Barrister Profile

Main Areas of Practice

Administrative Law or Judicial Review
Coroners or Inquests
Employment Law
Personal Injury

Biography

Leona was called to the Bar of Northern Ireland in 2014. She has been a member of the GLSNI Civil Panel since 2017 (B Panel since 2023), receiving instructions from the Departmental and Crown Solicitors. She is also a member of the Attorney General for Northern Ireland’s Panel. She has represented private clients and government bodies including PSNI, NIO, MOD, PPS, NIPS and many of the local Departments.

Leona has a varied practice, with a particular focus on civil litigation.She appears regularly in the County Court and High Court representing both
Plaintiffs and Defendants. In her defence practice, she has experience in matters involving PII.

As part of her wide-ranging civil practice, she also regularly appears at the Employment Tribunal representing Claimants and employers. She has been involved in judicial review and recently appeared at the Supreme Court in a challenge based on article 5 and 14 ECHR concerning recall provisions for different types of prisoner.

Leona is currently junior counsel for the Department of Health in the Urology Services Inquiry. She also appears regularly in legacy inquests, including Coagh, Clonoe and Geddis.

Qualifications

•Member of Government Legal Service for Northern Ireland B Panel

• Member of Attorney General’s Junior Counsel Panel

•Member of Shadow Civil Justice Sub-Committee

• 2015; Winner of the Attorney General for Northern Ireland prize

• 2014; Certificate of Professional Legal Studies, Institute of Professional Legal Studies, Queen’s University, Belfast.

• 2013; LL.M Corporate Governance with Distinction, Queen’s University,Belfast.

• 2012; LL.B Single Honours Law, Queen’s University, Belfast.