Allison Hochhalter

Barrister

Allison is a criminal defence specialist, who is instructed in a range of matters across the Crown Court, magistrates’ court, and the youth court.

She is committed to meticulous case preparation, tactical strategy, and effective advocacy. Allison adapts her client care style for an array of needs, including those with mental health difficulties, neurodiversity and learning disabilities.

Allison is particularly adept at confiscation proceedings, which combines skills from her previous career in finance with a detailed knowledge of the confiscation regime. She has been instructed in all stages of proceedings, from advising on draft statements in advance of contested hearings to appearing at enforcement hearings following the imposition of orders.

Before coming to the Bar, Allison worked as a paralegal at Sonn Macmillan Walker, supporting a wide range of criminal, regulatory, and asset recovery matters. She assisted on cases from pre-charge representations to CCRC applications.

Education / Qualifications

Advocacy for Children in Conflict with the Law, The Inns of Court College of Advocacy (2025)
Bar Vocational Studies with Advanced Criminal Practice Specialism, City, University of London (2023)
Master of Laws, University College London (2022)
Postgraduate Diploma in Law, BPP Waterloo (2021)
Bachelors of Science in Business, University of Minnesota - Twin Cities (2016)

Awards

Ann Goddard Scholarship from The Honourable Society of Gray's Inn (2024)
City Law School Bar Professional Training Prize (2023)
University of Minnesota - Summa Cum Laude (2016)

Membership

The Honourable Society of Gray's Inn
Women in Criminal Law (WICL)

R v DK: Defendant pleaded guilty to an array of harassment, stalking and breach of restraining order offences against multiple complainants. Defendant was late-diagnosed autistic. He was sentenced to a 2-year community order after spending 6 months remanded in custody.
R v CW: Defendant pleaded guilty to breach of SHPO, which placed him in breach of a suspended sentence order. Defendant had significant learning disabilities. He was sentenced to a further suspended sentence order with a fine to mark the breach.
R v RS: Defendant was charged with sexual assault against a police officer. Defendant was assessed as unfit to plead by two experts. Following written representations to the CPS, the prosecution offered no evidence.
R v AL: Defendant was charged with disclosure of a private sexual photograph with a co-defendant. Defendant was neurodiverse and had significant mental health vulnerabilities. Upon written representations to the CPS, the prosecution offered no evidence against this defendant.
R v CO: Defendant was carer charged with battery against their mentally disabled employer. The defendant was acquitted following a successful submission of no case to answer at trial.
R v TK: Defendant was charged with assault occasioning ABH against his partner. Following the opposition of res gestae evidence, the defendant was acquitted after trial.
R v TL: Defendant was charged with an assault against a security guard. The defendant was acquitted following a successful submission of no case to answer based upon insufficient identification evidence at trial.

R v JG: Instructed junior counsel in multi-million pound POCA, with favourable settlement at previously contested final hearing. Led by Ben Douglas-Jones KC.
R v LH: favourable settlement, with a reduction of the particular benefit figure from £160k+ to £3k.
R v JM: favourable settlement, with a reduction of the particular benefit of approximately £150k on the basis of prosecution acceptance of defence expert interpretation of previously disputed messaging.
R v FD: sentencing judge found no particular benefit obtained through commission of the offence. Confiscation proceedings were withdrawn based upon lifestyle assumptions being rebutted within section 17 statement.