Jenny Burgess
YEAR OF CALL 2008
"Burgess has excellent preparation and advocacy."
"She has a calm and controlled manner which is extremely effective, and which has juries completely onside right from the start."
"Her advocacy was clear, concise and she dealt with experts so well."
"Her advocacy in court was very good and well measured."
"She is highly versatile and keenly aware as to the challenges firms in our sector face. She is highly trusted counsel."
Chambers UK Bar 2026
‘She is well-prepared, thorough, reliable, and thoroughly in command of her brief. She is a confident advocate.'
The Legal 500 2026
Jenny joined Chambers in 2010. She both prosecutes and defends. She is qualified to take Direct Access work.
Jenny is regularly instructed in complex cases as leading junior and junior alone. Her practice is wide-ranging and encompasses serious violence, drugs conspiracies, fraud and sexual offending. She has a wide experience of confiscation proceedings and cases engaging PII. She has regularly advised on international matters including extradition.
Jenny has a wide experience of cases involving intermediaries and pre-recorded cross-examination under s.28. She provides specialist training to advocates in the handling of vulnerable witnesses.
Jenny has appeared before the Court of Appeal and the High Court both on behalf of the Appellant and the Respondent. She has also been instructed to appear at Courts Martial hearings.
In addition to her criminal practice, Jenny receives instruction to appear before the NMC and HCPC Regulatory Panels and as the Registrant’s representative at inquests. She has also prosecuted for the Nursing and Midwifery Council and for the General Dental Council. Her other non-criminal practice includes the representation of prisoners at Parole Board hearings, and instruction on behalf of appellants at licensing appeals at the Magistrates Court. She has acted as legal advisor to the Licensing Sub-Committee of Newham Council.
Jenny has been a pupil supervisor since 2018.
NOTABLE CASES
R -v- Y & Ors – 2025
Leading Natalia Constantine defending Y charged in a robbery and firearms conspiracy. Trial lasted 4 ½ months and involved complex cell site and phone evidence. Jury were hung against Y, retrial scheduled for summer 2026.
Press link here - https://www.newsshopper.co.uk/news/23661996.lewisham-lee-high-road-five-arrested-armed-burglary/
R -v- K – 2025
A murder prosecution in front of a High Court Judge at the Central Criminal Court arising from the death of a 6 year-old child. The defendant is the child’s father and was convicted in 2016 of causing his daughter grievous bodily harm with intent which left her severely disabled. In 2021 the child died as a result of complications caused by her disabilities.
Causation was not disputed. Instead the defendant attempted to rebut the presumption that he was guilty of the original serious assaults, under s.74(3) PACE 1984. Partway through the trial the KC leader had to leave the case so Jenny prosecuted the remainder of the trial as lead prosecution counsel. This included cross-examining the defendant and two defence medical experts, extensive legal argument in relation to the proposed legal directions and closing speech. The defendant was convicted of murder.
Press link here - https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cy0yg5p7pvwo
R -v- A & Ors - 2025
Leading counsel for the Crown in the prosecution of three defendants involved in a drug trafficking operation in south London. The operation involved packaging drugs to order which were sent within the UK and worldwide. The orders were placed by customers on the dark web. The case involved substantial drugs expert evidence around the 16 different types of controlled drugs included on the 32 count indictment. There was also expert evidence around the use and purpose of the dark web. The total drugs involved for the purpose of sentence included over 15kg Class A drugs. The defendants were convicted and sentenced to a total of over 26 years imprisonment.
R -v- A.L. & Ors - 2025
Represented a 16 year old charged with kidnap, possession of a firearm with intent, possession of machetes, possession of cocaine with intent to supply alongside 2 co-defendants. At the outset of the case there were extensive submissions on whether the hearsay of the kidnap victim and an eye witness should be admitted in evidence. There were also submissions on how to deal with a witness brought to court on an arrest warrant who had not given a statement. These submissions and the ongoing non-cooperation of witnesses forced the Crown to offer no evidence on the kidnap and firearms offences. A.L. subsequently pleaded guilty to the remainder of the indictment and received a non-custodial sentence.
Press link here: https://www.watfordobserver.co.uk/news/25297371.trio-admit-class-drugs-supply-haul-found-bushey/
R -v- O & Ors - 2025
Prosecution counsel in a case involving 3 defendants convicted of Computer Misuse Act offences and a conspiracy to facilitate a breach of immigration law. D1 was a Border Force officer who used the secure Home Office computer systems to look up an individual in order to assist with her visa application for gain. He further conspired with his brother (D2) and D3 to arrange a sham marriage between Ds 2 and 3 in order to enable his brother to apply for a UK Residence Permit. The case involved close analysis of Home Office systems and policies as well as extensive phone material which showed the conspiracy in action. The case began with legal argument on whether the conspiracy should in fact have been indicted as a s.1(A) offence which would have required the Attorney-General’s consent. The submissions on this by the defence were rejected. Sentencing is listed in early 2026.
MEMBERSHIPS
CPS Advocate Panel Member, Level 4
Rape and Child Sexual Abuse Specialist Panel Member
Fraud Specialist Panel Member, Level 3
EDUCATION
Classics Greats, Jesus College, Oxford University
Master in Philosophy (Classics), Birmingham University
Doctor of Philosophy (Classics), Birmingham University
Graduate Diploma in Law, City University, London
Bar Vocational Course, BPP, Holborn, London
‘Jenny is an excellent advocate. Her meticulous attention to detail is obvious from the ease with which she takes the jury through large volumes of evidence. Her sound judgement and confidence means that she knows which points to take and which to leave.' The Legal 500 2025
‘Jenny is a class act. She is meticulously prepared and knows her cases inside out. She is a confident, engaging advocate who gets straight to the point with legal arguments. She is reasonable in the points she takes and is very persuasive. Her closing speeches are also great.’ The Legal 500 2024
