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 and international criminal law. Kerrie is regularly instructed in matters before the Court of Appeal.

Kerrie was Co-Counsel in Prosecutor v Thaçi et al before the Kosovo Specialist Chambers in The Hague, representing former Kosovo Assembly Speaker Kadri Veseli, who faced allegations of war crimes and crimes against humanity. Prior to this, Kerrie was a member of the defence team for the first accused in the retrial of Prosecutor v Haradinaj et al before the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia. Kerrie's international practice is complemented by a strong background in human rights law. She was awarded an Inner Temple Pegasus Scholarship to undertake a fellowship with the Centre for Reproductive Rights in New York. During her fellowship, she conducted research and policy analysis in international human rights law, with a particular focus on the jurisprudence of the United Nations treaty bodies and the European Court of Human Rights.

Kerrie has significant experience in complex fraud, financial crime, and corporate investigations. She was part of the defence team representing a former FOREX trader prosecuted by the United States Department of Justice for alleged price-fixing in the foreign exchange market, culminating in an acquittal following trial in the Southern District of New York. She also acted as part of the defence team for a senior G4S executive prosecuted by the Serious Fraud Office in relation to electronic monitoring contracts with the Ministry of Justice. The SFO ultimately offered no evidence against the defendant. Before joining 25 Bedford Row, Kerrie worked as a legal assistant in the white-collar criminal defence practice at Arnold & Porter LLP, where she assisted on major corporate investigations and advised on financial regulatory matters.

Kerrie was appointed Junior Counsel to the Grenfell Tower Inquiry (Module 4), examining the humanitarian response of Category 1 and Category 2 responders, together with central government, in the immediate aftermath of the fire.

She is regularly instructed as fresh junior counsel in appeals concerning serious criminal offences, acting in both conviction and sentence appeals before the Court of Appeal. She has appeared in numerous reported cases.

Qualifications

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

Testimonials

"Kerrie is a great junior who is dedicated to the clients and the case." Chambers UK 2026, Crime
"She is brave and takes on the big and difficult legal challenges and holds her own." Chambers UK 2026, Crime
"Kerrie is good and a safe pair of hands. She did a very good cross-examination." Chambers UK 2026, Crime
"Kerrie is determined, does not let go of a point and is not afraid to keep going. She is a hard worker." Chambers UK 2026, Crime: International Criminal Law
"Kerrie is an excellent barrister. Her clarity of thought and her work ethic set her apart from her peers." Legal 500 2026, Crime
"Sharp as a tack; incisive witness handler with the ultimate goal firmly and throughout in her sights. Written advocacy displays a deep understanding of the relevant law." Legal 500 2026, International Human Rights and Criminal Law
"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 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
London Irish Lawyers Association
Human Rights Lawyers Association
Women in Criminal Law

Languages

French

Reported Cases

R v Pearce [2025] EWCR 12: Re definition of “public officer” for the purpose of misconduct in public office.
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 SYL [2018] EWCA Crim 1856: Re procedural rules governing summary contempt of court proceedings.

Homicide

R v N: Instructed as a led junior in a murder involving assault with a weapon (Central Criminal Court).
R v B: Instructed as led junior in a murder involving a domestic stabbing incident between a daughter and her mother (Central Criminal Court).
R v B: Instructed as led junior in a multi-handed ‘honey trap’ murder (St Albans 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).

Serious Crime

R v H: Instructed in relation to allegations of perverting the course of justice, related to a murder investigation (Harrow Crown Court).
R v J: Instructed in relation to allegations of computer misuse (section 3ZA) arising from the 2024 cyber attack on Transport for London (TfL).
R v K: Instructed in relation to allegations of entering into a £23 million cryptocurrency money laundering arrangement (Southwark Crown Court).
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)

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).

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).