Róisín is developing a broad practice across all of Chambers’ practice areas, including criminal, environmental, planning and public law. She joined Chambers in October 2024 following completion of her pupillage under the supervision of Nina Ellin KC, Christopher Badger, Grace Cullen, and Mark Davies.
Róisín is currently instructed as Counsel to the Department of Health and Social Care for Module 7 of the Covid-19 Inquiry. Further details of her work and recent cases can be found using the links on the left.
Róisín is particularly interested in environmental law, having studied and worked in this field before coming to the Bar. She previously worked with the Centre for Climate Engagement at the University of Cambridge, and is an Editor of the Centre’s Law & Climate Atlas – a resource that explores the intersection between climate change and various legal areas. Róisín also acts as an Expert Advisor to the International Court for the Environment Coalition.
Prior to coming to the Bar, Róisín also worked with Amnesty International on their Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Bill and Abortion campaigns. Before this, she gained experience of strategic litigation before the European Court of Human Rights while working as a Caseworker at the AIRE Centre by helping to prepare third-party interventions in cases concerning human trafficking, asylum, and extradition law.
Róisín holds an LLB (First Class) from Trinity College Dublin, and an LLM (First Class) from the University of Cambridge. She was awarded the Hugh Bevan Prize for securing the highest mark in the LLM at Wolfson College, Cambridge.
Crime
Róisín appears regularly in the Crown, Magistrates’ and Youth Courts. She is a Grade 1 CPS Prosecutor and accepts both prosecution and defence work. She is particularly interested in youth justice, having completed ICCA training, Advocacy for Children in Conflict with the Law.
Notable cases include:
R v AE (Maidstone Crown Court)
Róisín represented AE who was charged with breaching a non-molestation order. The defence of reasonable excuse was successfully invoked to secure AE’s acquittal.
R v TB (Medway Magistrates’ Court)
Róisín secured the acquittal of TB who had been charged with a public order offence contrary to section 4 of the Public Order Act 1986. At the time of the incident, TB was working as a nightclub bouncer. CCTV showed TB striking a man on the head who was on the ground with his back turned to the defendant. TB believed that the man, who had been physically aggressive earlier in the evening, was searching for a knife and feared for his own safety and that of others. Self-defence was successfully relied upon on the basis that the force used was necessary and reasonable in the circumstances.
R v KR (Medway Magistrates’ Court)
Secured the acquittal of KR who had been charged with five counts of assault, each involving a different complainant, all of whom were employees at the care home she managed. The complainants alleged that the defendant had consumed alcohol and physically assaulted them during a shift at the care home. Following a two day trial, the Magistrates’ acquitted KR of each count on the basis of inconsistencies revealed during Róisín’s cross-examination.
R v KM (Maidstone Magistrates’ Court)
Róisín had proceedings stayed as an abuse of process. A simple caution had been issued for the offences charged, however, the Prosecution subsequently sought to prosecute KM for the offences. Róisín argued that a stay was necessary to protect the integrity of the criminal justice system owing to the principle against sequential trials; and because the defendant had acted on an unequivocal assurance that he would not be prosecuted to his disadvantage. She also highlighted that KM was only 16 years old when the offences were committed and therefore the principal aims of the youth justice system were engaged.
R v PB (Inner London Crown Court)
Secured a sentence of 4 years and 8 months for two counts of being concerned in the supply of Class A drugs and two counts of modern slavery offences for a man who was already serving a lengthy prison sentence for other drug matters. Róisín also successfully resisted the prosecution’s application for a Slavery and Trafficking Prevention Order, arguing that it was unnecessary and any risk would be managed by a custodial sentence.
R v MS (Bromley Youth Court)
Represented a youth defendant at first appearance and sentence. MS fell to be sentenced for seven offences, including two counts of being concerned in the supply of Class A drugs, and three counts of possession of offensive weapons in a private place. Róisín persuaded the Bench to impose a referral order (the most lenient youth sentence) rather than a sentence of immediate custody.
R v CN (Canterbury Crown Court)
Prosecuted a sentencing hearing where a restriction order was imposed under section 41 of the Mental Health Act 1983. As part of the hearing, Róisín called a medical expert to give evidence regarding why a restriction order was appropriate in circumstances.
R v LJ (Folkestone Magistrates’ Court)
Defended a man charged with assaulting a 10 year-old child, and the mother of the child, which involved Róisín cross-examining the child.
