Lisa Wilson
  • Lisa is an incredibly bright lawyer and a highly skilled advocate who is formidable in court.

    Chambers UK 2025, Crime

  • She exudes confidence and knowledge whenever she walks into a courtroom and gets to the crux of a matter incredibly quickly.

    Chambers UK 2025, Crime

  • Lisa is an unbelievable advocate.

    Chambers UK 2025, Crime

  • She is dedicated and committed to advocating her clients' interests to the fullest extent.

    Chambers UK 2025, Crime

  • She is a great barrister and her representation of clients is exceptional.

    Chambers UK 2025, Crime

  • Lisa is the go-to counsel for complex and serious offences now. 

    Legal 500 2025, Crime

  • Her advocacy is more than persuasive and not only do juries love her she has a stellar reputation with court staff, juges and her opponents. 

    Legal 500 2025, Crime

  • She is calm yet persistent and wll notice the tiniest of details that in reality could win a case. 

    Legal 500 2025, Crime

  • Her cross-examination is also phenomenal.

    Legal 500 2025, Crime

  • Lisa is committed to achieving the best outcome and ensures that all avenues are covered in the preparation of her cases. 

    Chambers UK 2024, Crime

  • Lisa has a charming and commanding presence in the court room.

    Legal 500 2024, Crime

  • She is fearless in the representation of her lay clients and juries love her and her calm, persistent, and persuasive manner. 

    Legal 500 2024, Crime

  • A quite formidable advocate and a real star of the bar.

    Legal 500 2024, Crime

  • A very articulate barrister with sound judgement.

    Chambers UK 2023, Crime

  • Lisa is a consummate professional and a fearsome courtroom advocate.

    Legal 500 2023, Crime

  • She is a brilliant advocate who is always willing to go the extra mile.

    Chambers UK 2022

  • The complete package of the industry, charm, talent, dedication and fearlessness. 

    Chambers UK 2021

  • She has a tireless work ethic and sound judgement.

    Legal 500 2021

  • A good battler.

    Legal 500 2020

Called 2006

Lisa Wilson

"Tenacious, talented and fizzing with a crusading spirit." Legal 500.

Lisa is a specialist defence practitioner, instructed in cases covering all aspects of criminal law. Recognised as a leading individual in crime, she is sought-after to defend in cases involving serious violent crime, including murders, armed robberies, kidnaps and serious sexual offences. She has developed particular expertise in baby shaking cases. She is also frequently instructed in complex frauds and multi-laundering offences and major drug trafficking offences.

Lisa has experience of advising and  representing  individuals in a range of professions in specialist regulatory and professional discipline proceedings, including on behalf of medical and other healthcare professionals and sports professionals. Lisa has regularly appeared before The General Medical Council, Nursing and Midwifery Council, Health and Care Professions Council in a broad range of matters and has been instructed directly by the Football Association.

Lisa is an Advanced Advocacy Trainer of the Inner Temple. She is a skilled and sensitive court advocate and cross examiner and is highly adept at dealing with both complex legal challenges and difficult witnesses. With a background in medical ethics and having received training from the National Autistic Society, Lisa is regularly instructed to defend those who are suffering from mental health difficulties. She is recognised for her skilful handling of cases involving young and vulnerable defendants and is experienced in examining Consultant psychiatrists and working with intermediaries. Consequently, she is regularly instructed in high-profile cases, including the David Beckham and Keira Knightly ‘stalker cases’.

Lisa is highly committed to the defence of those she represents, which has resulted in numerous successful appearances at all levels including in the Court of Criminal Appeal. She has a busy Court of Appeal post-conviction referral practice, including advising on appeal against convictions and sentences.

In August 2023, Lisa was appointed a Governing Master of the Bench of the Honourable Society of the Inner Temple. 

