Rhona Friedman
Associate
Criminal law
Rhona specialises in complex murder cases, serious fraud including allegations of off-shore money laundering, charges arising out of political campaigns, representing and advising journalists, and terrorism-related matters. She is also experienced in cases with a mental health component, or where defendants are vulnerable because of their age, mental state, or for some other reason.
Rhona’s key cases include:
- R v P
A successful defence of historic sex abuse allegations, involving use of evidence of false and transferred memory, and false confession.
- R v Martin
Rhona secured a manslaughter verdict, where the client was charged with murder following a revenge shooting. The defence rested on provocation and evidence of post traumatic stress disorder. (The Martin case featured in the BBC documentary by Roger Graef 'Murder Blues'.)
- R v Murshid
A long-running fraud prosecution. Rhona successfully defended a well-known anti-racism campaigner and East London councillor accused of theft from a community organisation.
- R v Hamza (Old Bailey)
Successfully represented a prominent Egyptian engineer accused of solicitation to murder four high-ranking Egyptian politicians.The first trial ended with a ‘hung’ jury. The retrial resulted in Dr Hamza’s unanimous acquittal.
Rhona was also instrumental in exposing widespread abuse of prisoners by prison officers at Wormwood Scrubs. She wrote a dossier about the attacks, which led to criminal prosecutions of officers involved in assaulting inmates.
Rhona has been a solicitor since 1999, after studying at Sussex and City universities.
She trained to be a solicitor after being inspired by the lawyers who were responsible for unraveling miscarriage of justice cases like the Guildford Four and Birmingham Six, in the late 1980s and early 1990s.
In September 2009 Rhona was profiled as The Times' "Lawyer of the Week" and she was also highlighted as The Law Society Gazette's "Lawyer in the News". Please click below to view these features:
What the professional directories say
Rhona Friedman is regarded by sources as "tenacious". (Chambers 2011)
The Legal 500 (2010) describes her as a 'tenacious and indomitable lawyer'
Chambers 2011
Crime (Band 4)
Rhona's full profile and ranking status on Chambers 2011
Chambers 2010
Crime - London (Ranked as Up and Coming)
Rhona's full profile and ranking status on Chambers 2010
Legal 500 (2010)
Crime: ranked in 1st tier
Legal 500 (2009)
Crime: ranked in 1st tier