• "Her determined work and skilled cross-examination were really impressive. She was so well prepared." Chambers UK Crime 2024
  • "A phenomenal talent and a skilled cross-examiner. She is destined for greatness." Chambers UK Crime 2024
  • 'A brilliant junior who works extremely hard. She is insightful and good with the law.'
    Chambers UK Crime 2023
  • "Robust when she needs to be, but otherwise very approachable and friendly from the client's point of view. She's totally clued up on the law." Chambers UK Crime 2022
 

Arabella MacDonald

  • Arabella is an intelligent and talented advocate, who is committed to providing all of her clients with the highest level of representation

    Corporate & Financial Crime

    Arabella has experience prosecuting and defending individuals charged with various and wide-ranging types of fraud. She has a comprehensive and strategic approach to all her cases. She is known for being able to quickly grasp complex issues and large volumes of material. 

    Crime

    Arabella is a talented advocate who prosecutes and defends individuals charged with the full range of criminal offences. She is often instructed in cases above her call, both in her own right and as a led junior, and has developed a reputation for her ability to make and deal with complex legal arguments. She is known for her intelligent and innovative approach to all her cases, as well as her skills as a jury advocate. As a result, she is instructed in cases with high levels of sensitivity and complexity.

    Regulatory

    Arabella both presents and defends in a wide range of regulatory and professional disciplinary proceedings and has a detailed understanding of the healthcare and financial sectors.  She brings the expertise she has gleaned from her complex and technical cases in other fields and combines them with the advocacy skills developed from her criminal practice, to produce fantastic results.

    Public Law

    Arabella’s intellect and approach to advocacy make her the ideal candidate for instruction in this sphere. She is able to efficiently process vast amounts of complex material and present them in an attractive style.  She has proven herself able to successfully hold her own against those many years her senior.

    Reviews

    Chambers UK 2024: Crime - Band 6

    "Her determined work and skilled cross-examination were really impressive. She was so well prepared."  Chambers UK Crime (2024)

    "A phenomenal talent and a skilled cross-examiner. She is destined for greatness." Chambers UK Crime (2024)

    'A brilliant junior who works extremely hard. She is insightful and good with the law.' Chambers UK Crime (2023)

    'Robust when she needs to be, but otherwise very approachable and friendly from the client's point of view. She's totally clued up on the law.' Chambers UK Crime (2022)

    Appointments

    • CPS External Advocates Panel Grade 4
    • E&D Officer - QEBHW
    • Bar Mess assistant treasurer
    • Educational Secretary, Young Fraud Lawyers Association

    Professional Memberships

    • Criminal Bar Association
    • Chair of the Young Fraud Lawyers Association 

    Education

    • Bar Practice Training Course – BPP London
    • Ann Felicity Goddard Scholarship (Gray’s Inn)
    • Wilfred Getz Award (Gray’s Inn)
    • BA (Hons) Jurisprudence, Christ Church, University of Oxford

       

    Recent Cases

    News

    Articles

  • Corporate and Financial Crime

    A very bright junior, Arabella MacDonald is able to process and master the large volumes of material and complex issues that go hand in hand with corporate and financial crime.

    Overview

    Arabella has experience prosecuting and defending individuals charged with various and wide-ranging types of fraud. She has a comprehensive and strategic approach to all her cases. She is able to provide clear and pragmatic advice, and she is adept at dealing with the complexities that accompany such cases.

    Experience 

    Arabella  has broad experience of financial crime as prosecution and defence counsel, across various tiers of our legal system,  Recent instructions include individuals charged with: fraud by false representation; internet based frauds, where individuals have stolen bank and/or credit card details in order to purchase large quantities of goods online and in store; benefit frauds; identity frauds; and money laundering.

    Throughout 2015 and 2016 Arabella was  instructed by the Serious Fraud Office to assist with an investigation into liquidity auctions held by the Bank of England during the height of the financial crisis in 2007 and 2008. In 2017 she was instructed by the Financial Conduct Authority to assist with disclosure in a case involving numerous frauds perpetrated by one man over a significant period of time.

    Arabella has an in-depth understanding of the law and procedure relating to confiscation (both under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 and previous legislation). She is instructed to act at all stages of the confiscation process, for both the prosecution and the defence.

