Charlotte Godber

Called to the Bar:2014

  • Overview

    Charlotte Godber is a mature and impressive barrister. She is an excellent communicator with a conscientious and intelligent approach to every case. 

    Charlotte’s early career as a Senior Press Officer in the Cabinet Office and No. 10, make her an exceptional and versatile communicator. She has a unique ability to engage with a wide variety of audiences whether that’s a jury, the chair of a public inquiry, or a vulnerable client.

    Charlotte is strategic in her approach to each stage of the case no matter how complex or simple the issue – from an international money laundering conspiracy with thousands of pages of evidence, to a fight in a car park captured on CCTV, allegations of sexual assault, driving offences or a public inquiry into a major national incident.

    In court Charlotte is respected as a reliable, persuasive and intelligent advocate. She is a highly effective at cross-examination, dealing with expert evidence, conducting legal arguments and making speeches.

    Charlotte specialises in crime and public law.

    Crime  

    A talented and conscientious advocate with a reputation for excellent client care from first instructions right through to trial. Charlotte's practice encompasses the full range of criminal offences.

    Public Law

    Charlotte's intelligent and thorough approach make her a highly sought-after advocate in inquiry and inquest work.

    A talented junior with an impressive practice in public law, particularly Public Inquiry work. Charlotte has worked on several of the most high-profile public inquiries including the Grenfell Tower Inquiry and the Manchester Arena Inquiry where she was instructed as Counsel to the Inquiry.

    Charlotte is currently instructed on the Covid Inquiry, and the Lampard Inquiry.

    Charlotte accepts instructions in Inquests. In 2022, Charlotte juniored for Matthew Reeve KC (Quadrant Chambers) in the Emiliano Sala Inquest.

    Reviews 

    Chambers UK 2024: Inquests and Inquiries - Up and Coming 

    Legal 500 2023: Inquests and Inquiries: Tier 5

    "She is a hard-working and pleasant advocate." Chambers UK Inquests and Inquiries (2024)

    Appointments 

    • Direct Access appointed
    • CPS Grade 3 Prosecutor
    • Counsel for the Home Office (Asylum and Immigration Appeals) 
    • Government Legal Department Junior Junior counsel list
    • The Youth Justice Legal Centre approved counsel

    Professional Memberships

    • Women in Criminal Law
    • Middle Temple
    • Association of London Welsh Lawyers
    • Centre for Women's Justice

    Publications

    • Contributed to an investigation by ITV and the Evening Standard into the Single Justice Procedure

    • Credited as a researcher in Sentencing for offences of cheating the revenue (R v Michael Richards and others) for LexisNexis (2017).
    • Contributed to research for – ‘A Practical Guide to INTERPOL and Red Notices (Bloomsbury)' by Christopher David and Nicholas Hearn.

    Education 

    • LLM Law, BPP University
    • BPTC, BPP University (Queen Mother scholar)
    • GDL, City Law School
    • English BA Hons Queen Mary University (& Berkeley, University of California, USA)
    • State school educated (Charlotte is happy to give talks at London state schools for students who are interested in a career in law)

       

     

    Privacy Notice

    Recent Cases

    News

  • Corporate and Financial Crime

    A professional advocate with a calm, confident approach to complex financial crime.

    Overview

    Charlotte's experience in this field spans the defence and prosecution of corporates and individuals facing allegations of financial dishonesty.   She is adept at collaborating with large teams as well as acting as sole counsel. 

    Her earliest experience was in conducting an internal investigation into Rolls Royce, with a team at Wilmer Hale.  She was subsequently instructed by the FCA to participate in a major investigation into TSB.  Most recently she represented an employee of a company on matters relating to fraud by misrepresentation and market fraud, in connection to the Grenfell disaster.

    Experience

    Prior to joining Chambers, Charlotte gained experience working on an anti-bribery and corruption risk assessment as part of a global compliance review for the major international corporation, Rolls Royce.  

    Since joining chambers, Charlotte's practice has developed to include instructions by the Bank of England, HMRC and the Financial Conduct Authority, providing advice and assistance on ongoing financial investigations.  Charlotte has also assisted in case preparation for individuals facing investigation by the Serious Fraud Office; the Financial Conduct Authority, and; the US Department of Justice.

    Charlotte was instructed by the FCA to work on a major investigation into TSB which resulted in a fine of £48,650,000 for operational risk management and governance failures, including management of outsourcing risks, relating to the bank’s IT upgrade programme. She recently prosecuted on behalf of the HMRC in POCA proceedings arising from the illegal sale of tobacco.

