Lauren Sales
Call: 2010
“Red Lion Chambers offers a great depth of talented, approachable counsel.”
Legal 500, 2022
Personal profile
The hallmarks of Lauren’s advocacy are preparation and determination. She is a hard-working and committed barrister, single-minded about achieving the best results for her clients.
Lauren prosecutes and defends as led junior, leading junior and junior alone, on a range of serious and complex cases, including homicide, large scale Fraud cases, large scale Drugs Offences, Human Trafficking, serious Sexual Offences, Serious Violence & Serious Organised Crime.
Lauren is regularly instructed by leading firms in matters involving the highest levels of sensitivity and complexity. She often represents professionals and high net worth individuals facing criminal proceedings.
Crime
Lauren has substantial experience representing clients in complex criminal cases. She has successfully represented clients involved in a broad range of offences including Murder & Manslaughter, Serious Violence, including armed robbery and kidnap as well as Fraud and serious Sexual Offences.
Should clients require discreet private representation by experienced counsel at the police station, Lauren is a fully accredited police station representative. Lauren has successfully represented many high profile clients at the police station, which has resulted in the authorities no longer pursuing investigations.
Lauren is a Level 4 prosecutor with particular expertise in conducting serious trials involving vulnerable witnesses.
Lauren is a member of the RASSO panel and has particular expertise drafting complicated indictments in cases concerning historic allegations and multiple complainants.
Featured Cases
- R v D [2023] – Currently acting as led junior at the Central Criminal Court in an allegation of joint enterprise murder.
- R v R [2023] – Wood Green CC: Junior alone successfully represented D charged with over 30 allegations of rape, false imprisonment and strangulation.
- R v W [2023] – Oxford CC: Junior alone prosecuted D charged with multiple historic sex offences. Extended sentence of 16 years imposed.
- R v C [2022] – Woolwich CC: Junior alone represented D charged with attempted murder, after successful negotiations, Crown accepted a plea to s.18.
- R v N (2021) – Successful prosecution of D charged with multiple child sexual offences; the case involved the cross examination of multiple vulnerable child witnesses.
- R v M (2021) – Successfully represented D charged with rape and sexual assault.
- R v W (2021) – Successful prosecution of an Operation Venetic/Encro chat case; D was involved in the supply of tens of kilos of cocaine.
- R v A (2021) – Led junior, prosecution of D accused of manslaughter and cruelty to a child; the case involved D causing the death of her 9-month-old child by drowning whilst she was on the phone.
- R v L – Successfully represented D accused of multiple sexual offences, including rape against different Complainants.
- R v E (2019) – Led junior, successfully prosecuting a complex multi-handed attempted murder involving county lines drug supply.
- R v M (2018) – Led junior, successfully prosecuting two defendants charged with historic familial rape.
- R v B (2018) – Led junior prosecuting a number of defendants involved in a conspiracy to commit GBH. This case was widely published due to the CBO imposed on preventing the defendants making violent drill music.
- R v D (2017) – Sole counsel representing D charged with a ‘stranger rape’.
- R v H (2017) – Led junior representing one of eight defendants charged with importing firearms and ammunition into the United Kingdom.
- R v H (2017) – Led junior representing first on the indictment in a three-month multi handed production of cannabis conspiracy.
- R v I (2016) – Led junior successfully representing first on the indictment in a sham marriage trial. D was accused of leading an organisation which trafficked women from Eastern European countries into the UK for marriage to Pakistani men who did not have leave to remain in the UK.
- C (2016) – Sole counsel successfully representing charged with two offences of rape.
- R v T (2016) Guildford CC – Led junior in a historic neglect and sexual abuse case involving seven complainants.
- R v M (2015) – Sole counsel in a complex multi-handed kidnap trial; successfully representing the only defendant out of seven to be acquitted in the case.
- R v O (2015) – Led junior representing third on the indictment in a multi-handed drug importation and supply conspiracy.
- R v C (2015) – Led junior representing fourth on the indictment in a large multi-handed drug importation conspiracy of hundreds of kilos of cocaine.
- R v M (2014) – Sole counsel successfully representing second on the indictment in a multi-handed £8 million heroin importation.
- R v D (2014) – Led junior representing third on the indictment in a multi-handed conspiracy to supply and produce amphetamine and cocaine.
- R v S (2014) – Led junior representing first on the indictment in a multi-handed conspiracy to commit grievous bodily harm with intent.
- R v A (2013) – Led junior representing one of eight defendants in a conspiracy to import drugs and cigarettes into the UK.
- R v F (2013) – Sole counsel successfully representing D charged with a serious sexual assault. The case involved the cross-examination of a number of vulnerable witnesses.
Business Crime & Fraud
As well as her general criminal practice, Lauren is experienced in corporate crime and compliance matters involving Money Laundering & Proceeds of Crime, Bribery & Corruption, Sanctions and Fraud.
She has undertaken complex internal investigations, both domestic and international. Lauren has advised companies on voluntary disclosure and corrective action, assisting clients in avoiding exposure to criminal charges. Lauren has also advised clients in relation to implementing preventative measures such as due diligence and internal compliance plans.
Featured Cases
- R v T [2022] – Southwark CC: Junior alone represented D in a lengthy HMRC prosecution involving over £2m of counterfeit cigarettes.
- R v B (2016) – Sole counsel in a lengthy multi-handed VAT fraud trial. D was the only defendant of four to be acquitted.
Fire Law
Lauren regularly advises and acts for Fire and Rescue Services, corporations and individuals in respect of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. She has defended and conducted prosecutions in the Crown Court involving serious breaches of the Order by hoteliers, landlords and restaurateurs.
As well as involvement in substantive court proceedings, Lauren also acts in appeals of enforcement and prohibition notices, as well as fire safety interviews and written advice in relation to charging decisions.
Lauren is a member of the Red Lion Chambers Fire Law team and presents seminars on Fire Law developments.
Lauren is the consultant editor for Halsburys Law Fire and Rescue Services.
Professional Appointments
Level 4 RASSO prosecutor
Education
- BA Law (hons), University of Reading
- BVC, BPP Law School
Awards
- Exhibition award, Inner Temple (2009)
- Profumo Trust Scholarship, Inner Temple (2009)
- Duke of Edinburgh Entrance Award, Inner Temple (2009)
Memberships
- South Eastern Circuit
- CBA
- Female Fraud Forum
- Inner Temple