About
Cecilia is a solicitor advocate with extensive experience in representing individuals charged with serious crime and complex fraud. Having qualified in 2008 she has established a strong client base of individuals from all walks of life due to her personable approach, dedication and tenacity.
Cecilia represents clients charged with serious offences such as murder, assault, sexual offences and serious drugs offences. She also represents individuals under investigation or charged with fraud involving the Department of Work and Pensions.
Her extensive experience in advising and assisting individuals charged with serious criminal offences led her to undertake training in Immigration law as some of her clients found themselves being the subject of deportation proceedings as a result of the alleged criminality. She has a formidable track record in successfully resisting the deportation of her clients.
Additionally, through her work with musicians in the United Kingdom, she has built up a niche area of practice, in which she advises and represents individuals who face censorship by the Government in relation to their music. This area requires delicate and timely negotiations between the police, probation, Artists and other stakeholders such as record labels, PR firms and others within the music industry. Her attention to detail and meticulous negotiating skills ensure that her clients are well
represented.
Charity work
Other
Background
Cecilia is a Trustee for an organisation called ‘the stop and search legal project’. The charity was founded in 2014 by lawyers to "educate and empower young people of London about the use and of stop and search."
She appeared in a BBC, Bafta winning documentary, Defending Digga D. The film provided a snap-shot of the use of court orders to control artistic output. The film focused on the use of Criminal Behaviour Orders by the Courts and highlighted the ramifications and curtailment of freedom of speech.
She has recently become a signatory to an open letter to the Government, titled ‘Art not Evidence’ regarding the use of rap lyrics in criminal trials and the effect this evidence has on a defendant's ability to have a “Fair Trial”. The evidence it is argued often has a prejudicial effect when admitted into evidence.
Cecilia was born in Zimbabwe and came to the United Kingdom at the age of 8. She lost her mother and father at a young age. Despite this, she fulfilled her dream of becoming a lawyer.
She is fluent in Shona, her native tongue, and loves to cook the traditional dishes of Zimbabwe when she has time.