Practice Profile
Preetika defends and prosecutes in the Crown Court, Youth Court and Magistrates Court. Her practice covers the full spectrum of serious criminal and quasi-criminal cases. She is also building a practice in extradition law and crime related public law.
Preetika is a confident and versatile advocate. She has experience of successfully appearing at the Court of Appeal where her oral and written advocacy was commended as “clear, precise and helpful”.
Preetika has an excellent record in cases with challenging odds and before difficult benches – including succeeding in a case against a Band 1 Silk. She is known for her client care, attention to detail and when defending - leaving no stone unturned as a fearless defence advocate.
Her background in human rights law means she is well placed and also increasingly instructed on cases at the intersection of criminal, civil and human rights law. This includes growing expertise in trafficking/modern slavery cases as well as civil forfeiture/Proceeds of Crime Act hearings.
Preetika’s background prior to the bar is in gender justice and human rights activism (domestically and internationally). She was part of the committee that reformed Indian criminal law following the Delhi gang rape in 2012. She subsequently worked with UN Women HQ and the Government of India on implementation of these reforms.
Her international law experience includes:
- Part of the Karadžić defence team at the ICTY (appeal arguments in relation to failure to reopen defence case to remedy prosecution disclosure violations).
- Worked in the Executive Office of the UN Secretary General at UNHQ (assisted multilateral processes in UN General Assembly and Security Council; speech writing; report writing).
- Worked as a consultant for UNICEF on rights of children within Myanmar’s criminal justice system.
- Advised international NGOs in relation to international human rights mechanisms.
- Set up a vulnerable witnesses training project for law schools in India along with the Bar Human Rights Committee of England and Wales.
Preetika has a particular interest in cases at the intersection of crime, cyber law, human rights and international law. She has worked on landmark constitutional litigation around the world at this crossover. This includes working in the office of the former Solicitor General of India on a challenge to the world’s most intrusive surveillance and biometric database (Privacy/Aadhar case).
Preetika also worked on:
- The case which decriminalised same-sex relations in India (Navtej Singh Johar v Union of India).
- Intervening in a challenge to the deportation of 40,000 Rohingya Refugees in India (Mohammed Salimullah v Union of India).
- A $550 million arbitration arising out of the sale of adulterated medicines in the US (heard in Singapore).
- The Vijay Mallya extradition case.
Appointments & Memberships
- Criminal Bar Association
- Young Fraud Lawyer's Association
- Bar Human Rights Committee of England & Wales
- Human Rights Lawyers Association
- Administrative Law Bar Association
Publications
Preetika has published articles and blog posts on a range of human rights issues including for: European Human Rights Law Review, Discrimination Law Association, Indian Constitutional Law and Philosophy and Each Other (formerly Rights Info).
Notable Cases
Operation T: Led junior for the prosecution in a trial involved 15 counts of conspiracy to commit robbery and converting criminal property against 11 defendants. The conspiracy targeted famous footballers across the Midlands and London.
R v S: Successful appeal to the Court of Appeal in relation to sentence for supply drugs offence. Court of Appeal stated they were: “grateful for my clear, precise and helpful oral and written submissions”. Succeeded on every ground pursued.
R v N: Junior alone for defence in a cultivation of cannabis crown court trial involving a modern slavery defence. Used knowledge of domestic and European human rights law to obtain an adjournment of the trial to allow the NRM Conclusive Grounds decision to be obtained. Drafted representations to the CPS and a skeleton argument seeking a stay on the grounds of abuse of process. Relied on State obligations under international law as incorporated into domestic and European case law.
R v B: Instructed as sole defence counsel in a case involving youth stabbings on the London Underground. Client charged with ‘affray’ and ‘possession of offensive weapon’. Crown dropped the case following successful representations on the basis that defendant was in fact the victim.
R v M & D: Junior alone for the prosecution in a 6-day Crown Court trial involving a series of violent robberies with defendants running defence of duress. Successfully secured conviction.
R v F & M: Junior alone for the prosecution in a PWITS (A) Newton Hearing involving £100,000 of Class A drugs. Case involved lengthy phone downloads. Crown disputed D’s position that D was involved solely to the extent of paying off drug debts. Crown’s position was that D played a leading role and had substantial influence on others in the chain.
R v K: Junior alone for defence in 3-day ABH Crown Court trial. Secured acquittal in relation to one of the two counts on the indictment due to successful cross examination and closing speech on the inconsistencies in complainant’s evidence.
R v G: Junior alone for defence in 3-day crown court trial for affray and possession of a bladed article (machete) in a public place. Made a successful half time submission of ‘no case to answer’ in relation to the count of affray against my client. Successfully resisted a hearsay application made by the Crown under s.116 (2) (e) CJA 2003 in relation to admission of a witness statement of an eyewitness.
R v K: Instructed as junior alone for defence in an aggravated burglary (intent to inflict GBH) Crown Court trial.
R v S: Junior alone for prosecution in a coercive control and threats to kill domestic abuse Crown Court trial.
R v M: Junior alone for defence in a youth rape sentence. Secured a 12-month intensive referral order for a 17-year-old convicted of rape and causing/inciting a boy 13 – 15 to engage in sexual activity by penetration.
R v P (Sentence): Junior alone for defence in a sophisticated mortgage/tenancy fraud case involving abuse of trust across North London where defendant played a leading role. Secured a suspended sentence for defendant.
R v M (Sentence): Junior alone for defence in a case involving PWITS B (2.6kg Cannabis) and possession of criminal property. Crown accepted D was simply acting as a custodian. Sentenced on basis of plea and secured an 18-month community order.
Protest Cases: Instructed counsel to advise on protest cases. This included a case involving 9 defendants and over 28 witnesses. Case involved complex human rights arguments and handling of difficult disclosure issues that arose during proceedings.
HMRC LPP Reviews: Instructed as independent counsel to advise on Legal Professional Privilege on Operation B and Operation C (HMRC investigations relating to VAT evasion and money laundering).
Op I: Seconded to HMRC as disclosure counsel on a large international bribery and money laundering investigation.
Awards and Scholarships
- NDTV Indian of the Year Award for Contributions to Gender Justice – Awarded to the Justice Verma Committee (2013)
- Sir Geoffrey Nice Foundation International Criminal Law Award, Inner Temple, Bar of England and Wales (2016) & (2017)
- International Bar Association Human Rights Training Award (2015)
- Jardine Studentship, Inner Temple, Bar of England and Wales (2015)
- Major Exhibition Award, Inner Temple, Bar of England and Wales (2015)
Education
- City University, London - BPTC
- The London School of Economics & Political Science - LLM
- University of Oxford - BA (Hons) Jurisprudence (Law) 2.1