Jane Brady

Jane Brady is a very highly regarded criminal practitioner whose advocacy, case preparation and client care have always set her apart.

She was briefed to represent a 13 year old charged with murder when she was just 3 years’ call.

Jane was offered 3 pupillages at Bar School and chose to return home to the north and to St Paul’s where she was Howard Crowson (now HHJ Crowson)’s pupil from 2001 to 2005. In 2005, following her marriage, she moved down to 13KBW in Oxford, joining with Cornwall Street Barristers in Birmingham in 2014, where Jane played a key role in the merger. She was asked to consider becoming Head of Chambers in 2020, just prior to a move back north for personal reasons. Since when, she has established herself, once again, as sought-after Counsel for heavyweight cases. Predominantly cases of serious violence and drugs, with one Judge referring to her as a ’Shining Light’ when she walks into court.

A former colleague of Jane’s made the comment on LinkedIn: “How she is able to combine being mother, busy lawyer and active chamber’s driving force is amazing”.

Jane also received the following exemplary feedback recently:

“I would also like to take this opportunity to thank you personally for your own work throughout the prosecution. Your guidance, decision‑making and continued engagement with the investigation team have been invaluable, and your support has been central to bringing this case to a successful conclusion’ (Detective Inspector Rukin – 17.2.2026 – R v Shah & Leriche – following convictions for the largest cash seizures in West Yorkshire (Drugs Conspiracy) – Jane advised on charge and up to trial).

“I am very grateful to Miss Brady for her offence note in mitigation. It is a ‘model of its kind’ in that it is very full, helpful and realistic and raises all the matters that could be said on your behalf.” (HHJ Mairs – 16.2.2026 – Sentence of Gheorghe Cristea for his second rape, at knife point, receiving an extended sentence of 13.5 years).

Recent instructions:

• Wakefield Prison murder of child killer – 3 defendants – Prosecution Junior led by Jason Pitter KC BBC News
• Domestic Murder in Woodhouse – Defence Junior led by Denise Breen-Lawton KC  BBC News
• Bradford murder (and violent disorder) – 3 defendants charged with murder – Prosecution Junior led by Rupert Doswell KC BBC News
• Supply of Class A Drugs (to a teenager who died) – Prosecution Counsel, alone; subsequently led by Jason Pitter KC, when manslaughter charges were brought.
• Child Cruelty of 3 children – Prosecution Counsel
• Industrial scale cannabis factories (2 cases) – Prosecution Counsel
• Knife-point kidnap – Defence Counsel
• Possessing Explosives – Prosecution Counsel
• Rape (of a DCI’s daughter) – Defence Counsel
• Conspiracy to Supply Class A Drugs – Prosecution Counsel
• Grooming/CSE – Defence Counsel

In 2021, Jane was commended by Mr Justice Wall in open court at sentence – “Unusually I also commend Miss Brady, the Prosecution junior, who, I am told, received instructions in this case when it was a relatively small fraud but, after examining the case papers encouraged the reopening of the case so that justice could be done”. The case had come to Jane as a £12k benefit fraud at PTPH; the first defendant was convicted of murder 2 years later after trial.

Jane subsequently received a Chief Constable’s Commendation for Excellence in 2024.

A tenacious opponent, she is a stickler for detail and disclosure and is determined to do justice to a case. Jane has appeared at the Court of Appeal and has always been successful on her own cases – including an entry in Banks on Sentence in R v G and M 2015 EWCA Crim 32 – Sex Offences with Children. Defendant aged 16-17.

Jane was personally thanked by the Court of Appeal Judges at the start of their judgment in R. v McKellar (Aaron), [2019] 1 Cr. App. R. (S.) 21 (2018): “We are very grateful to her for that document which has been of great assistance to us”.