    In 2017 Arabella was instructed in an ongoing internal investigation, the details of which are confidential.

    Recent Cases

    • Sole counsel prosecuting two individuals accused of committing money laundering offences connected to a large-scale drugs conspiracy.

    • Arabella MacDonald is prosecuting an individual alleged to have fraudulently obtained thousands of pounds by posing as a jeweller

    • Arabella MacDonald is representing the first defendant, facing 14 counts of fraud by false representation.

    • Arabella MacDonald successfully prosecuted three individuals involved in a “crash for cash” scheme.

    • Sole Counsel representing a person facing 8 counts fraud by false representation and one count of possessing an article for use in fraud. Mr B received a suspended sentence following a guilty plea.

  • A first-class junior with experience of offences and complexities beyond her call, Arabella MacDonald is one to watch.

    Overview

    Arabella is a talented advocate who prosecutes and defends individuals charged with the full range of criminal offences. She is often instructed in cases above her call (in her own right, as a leader, and as a led junior) and has developed a reputation for her ability to make and deal with complex legal arguments. She is known for her intelligent and innovative approach to all her cases, as well as her skills as a jury advocate.

    Experience

    Arabella is an impressive junior who is instructed in complex multi-handed cases with high levels of sensitivity and complexity. This has included acting as junior counsel for the prosecution in the case of R v Seed, the trial of the final Hatton Garden burglar (believed to have been the largest ever burglary in English legal history). It has also included leading and being led in a number of cases involving alleged members of a proscribed terrorist organisation.

    Arabella’s experience includes prosecuting and defending individuals charged with: terrorism offences, homicide, rape, other crimes of a sexual nature (relating to both children and adults), possessing and distributing indecent images, grooming, crimes of violence, firearms offences, drug related offences, acquisitive crime, money laundering and/or fraud, immigration offences, and misconduct in public office.

    Arabella has experience at all levels of the English legal system, pre-charge through to appeal. 

    Notable Cases

    R v J and Others (2019)
    Leading Counsel, representing an individual being tried for membership of a proscribed terrorist organisation. Ongoing. 

    R v Seed (2019)
    Led Prosecution Counsel in the case of Michael Seed, who was convicted of conspiracy to burgle and money laundering. The prosecution case was that Mr Seed was the final Hatton Garden burglar, nicknamed ‘Basil’. 

    R v DB and Others (2018)
    Led Counsel for DB, who was alleged to have been a member of a proscribed terrorist organisation (National Action). 

    R v AD and Others (2018)
    Sole Counsel for DB, who was tried for inciting racial hatred. 

    R v B and Others (2018)
    Sole Prosecution Counsel in a case involving numerous breaches of a SOPO and failures to comply with notification requirements. LB had approached and befriended a vulnerable woman in order to gain access to her child. LB was convicted. 

    R v A and R (2017)
    Sole Counsel prosecuting two men alleged to have possessed and distributed indecent images of children. One defendant pleaded guilty and the other was convicted following trial. 

    R v BH and Others (2017)
    Led Counsel in two of a series of trials involving allegations of conspiring to incite prostitution for gain, rape, and various other drug and sex related offences (relating to both adults and children). BH was acquitted of rape and conspiring to incite prostitution. 

    R v C and Others (2017)
    Sole Counsel defending a man alleged to have taken part in violence before and during a football match. A formal not guilty verdict was entered following a successful half time submission. 

    R v MA and Others (2017)
    Led Counsel in one of a series of trials involving an alleged sex grooming network in the Newcastle Area. MA was acquitted of rape and sexual assault. 

    R v F and Others (2016)
    Sole Counsel for Mr F, an individual involved in a prison riot, during which another prisoner’s face was “slashed” by a blade welded into a toothbrush.

    R v A and Others (2015)
    Sole Counsel for the prosecution in a multi handed robbery of a child. All defendants were convicted. 

    R v A (2015)
    Sole Counsel for the prosecution. Mr A was charged with child cruelty, battery, and common assault, after he assaulted his wife and then held his three-year-old child hostage in order to avoid arrest. Mr A was convicted. 

    R v M (2015)
    Sole Counsel defending an individual charged with numerous breaches of a restraining order. Ms M had serious mental health problems, she had undoubtedly breached the restraining order, and was likely to continue doing so. Rather than simply proceeding to trial Arabella successfully appealed the imposition of the restraining order, resulting in no evidence being offered on all counts.

