Professional Associations

• Called to the Bar in July 1985 by Lincoln's Inn
• Member of the Criminal Bar Association
• Registered Pupil Supervisor

Areas of Specialisation

Grace is a senior criminal and general common law practitioner. She was born in Singapore and has been in the UK since 1981. She therefore speaks conversational Mandarin Chinese and Cantonese. She also speaks French (speech is somewhat rusty) having studied it for her 'A' levels. She has some understanding of Malay and is rapidly learning Italian. She also speaks rudimentary Scottish Gaelic due to her love for Scotland!

She has extensive experience of all levels of criminal trials, from multi-handed murder cases to serious sexual abuse allegations, where she has appeared in her earlier years as junior counsel and in latter years as leading junior. She also has experience in dealing with Immigration cases.

She has a particular eye for detail and is a very useful advocate to have with a difficult client or opponent. Her eye for detail and persistence when she does not get an answer to her questions means that she is particularly good when issues of disclosure arise. She acts for both defence and prosecution.

She has an outwardly gentle manner behind which lurks lethal cross-examination which makes her a particular asset in cases where it is necessary to cross-examine supposedly vulnerable or young witnesses.

She also does private family work and some civil work. Of note was a High Court matrimonial finance case in 1998 where she discovered the ex-husband was concealing a Swiss bank account despite pleading poverty - in the middle of the trial, which led to a substantial order being made against him. She has also acted for applicants and respondents in contested cases involving contact to and residence of children. She acted for the father of a baby who had killed the mother in care proceedings. Going back to crime, she represented a 13 year old boy charged with rape of an 8 year old girl. She successfully stayed proceedings on the grounds of abuse of process in several cases involving allegations of sexual abuse and indecency with children.

In recent years, she has been instructed in a number of high profile "Snakehead" cases, representing clients from China and particularly the Fujian province. Due to her good understanding of the Chinese language and culture, she is able to understand witnesses when they speak in their native language, which is a considerable asset. In 1999 she represented an alleged Triad member charged, amongst other offences, with conspiracy to murder.

In 2003 she represented a client in a murder and riot case involving 16 defendants in Birmingham - the eventual trial was divided into two and the first trial lasted 4 months. In both cases she obtained good results and in the case in Birmingham she was the only counsel to secure bail for a defendant in the first trial. In 2004 she secured one of only 2 acquittals in a 5 defendant cigarette smuggling case where the defendants were running "cut throat" defences. Grace is currently instructed in further trials involving allegations of organised crime, kidnapping and attempted murder. She also prosecutes for Trading Standards and Local Authorities, and has been asked to "set up" and prepare cases and advise on evidence in several complicated cases on their behalf She works mainly in and around Central London, but has also been instructed in cases in Manchester, Birmingham, Shrewsbury, Exeter, Gloucester, Bristol, Ipswich and Cardiff. She is happy to travel and regularly stays on circuit.

Away from court Grace has recently taken up sabre fencing which she very much enjoys. Please contact her if you are a solicitor who fences !

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