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 broad experience in international criminal law. Kerrie is currently instructed as Co-Counsel in the matter of Prosecutor v Thaçi et al before the Kosovo Specialist Chambers, The Hague, representing Mr Kadri Veseli. Mr Veseli is charged with both war crimes and crimes against humanity. Previously, Kerrie was a member of the defence team for the first defendant in the matter of Prosecutor v Haradinaj et al (retrial) at the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia. She has also worked as a research assistant for lead counsel at the International Criminal Court in the situation in the Republic of Kenya.

Prior to joining chambers, Kerrie worked 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.

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 numerous significant corporate investigations and provided advice on financial regulatory matters.

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 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.

Qualifications

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

Testimonials

"She is incredibly bright and fantastic with clients." Chambers UK 2025, Up and Coming: Crime
"Kerrie is a very impressive junior barrister." Chambers UK 2025, Up and Coming: Crime
"She is a fine advocate who always ensures the highest level of service is provided to those that instruct her." Chambers UK 2025, Up and Coming: Crime
"She is an utterly ethical and frighteningly sharp-witted barrister." Chambers UK 2025, Crime: International Criminal Law
"She is able to understand, analyse and advise on difficult legal situations which is invaluable to her clients." Chambers UK 2025, Crime: International Criminal Law
"She grasps complex issues swiftly and her oral arguments are very impressive." Chambers UK 2025, Crime: International Criminal Law
"She is bright, incisive and utterly determined." Chambers UK 2025, Crime: International Criminal Law
"She is a fearless advocate and commands respect in the courtroom." Chambers UK 2025, Crime: International Criminal Law
"Kerrie is as bright as a tack. She combines a huge intellect with an unrivalled work ethic. Her ability to grasp complicated legal issues is frighteningly good and her judgment is always excellent." Legal 500 2025, Crime
"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

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

Languages

French

Reported Cases

R v McDonagh [2023] EWCA Crim 1083 - Re reduction in minimum term for murder sentence to reflect ADHD diagnosis.
R v Omar [2023] EWCA Crim 341 - Re s76A PACE
R v Ward [2022] EWCA Crim 867- Re Sch.21, para 4(2) of the Sentencing Act 2020
R v Jauvel [2018] EWCA Crim 787 – Re judicial intervention and jury questions.
Re Steven Yaxley-Lennon [2018] EWCA Crim 1856 - Re procedural rules governing summary contempt of court proceedings.

Homicide

R v B - Instructed as led junior in a multi-handed ‘honey trap’ murder (St Albans Crown Court).
R v A - Instructed with regards to a multi-handed conspiracy to pervert the course of justice, related to the investigation of an attempted murder (Harrow Crown Court).
R v G - Instructed as led junior in a multi-handed joint enterprise murder (Nottingham Crown Court).
R v C - Instructed as led junior in a murder involving an alleged assault with a weapon (Leicester Crown Court).
R v W - Instructed as led junior in a murder involving an assault at a public house (Reading Crown Court).
R v O - Instructed as led junior in a multi-handed murder involving use of a firearm (Woolwich Crown Court).

Drugs

R v P - Instructed as led junior in a multi-handed trial for conspiracy to supply class A drugs, involving the use of “Encro” phones (Bolton Crown Court).
R v I - Instructed as led junior in a multi-handed conspiracy to supply class A drugs and conspiracy to keep a brothel for prostitution (Wood Green Crown Court).
R v M - Instructed in relation to charges of possession with intent to supply cocaine and heroin (Central Criminal Court).
R v O - Instructed in relation to charges of possession with intent to supply class B drugs into a detention centre (Leicester Crown Court)
R v F - Secured a community order for a defendant convicted of being concerned in the supply of class A drugs at a music festival (Winchester Crown Court)

General Crime

R v M - Instructed in relation to an allegation of possession of a firearm (Inner London Crown Court).
R v A - Instructed with regards to a multi-handed conspiracy to pervert the course of justice, related to the investigation of an attempted murder (Harrow Crown Court).
R v S - Instructed in relation to a multi-handed conspiracy to rob, relating to multiple knife point robberies on the London tube (Inner London Crown Court)
R v B - Instructed as led junior in a double kidnap, possession of firearms, blackmail, s.18 GBH and false imprisonment (Manchester Crown Court).
R v C – Instructed in relation to a multi-handed conspiracy to burgle high value items from a retail premises (Kingston Crown Court).
R v H - Instructed in relation to charges of s20 wounding (Peterborough Crown Court).
R v M - Instructed in relation to charges of possession with intent to supply cocaine and heroin (Central Criminal Court).
R v W - Instructed in relation to charges of perverting the course of justice (Blackfriars Crown Court).
R v F - Secured a community order for a defendant convicted of being concerned in the supply of class A drugs at a music festival (Winchester Crown Court)
R v R - Instructed in a multi handed blackmail matter (Ipswich Crown Court)
R v P - Instructed in a s.18 GBH matter concerning allegations of a stabbing (Wood Green Crown Court)
R v R - Instructed in relation to a s18 GBH matter concerning allegations of a group attack with a weapon (Chelmsford Crown Court)

Inquiries

Junior counsel to the Grenfell Tower Inquiry (Module 4), investigating the response of Category 1 and 2 responders and central government in the immediate aftermath of the fire.

White Collar Crime & Investigations

SFO v Jardine - Executive of G4S prosecuted by the SFO for fraud. Allegations related to Electronic Monitoring contracts with the Ministry of Justice. The SFO ultimately offered no evidence in the case.
USA v Usher - Foreign exchange trader prosecuted by the US Department of Justice for criminal cartel offences relating to an alleged conspiracy to fix prices in the $5 trillion-per-day global foreign exchange market.
Bank X - Internal investigation at a bank in relation to allegations of potential Wrongdoing.
SFO investigation into GlaxoSmithKline*.
International investigation into a multi-billion dollar corporate accountancy fraud*.
Representation of News UK in respect of allegations of telephone voicemail interception and corruption of public officials*.
* Matters worked on prior to joining 25 Bedford Row

Other Notable Fraud

R v S - Instructed as led junior in a multi-handed £10 million conspiracy to defraud, prosecuted by Trading Standards. The allegations concerned the targeted miss-selling of home improvement products to elderly and vulnerable customers.
R v K - Instructed as led junior in a multi-handed money laundering matter concerning the proceeds of a multi-million pound pension fraud (Southwark Crown Court).
R v B - Instructed as led junior in a matter involving multiple counts of fraud, theft and wilful neglect against a husband and wife who worked as carers for a number of vulnerable individuals (Salisbury Crown Court).
R v H - Instructed in a multi-handed money laundering matter arising out of rogue trading offences (Swindon Crown Court).
R v J - Instructed in relation to multiple charges of fraud by false representation (Woolwich Crown Court).