    Reviews

    Chambers UK 2023: Crime - Band 6

    Chambers UK 2022: Crime - Band 6

    'A brilliant junior who works extremely hard. She is insightful and good with the law.' Chambers UK Crime (2023)

    'Robust when she needs to be, but otherwise very approachable and friendly from the client's point of view. She's totally clued up on the law.' Chambers UK Crime (2022)

    Recent Cases

    News

  • A bright and versatile advocate, Arabella MacDonald impresses regulators and individuals alike with her ability to deal with complex issues and to persuasively present her cases in court.

    Overview

    Arabella both presents and defends in a wide range of regulatory and professional disciplinary proceedings and has a detailed understanding of the healthcare and financial sectors.  She brings the expertise she has gleaned from her complex and technical cases in other fields and combines them with the advocacy skills developed from her criminal practice, to produce fantastic results.

    Experience

    Arabella accepts instructions to prosecute and defend in regulatory and professional discipline cases.

    Throughout her practice Arabella has been instructed across the medical regulatory profession by both regulator and professional.  She has worked for, inter alia: the General Dental Council; the Royal College of Nursing; and the Nursing and Midwifery Council.

    In 2017, Arabella assisted the Financial Conduct Authority in an ongoing investigation into a director of a company. Her role included case preparation, financial analysis, disclosure, and other matters. Arabella is also regularly instructed by the Nursing and Midwifery Council and General Dental Council, and has assisted senior members of chambers in preparing cases being brought by the General Medical Council and police disciplinary matters.

    Recent Cases

    • Ms L faced numerous allegations of dishonesty and misconduct arising out of clinical failings and her failing to disclose the fact that she had been the subject of disciplinary proceedings to her new employer.

    • Ms N faced allegations of dishonesty following her failure to disclose convictions to her employer.

    • Arabella was instructed to present the resumed hearing before the Professional Conduct Committee in relation to Mr T, who had purchased and used counterfeit and non-complaint dental equipment (which was alleged to be financially motivated, misleading, and...

  • Inquests, Inquiries and Public Law

    Her thorough, considered and intelligent approach to a case make Arabella MacDonald the ideal candidate in this field.

    Overview 

    Arabella’s intellect and approach to advocacy make her the ideal candidate for instruction in this sphere. She is able to efficiently process vast amounts of complex material and present them in an attractive style.  She has proven herself able to successfully hold her own against those many years her senior.

    Experience

    Arabella has been instructed for both the claimant and interested parties in a number of Judicial Reviews. Arabella is able to quickly digest and understand complex legal issues and then construct original and persuasive legal arguments. Her style of advocacy is also well suited to High Court advocacy. As a result, she has been trusted by those who instruct her to act as Sole Counsel when other parties have been represented by Senior Juniors and Queen’s Counsel.

    Most recently Arabella represented two interested parties in a judicial review of the decision of a Crown Court, a Police Force, and the Crown Prosecution Service to reveal the identity of a Covert Human Intelligence Source (CHIS) to the defendants in an ongoing trial.

    Arabella is also instructed pro-bono, as a Led Junior, in an ongoing case involving a child who was born with Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) but was denied Criminal Injuries Compensation by the CICA. This is a complex and sensitive case that could have wide-ranging implications for a number of children suffering from FASD (who await the outcome of the appeal) and on the criminal law. 

    Arabella has a thorough understanding of the law and procedure relating to public inquiries and inquests. She provides advice and representation in relation to all features of the inquest process and, recently, she assisted Fieldfisher LLP, who were acting for the Coroner, in the Hillsborough Inquests.

    Notable Cases

    CICA v H (2018)
    Arabella is currently instructed in on ongoing appeal against the decision of the CICA not to award compensation to a child who was born with Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder, on the basis that she was not a “person” when the harm was inflicted. Ongoing.

    XY v Various Parties (2016)
    Arabella represented two defendants, who were interested parties in a Judicial Review brought against a Crown Court Judge, A Police Service, and the Crown Prosecution Service by a Covert Human Intelligence Source (CHIS).  Her argument was that the Crown Court was correct to order that the identity of the CHIS be disclosed to the defence but that the CPS and Police should have discontinued the case.

    Articles