    Across her work, Charlotte has experience of cross-jurisdictional investigations.  She was instructed by the Director of the Criminal Division in Jersey to assess and review issues arising from disclosure. 

    Her experience of disclosure is vast, she has completed advices and exercises for large corporates as well as for prosecution teams.  Charlotte was part of a team to review disclosure for the investigation into failings at the Post Office.

    Charlotte enjoys working as sole counsel and as part of a larger team, collaborating and supporting as well as taking the lead.  She was a former civil servant and since being called to the Bar has worked on vast Inquiries (Manchester Arena Bombing, Covid-19) and large multi-handed trials (supported the Hatton Garden trial and murder trials).  Her experience is diverse and extends beyond her level of call.

    Recent Cases

  • Crime

    A talented and conscientious advocate with a reputation for excellent client care. Charlotte's practice, both publicly and privately funded, encompasses the full range of criminal offences. 

    Overview

    A talented and conscientious advocate with a reputation for excellent client care from initial instruction right through to trial. Charlotte's practice encompasses the full range of criminal offences.

    Charlotte is an approachable and highly intelligent advocate with a professional and realistic approach. In court Charlotte has a reputation as an impressive jury advocate with excellent judgement and a confident, persuasive manner.

    Charlotte can be relied on to apply the same conscientious, intellectual rigour to every case. This reliable approach, combined with her ability to communicate and engage with clients, make her a very popular advocate.

    Charlotte is also well regarded as a conscientious and scrupulously fair prosecutor. Her meticulous preparation and engagement with the issues early on in a case make her a highly effective Crown advocate.

    Charlotte also has Court of Appeal experience including receiving instructions from the Registrar.

    Experience

    Charlotte applies the same conscientious, intellectual rigour to every case. This reliable approach, combined with her ability to communicate and engage with clients, make her a sought-after advocate.

    Recent cases include sexual assaults, rape, murder (led by Ali Bajwa KC) robbery, burglary, possession with intent to supply (drugs), coercive or controlling behaviour, assault, ABH, GBH, arson, juror misconduct, driving offences, and perverting the course of justice.

    Recent Cases

    News

  • Regulatory

    A skilled advocate with a keen interest and aptitude for all aspects of regulatory law.

    Overview

    Charlotte has a family background in medicine and has an interest in all medical regulatory work. She has previously been instructed by the Nursing and Midwifery Council. Charlotte has represented medical professionals in the coroner’s court.

    As a keen and accomplished sportswoman Charlotte has an interest in all sports tribunal work. Charlotte has been instructed by the Football Association and advised UK Anti-doping. 

    Experience

    Charlotte has a broad experience of medical regulatory work. She has been instructed by the Nursing and Midwifery Council, and has assisted on General Optical Council and General Dental Council disciplinary cases.

    Charlotte has assisted members of Chambers on sports regulatory cases and is keen to develop this area of her practice.  Charlotte contributed to a ‘Review of the Criminalisation of Doping in Sport’, and continues to monitor international developments in this area.

  • Inquests, Inquiries and Public Law

    Charlotte's intelligent and thorough approach make her a highly sought-after advocate in inquiry and inquest work. 

    Overview

    A talented junior with an impressive practice in public law, particularly Public Inquiry work. Charlotte is currently instructed on the Covid-19 Inquiry, the Grenfell Tower Inquiry. Charlotte was previously instructed on the Manchester Arena Inquiry for Counsel to the Inquiry.

    Experience

    Charlotte has developed an impressive practice particularly in Public Inquiry work. She has worked on several of the most high-profile public inquiries including the Grenfell Tower Inquiry and the Manchester Arena Inquiry where she was instructed as Counsel to the Inquiry.

    Charlotte is currently instructed on the Covid Inquiry, and the Lampard Inquiry.

    Prior to studying law, Charlotte worked in the Cabinet Office and No.10 Communications department. This role included working on the Iraq ('Chilcot') Inquiry.

    Charlotte has represented families and medical professionals at inquests.

    In a high profile inquest into the death of a young footballer, Emiliano Sala, Charlotte was instructed by the family and worked with an aviation specialist Matthew Reeve KC (of Quadrant Chambers).

    Reviews 

    Chambers UK 2024: Inquests and Inquiries - Up and Coming 

    Legal 500 2023: Inquests and Inquiries: Tier 5

    Recent Cases