R v TC (Margate Magistrates’ Court)
Róisín defended a man charged with stalking in a two day trial. Although TC was found guilty, the district judge was persuaded to take an exceptional course of action by way of sentence, and imposed a conditional discharge.
Róisín has also prosecuted a CPS List at Medway Magistrates Court.
Róisín spent four months of pupillage with Nina Ellin KC where she assisted Nina with a range of cases, including R v Sakalauskas [2023] (joint enterprise murder), and R v Ahmed [2023] (16 count indictment including counts of rape, child abduction, and attempt to supply Class A drugs). Her tasks included assisting to:
- Prepare a submission of no case to answer.
- Prepare cross examination.
- Draft closing speeches.
- Draft a legal note for the Court on the correct procedure to be followed when a 15 year old takes an oath.
- Analyse evidence in cases, including CCTV, forensics, and cell site data.
Environment
Róisín is currently instructed to advise a group of residents on the ownership of tunnels constructed beneath their homes during WWII, pursuant to the Official Secrets Act 1939, and environmental issues related to their excavation.
During pupillage, Róisín was supervised by Christopher Badger and assisted him with:
• Drafting part of the skeleton argument for ClientEarth, Good Law Project and Friends of the Earth (No 2) v Secretary of State for Energy and Net Zero [2024] EWHC 995 (Admin). She also assisted with various pieces of legal research before and during the hearings.
• Drafting a defence to a claim against a water company concerning public nuisance.
• Research in connection with defences under the Persistent Organic Pollutants Regulations 2007.
• Research into excluding evidence on the basis of unlawfully obtained warrants in environmental proceedings.
• Research concerning the right of amenity to swim in the sea which considered issues of public nuisance and special damage.
• Drafted a response to a request for disclosure pursuant to the duty of candour and the Environmental Information Regulations.
Other work during her pupillage included:
• Drafted an advice for Richard Banwell on whether there was sufficient evidence to prosecute under the Control of Major Accident Regulations (“COMAH”) Regulations 2015.
• Drafted an advice for Nick Ostrowski on what causes of action could be brought against a water company taking into consideration Marcic and the Dobson cases.
Other work:
• Róisín is a member of UKELA’s Climate Change and Energy Group and was the ‘Key contributor’ to their response to the Government consultation on draft supplementary EIA guidance for assessing the effects of scope 3 emissions from offshore oil and gas projects (January 2025).
• Before pupillage, Róisín worked with the Centre for Climate Engagement at the University of Cambridge. She is an Editor of the Centre’s Law & Climate Atlas. Whilst working with the Centre, she researched the duties of directors, asset managers and other professionals in respect of climate change in contribution to its policy outputs.
• Róisín has sat on panels at events at the University of Cambridge to speak about her work in climate change law.
• Róisín is an expert advisor to the International Court for the Environment Coalition.
Planning
Róisín welcomes instructions in planning law.
At the start of her tenancy, Róisín undertook a secondment with Hackney Borough Council. While at the Council, she negotiated and drafted section 106 agreements and deeds of variation, and provided legal advice to planning inspectors.
During her pupillage, Róisín undertook a range of planning work, including:
- Drafted an opinion for Megan Thomas KC in relation to the repayment of planning application fees pursuant to Regulation 9a of the Town & Country Planning (Fees For Applications, Deemed Applications, Requests And Site Visits) (England) Regulations 2012.
- Drafted an advice for Noemi Byrd which concerned an application under the Wildlife And Countryside Act 1981 for the making of a definitive map modification order to add a public footpath.
- Drafted an opening note for Peter Cruickshank for a planning enforcement case.
Regulatory / Professional Disciplinary
Róisín welcomes instructions in regulatory and professional disciplinary law. Her experience includes:
• Prosecuting 14 food safety offences on behalf of a local authority in relation to a food takeaway business.
• Acting as a Case Presenter for the Nursing and Midwifery Council in a range of professional disciplinary cases.
• Acting for a taxi driver in his licencing appeal against TfL.
Public Inquiries
Róisín is instructed as Counsel to the Department of Health and Social Care for Module 7 of the Covid-19 Inquiry. She was previously instructed as Counsel to the Medicines and Healthcare Regulatory Agency (led by Jonathan Dixey and Lucy Plumpton) for Module 4 of the Covid-19 Inquiry.
Public Law
Róisín welcomes instructions in all areas of public law.
She is currently instructed by the Government Legal Department in a case concerning the Parole Board. Her past work includes:
• Preparing grounds of defence in a judicial review claim on behalf of the Government Legal Department.
