NATALIA CONSTANTINE
YEAR OF CALL 2011
Natalia has a busy and diverse practice, specialising in crime, professional discipline, inquest, and public inquires. She is a dedicated and able advocate who is frequently commended for her sensitive approach to cases and clients. She prosecutes and defends in a wide range of criminal offences including Class A drug offences, serious sexual offences, complex fraud and violence both alone and as a led junior. She appears in the Court of Appeal and Crown Court, as well as a range of professional discipline settings. She is adept at tackling cases involving clients and witnesses with complex mental health issues, learning disabilities, and medical issues, which often traverse her practice areas.
Natalia is a Grade 3 CPS Advocate Panel member and has represented many private defence clients due to her ability to guide them and attend to their needs throughout the lifetime of the case. This is within the remit of criminal matters including all motoring offences and licensing law.
Natalia has particular expertise in evidence review, disclosure and Legal Professional Privilege in large scale investigations, including the Infected Blood Inquiry (instructed by the Government Legal Department) and the Post Office sub postmaster appeals. She has been instructed in several operations to act as independent counsel, and has advised the HMRC, Serious Fraud Office, National Crime Agency and the CPS on whether material is subject to LPP. She is fluent in the Greek language, and this has often been of great assistance throughout reviews.
Natalia has worked in an advisory capacity for the HMRC building a niche practice in advising on International Letters of Request and obtaining successful applications in the courts for production orders and search warrants. In turn, this makes her particularly skilled at advising banks and private individuals, who are subject to such orders, in potential appeals.
Before joining Chambers, Natalia worked at the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) regularly appearing at the Nursing and Midwifery Council, defending nurses in all types of fitness-to-practise hearings. With both a professional and academic background in medical law and ethics, Natalia welcomes instructions in a wide range of regulatory proceedings in the healthcare field. She has undertaken a wide range of work both prosecuting and defending. She regularly acts as a Presenting Officer for the HCPC in long and complex final hearings. Natalia has been instructed by the Medical Defence Union to defend doctors before the MPTS and has represented several GPs in Inquest hearings. She has further represented medical professionals and Trusts in Article 2 inquests.
Natalia has sat as a Legal Assessor for the National Registers of Communication Professionals working with Deaf and Deafblind People which ensures she has a wide-scale and in-depth knowledge of the law within the professional discipline field. She is also instructed to represent students before their university boards in misconduct hearings and welcomes instruction in this field.