Recent Case Highlights

  • R v Robert Shorter, Central Criminal Court – Perverting the Course of Justice arising from the disposal of a body following a homicide. Junior alone prosecuted by two silks.
  • R v Nicholas Ward – Murder – Loss of Control defence after defendant admitted stabbing his best friend 51 times in an argument about a computer. Widely reported by the press. Led by Laurie-Anne Power KC.
  • R v DDH – Father accused of historic child sexual offences against his two daughters. Acquitted of 16 counts.  
  • R v Patterson – Attempted Murder and Firearms – Junior alone. Acquitted of all counts.
  • R v JEJunior alone defending mentally unfit grandmother in one of the largest child sex grooming gang cases. 21 defendants convicted. Contested unfitness hearing, involving the calling and cross examination of consultant psychiatrists and dementia experts. Client found unfit and received a supervision order.     
  • R v Nguyen (Op Unveil) - £850,000 Money Laundering Conspiracy involving people smuggling, drug trafficking and sham marriages. Instructed to take over role as leading counsel during trial at request of lay client.
  • R v Kirkman – ‘Baby-Shaking’ case representing mother. Avoided imprisonment.  
  • R v Bell – ‘David Beckham’ stalker case. Avoided conviction.

Associated Work

  • Bernard Sunley Award (Knights of the Round Table)
  • Advanced Advocacy Trainer, Honourable Society of Inner Temple
  • Lead Scholarship Interview, Honourable Society of Inner Temple
  • Criminal Bar Association Working Group on Court Capacity
  • Policy Committee, Women in Criminal Law
  • Vice President of the Association of Women Barrister
  • Lectures on regulatory law and procedure.
  • Pegasus Scholar, 2015-16 (Meredith Connell, Auckland, NZ; Crown Law, Wellington, NZ)
  • Judicial Assistant at Southwark Crown Court, 2008 (R v Rastogi & Others - £340 million metal fraud)

Appointments

  • Fee-paid Judge of the Employment Tribunal (England and Wales) (July 2024).
  • Fee-paid Judge of the First-Tier Tribunal, assigned to the Health, Education and Social Care Chamber (July 2024).

Recent Testimonials 

  • "She is dedicated and committed to advocating her clients' interests to the fullest extent." Chambers UK 2025, Crime
  • "She is a great barrister and her representation of clients is exceptional." Chambers UK 2025, Crime
  • "Lisa is an incredibly bright lawyer and a highly skilled advocate who is formidable in court." Chambers UK 2025, Crime
  • "She exudes confidence and knowledge whenever she walks into a courtroom and gets to the crux of a matter incredibly quickly." Chambers UK 2025, Crime
  • "Lisa is an unbelievable advocate." Chambers UK 2025, Crime
  • "Lisa is the go-to counsel for complex and serious offences now. Her advocacy is more than persuasive and not only do juries love her she has a stellar reputation with court staff, juges and her opponents. She is calm yet persistent and wll notice the tiniest of details that in reality could win a case. Her cross-examination is also phenomenal." Legal 500 2025, Crime
  • "Lisa is committed to achieving the best outcome and ensures that all avenues are covered in the preparation of her cases." Chambers UK 2024, Crime
  • "Lisa has a charming and commanding presence in the court room. She is fearless in the representation of her lay clients and juries love her and her calm, persistent, and persuasive manner. A quite formidable advocate and a real star of the bar." Legal 500 2024, Crime
  • "Lisa is a consummate professional and a fearsome courtroom advocate." Legal 500 2023, Crime
  • "She is a brilliant advocate who is always willing to go the extra mile." Chambers UK 2022
  • "Forever effervescent, able and prodigiously hard-working, Lisa is a hugely capable lawyer, persuasive advocate and masters all aspects of complex cases in an organised and timely fashion. She is a pleasure to lead and a delight to be in a case with" Legal 500 2022, Crime
  • "The complete package of the industry, charm, talent, dedication and fearlessness." Chambers UK 2021 
  • "She has a tireless work ethic and sound judgement." Legal 500 2021
  • "A good battler." Legal 500 2020 

Articles

  • 'Lady Hale makes her own luck’, The Times, The Brief, 24 July 2017
  • ‘DNA in the Courtroom’ (Stuart Miller)
  • ‘Would you rather be a Bitch or a Bimbo?’ (Counsel magazine)
  • ‘An Overview of Previous Working Party Reports’; Appendix to the Bar Working Party Final Report (Lord Neuberger).

Professional Memberships

  • Association of Women Barristers (Vice President)
  • South Eastern Circuit
  • Criminal Bar Association
  • Women in Criminal Law