Olivia Duncan

Olivia practises in the criminal team of the dispute resolution department at B P Collins, managing cases from initial police station attendance to trial. She has experience carrying matters in the magistrates’ court and advocating in the same; as well as running matters in the Crown Court.

Olivia maintains a mixed practice, including criminal defence as well as victims’ rights case work, and civil litigation claims where the underlying facts of the matter initially called for advice regarding the criminal law and / or knowledge of the criminal justice system (e.g., judicial review, tortious claims for malicious prosecution against the police, civil injunctive relief under the Protection from Harassment Act 1997 etc.). Olivia also advises on higher education providers’ disciplinary procedures, HMRC investigations, and FCA investigations. At what can be a highly stressful time for the client, Olivia provides direct and pragmatic legal advice tailored to each client’s specific circumstances, offering support from beginning to end of the matter.

Experience

In the Magistrates’ Court Olivia has advocated on behalf of a number of clients, dealing with an assortment of criminal allegations; from offering pleas in mitigation for a road traffic offence, to defending racially aggravated assault.

Olivia has worked on a number of victims’ rights matters, advising clients in relation to their concerns regarding the actions of various police forces (namely, the Thames Valley Police and the Metropolitan Police).

Olivia also advises on higher education providers’ disciplinary procedures, HMRC investigations, and FCA investigations.

R v S, 2026: Successful mitigation following client’s guilty plea in Ealing Magistrates’ Court. The client plead guilty to the charge of misuse of a blue badge. Our submissions in mitigation were accepted by the Court and the client was awarded a conditional discharge.

R v G, 2026: The client (a child) was accused of sexual assault by digital penetration. The client was invited to interview under caution. We advised the client and represented them at interview, at which a prepared statement was submitted. Following the interview, the investigation was no further actioned.

R v H, 2023: successful mitigation on behalf of client found guilty of assault at Oxford Magistrates’ Court. The sentencing guidelines indicated that the client faced the prospect of a custodial sentence; but after mitigation, the court agreed that it was not appropriate to order a custodial sentence, nor any community order, and instead disposed of the sentence by way of financial penalty.

R v V, 2023: persuaded the Prosecution to drop one charge of failure to report, and successfully submitted a plea in mitigation for the offence of failure to stop, at Stevenage Magistrates’ Court. The circumstances of the offence placed the client at risk of disqualification, but we successfully mitigated, and the client retained their licence.

R v S, 2022: secured an acquittal at Reading Magistrates’ Court for a client accused of racially aggravated assault and awarded a defence costs order.

R v D, 2022: successfully advanced an exceptional hardship argument at Willesden Magistrates’ Court. The client had 6 points on his driving licence and was charged with five traffic offences. The court endorsed the licence with a further 8 points but did not disqualify the client, recognising that if the client had lost their licence, it would have had a catastrophic impact on their young family and bereaved parent.

R v P, 2022: secured an acquittal at Westminster Magistrates’ Court for a client accused of assault.

LA v H, 2026: The client was under investigation by the Local Authority for breach of a Tree Protection Order. Where the defendant is found guilty in cases of this nature, a criminal conviction will follow. Even a charge of a criminal offence would have been fatal to our client’s career. Following thorough pre-charge engagement, including instruction of experts, and submission of written representations on behalf of our client, the Local Authority took the decision to take no further action.