Helen Chapman has a mixed practice, with particular interest in cases involving heavy-weight complex crimeterrorism and serious sexual offences.

Helen is a meticulous and effective advocate with a personable style and an easy manner.

Expertise

Helen prosecutes and defends the most serious cases either as a leading junior, sole junior or led junior

Notable Serious Crime cases


R v DS

Led Frances Pencheon in a six week trial defending of the owner of a limousine company who was accused of raping and sexually assaulting young women and girls in his limousines.


R v JSG

Led Jessica Heggie in a multi-handed grooming trial arising out of investigations into the grooming of girls by a gang of males in Rochdale. Helen and Jessica acted for the eldest of the Defendants, said to have been the most sophisticated in his offending.


R v TH

Led junior in the defence of a woman who stabbed her husband to death in the course of an argument at Christmas. The first jury were unable to reach verdicts and the matter was tried for a second time.  Helen was able to persuade a judge to bail the Defendant, which is unusual in cases of this gravity.


R v LF

Led junior in defence of an allegation of murder Complex case including issues regarding the defendant’s mental health and admissibility of the defendant’s interview.


R v SO

Led junior in defence of multiple allegations against an independent financial advisor.


R v RS

Defended allegations of familial rape and sexual assault. Defendant was acquitted.


R v JS

Successfully defended allegations of multiple violent rapes.

Helen is a specialist panel advocate for the Counter Terrorism Unit.

Helen prosecutes and defences in equal measure. She is a Grade 4 prosecutor and is an accredited member of the CS Rape Panel. Helen has particular expertise in cases involving Rape and Serious Sexual Offences. She is a well-regarded defence advocate noted for her sensitivity to vulnerable clients and robust cross-examination.  She is sought after for private instructions in cases across the country

Notable Sexual Offences cases


Helen has successfully prosecuted and defended regulatory offences for many regulatory bodies. She has also defended individuals in respect of regulatory offences.

Notable Regulatory cases


Prosecuted a Trading Standards case of a cowboy builder who had targeted the elderly. Progress was being frustrated by persistent submissions from defence counsel. Helen dealt with arguments as to abuse, disclosure, admissibility and the form of the indictment. The Defence capitulated, and the case resolved successfully by way of guilty pleas.


Instructed as a led junior prosecuting a substantial care-home fraud. Helen conducted advocacy in respect of the regulatory aspects of the case, drafting and resisting the abuse of process arguments. The case was a NHS investigation and Police investigation ultimately prosecuted by the CPS resulting in disclosure difficulties. Helen was responsible for the compilation of the evidence.


Helen has dealt with expert evidence including medical evidence as to causation, engineering and computing evidence, and forensic accountancy evidence.


Helen was instructed to prosecute breaches of Waste Management Regulations in the Magistrates’ Court she secured convictions against 5 defendants in person. The Defendants raised points of admissibility, limitation, the appointment of Mackenzie friends, intepreters and issues relating to the bad character of a prosecution witness. Helen secured convictions in the face of hostile and vexatious litigants.


Assisting with preparation of gross neg, corp manslaughter and s.2/3 HSWA 1974 offences. Gross negligence manslaughter following a fall from height at a warehouse in Birmingham. Issues as to the victim’s employment status researched and prepared skeleton arguments relying on the case of Pola. Drafted an indictment with sections 2 and 3 as alternatives. Prepared a sentencing bundle and Friskies schedule in line with F. Howe & Son.


Instructed as a led junior for a financial advisor prosecuted for regulatory offences under FSMA 2000 and a multi-handed fraud amounting to over £1m. Helen prepared legal arguments about the correct application of the relevant statutory instrument. She conducted advocacy throughout the trial in conjunction, including cross examination of a forensic accountant.


I have conducted contested appeals against Local Authority Enforcement Notices before the Magistrates’ Courts.


Helen has conducted breaches of land use licences before the Magistrates Courts.


She has conducted committals for sentence for s2 HSWA offences including inadequate RAMS.

Fraud Crime provides the mainstay of Helen’s practice. She prosecutes and defends offences across the criminal spectrum with a particular emphasis on fraud.Helen is instructed as sole counsel and as a led junior.

Skills

  • Provides clear advice to her clients.
  • Confident on her feet with a reassuring manner.
  • Handles paper-heavy cases with ease and organisation.
  • Formidable advocate. Revered by her peers.
  • Quick thinker with decisive thought.

Notable Financial & Corporate Crime cases


2019

Instructed in a 6 week immigration fraud (D2).


2018

Instructed in two lengthy frauds, one as D1 in a 9 handed fraud.


R v LC (2018)

Instructed for second defendant in multi-handed credit fraud. The case was paper heavy with reams of telephone records disclosed mid-way through the case. LC was the only defendant to be acquitted.


R v CE (2018)

Instructed for first defendant in multi-handed NHS fraud. The case featured two QE witnesses, heavy volumes of invoices and financial documentation and cut-throat defences from several of the co-accused.


R v CE (2018)

Sole junior representing the first defendant in a multi-handed £500,000 fraud on the NHS (5 weeks, Hull).


R v LC (2018)

Sole junior in a multi-handed fraud on building suppliers (6 weeks, Leeds).


R v B & S

Led junior in prosecution of allegations of fraud against NHS employees.


R v SB

Successfully defended client in both fraud and POCA proceedings in respect of £300,000 and various foreign bonds suspected to be part of a multi-million pound fraud.

News & Insights

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"She is both tactically astute and hugely effective when cross examining, even on the most sensitive of trials. She is an outstanding advocate."

The Legal 500 2025 - Crime (General and Fraud)

"Helen Chapman is ’very poised‘ and ’a great trial tactician"

The Legal 500 2025

Helen Chapman is ranked as a Leading Junior in Crime (General and Fraud)

The Legal 500 2024 - Crime (General and Fraud)

"Helen is a highly capable and eloquent advocate. She is persuasive and engaging with courts and juries. She consistently provides a top drawer performance."

The Legal 500 2023

"Sought after for her experience in handling complex fraud and financial crime cases."

The Legal 500 2023

"Quickly gets to grips with central issues, even in complex cases with voluminous papers."

The Legal 500 2022

"She quickly develops a rapport with clients."

The Legal 500 2021

Appointments

  • Grade 4 General Crime
  • Grade 3 Counter Terrorist Division Prosecution Panel
  • RASSO Panel
  • AG/HSE Panel C
  • Deputy District Judge (2019)

Memberships

  • Criminal Bar Association

Qualifications

  • Advocacy Trainer, Middle Temple
  • Pupil Supervisor

News & Insights

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Contact Us

Chambers is centrally located within walking distance of the train station, secure car parks and the Courts.

Contact Us

St Pauls Chambers
Park Row House
19-20 Park Row
Leeds
LS1 5JF

For out of hours assistance please call the senior clerk on 07854170429.

The switchboard will open from 08:30 until 17:30

Phone: +44 (0)1132 455 866
Email: [email protected]
CJSM: [email protected]

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