilliant manner and is calm in difficult situations."- Chambers UK 2024, Up and Coming: Crime

Education

  • Certificate in International Human Rights Law and Practice, London School of Economics and Political Science (2014)
  • McGill/Hebrew University Summer Program in Human Rights (full scholarship) (2013)
  • LLM, McGill University (2013)
  • BCL (First Class), Law with French Law, University College Dublin (2011)

Awards

  • Inner Temple Pegasus Scholarship (2018)
  • Inner Temple Internship Award (2015)
  • Inner Temple Ede & Ravenscroft Prize (2015)
  • McGill University Graduate Excellence Award (2013)
  • University College Dublin Entrance Exhibition Award (2011)

Memberships

  • London Irish Lawyers Association
  • Criminal Bar Association
  • Young Fraud Lawyers Association
  • Human Rights Lawyers Association
  • Women in Criminal Law
  • Female Fraud Forum

Languages

  • French