• Assisting to prepare an application for a Restriction of Proceedings order on behalf of the Government Legal Department.
Prior to coming to the Bar, Róisín worked as a paralegal at specialist immigration law firm, Wesley Gryk LLP. She also worked as a caseworker at the AIRE Centre where she assisted to prepare third party interventions in asylum and immigration law cases before the European Court of Human Rights.
General Civil Law
Róisín accepts instructions across the breadth of civil law. Her experience includes:
- Applying for Stalking Protection Orders, Sexual Risk Orders, and Closure Orders on behalf of Kent Police. She also has experience of defending stalking protection orders against the Metropolitan Police.
- Landlord and tenant law, including possession hearings.
- Road traffic accident claims.
Human Rights
Róisín welcomes instructions in human rights law.
During her pupillage, she assisted Stephen Hockman KC with research concerning Article 6 ECHR and delays in proceedings which formed the basis of a letter to the Court, persuading the judge to pass judgment without further delay.
Róisín gained considerable experience of human rights law prior to coming to the Bar.
While working with Amnesty International, she worked on the Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Bill, and Abortion campaigns. She also worked at the AIRE Centre as a caseworker where she helped to prepare third party interventions in cases before the European Court of Human Rights; published case comments in the Western Balkans Judicial Bulletin; drafted research papers; and designed a vulnerability training program for professionals working with asylum seekers across Europe.
While undertaking her LLM, she helped the Cambridge Pro Bono Project to advise the Inter-American Court of Human Rights on a live case concerning women’s reproductive rights. This built on her experience as a research assistant to Dr Donna Lyons at Trinity College Dublin where she explored the relationship between Covid-19 and international human rights law frameworks.
Education
LLB, Trinity College Dublin (First Class) (2020)
LLM in International Law, University of Cambridge (First Class) (2022)
Bar Training Course, Inns of Court College of Advocacy (2023)
Awards
Hugh Bevan Prize, Wolfson College, University of Cambridge (awarded for the most distinguished performance in the LLM by a Wolfson Student)
Outstanding Graduate Letter – Cross-Examination, Inns of Court College of Advocacy (awarded for receiving the highest mark out of 80 students in the Cross-Examination module)
Astbury Bar Course Scholarship, Middle Temple
Harmsworth Entrance Exhibition, Middle Temple
Lectures and Speaking Events
Panellist at the annual Wolfson College Law Society & Alumni Event, University of Cambridge at the International Law and Human Rights (Inclusive of Climate Change Litigation under the ECHR) session (Feb 2024).
Panellist at the Cambridge Net Zero Festival at the Law for climate action: Using legal levers to address climate change session (October 2022).
Guest lecturer at London South Bank University: delivered two guest lectures on Ireland’s Asylum System for an MSc course, ‘Asylum Policy in the EU and Member States’ (25th Nov 2020 and 24th Nov 2021).
Memberships
UK Environmental Law Association (UKELA)
Planning and Environmental Bar Association (PEBA)
London Irish Lawyers Association (LILA)
Administrative Law Bar Association (ALBA)
Legal Voices for the Future.
International Court for the Environment Coalition.
Middle Temple
Publications
Róisín Finnegan and Anastasia Kantzelis, ‘Air Pollution and Public Health: Legal Challenges and Opportunities in the UK’ (December 2024) UKELA elaw
Is it better to lose some control? The stance of the Irish courts and legislature on closely-held companies and whether ‘control’ will justify piercing the corporate veil (Irish Law Times, 29 Oct 2021)
Latest news
Air Pollution and Public Health: Legal Challenges and Opportunities in the UK
Ana Kantzelis and Róisín Finnegan contributed to UKELA’s December edition of elaw with an article titled ‘Air Pollution and Public Health: Legal Challenges and...
Blog
International Court of Justice Advisory Opinion on States’ obligations in respect of climate change – Interview with Ana Kantzelis
Since 2 December, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) has been hearing oral submissions in the long-awaited advisory opinion proceedings on the obligations of...
The recent sentencing of climate protestors
On 18th July 2024, attentions were drawn to the sentences received by five Just Stop Oil activists, including its co-founder, Roger Hallam, for the...
Environmental Law News Update
Case law reviews In R (on application of River Action UK) v Environment Agency and others [2024] EWHC 1279 (Admin), the Court heard a case...
Environmental Law News Update
In this latest Environmental Law News Update, Róisín Finnegan discusses using private law to tackle climate change in light of the recent Supreme Court...