Described as an “outstanding junior barrister and incredibly clever with first-class knowledge of the law” by The Legal 500 (2027). Elena Papamichael is a first choice for serious, complex, document-heavy and multi-handed trials.
“Elena is extraordinary as she is fantastically intelligent and has a natural instinct for what will resonate with a jury. She is a rising star who will continue to rise.” – Chambers & Partners 2027
“Elena is undertaking cases well beyond her call because of her dedication, skill, vast legal knowledge and passion for client care.” – Chambers & Partners 2027
She is extremely hardworking, builds rapport with clients easily and quickly, and achieves amazing results with juries and in legal challenges.
She is a specialist in representing children in the Crown Court and has expertise in successfully challenging evidence, including so-called ‘gang’ evidence, drill music, and cell site. She also regularly undertakes judicial review work and has been ranked as a Rising Star by the Legal 500 in Administrative Law & Human Rights for three years running.
Criminal Defence
Overview
Elena is regularly instructed as a led junior and junior alone in cases of serious violence, firearms, robbery and multi-handed conspiracies. She has a particular interest in cybercrime.
Notable Cases
Murder and serious violence
R v R [2026] – Central Criminal Court. Led by Dean George KC in 6 handed joint enterprise murder trial at the Old Bailey. Client acquitted of murder and manslaughter.
R v ADS [2024] – Snaresbrook Crown Court. Elena was led by a leading silk. Elena’s client was unanimously acquitted in a three-handed case involving a cut-throat with one of the defendants, where the other two defendants were convicted of murder (stabbing on a street in North London where it was alleged that all three defendants and another drove to the area to target the deceased). Their client was only 16 years’ old at the time of the incident.
R v N [2024] –Woolwich Crown Court. Eight handed affray where Elena’s client was charged with possession of an offensive weapon and affray. Her client was on CCTV taking a golf club to the scene of the affray and the prosecution called two alleged victims and one independent bystander as witnesses to the incident. Elena’s client was acquitted.
R v Z [2021] – Woolwich Crown Court. The defendant was charged with s.18 (wounding with intent) stabbing of his partner. A bloodied knife was found at the scene and the victim had a stab wound. She gave evidence that the defendant has stabbed her. Elena’s client was unanimously acquitted.
R v A [2022] – Harrow Crown Court. The defendant was charged with s.18 wounding with intent. It was alleged she stabbed the victim in the face in her home. The knife was found and the complainant had injuries. Elena’s client was acquitted of the s.18 charge.
R v D [2020] – Inner London Crown Court. Elena’s client was charged with an alleged gang- related revenge stabbing (s.18 wounding with intent) at Inner London Crown Court. Through legal argument, Elena was able to exclude all the gang evidence and evidence of her client’s drill lyrics. The defendant was acquitted.
Firearms
R v C [2026] – Croydon Crown Court. Elena’s client was 17 years old and found in possession of the car key to a vehicle that stored a prohibited firearm and items linked by DNA to Elena’s client. Following an abuse of process application, the prosecution offered no evidence on the firearms charge.
R v S [2026] – Snaresbrook Crown Court. Elena represented a 17-year-old charged with possession of a prohibited firearm. Elena successfully argued that the prosecution could not prove when he was in possession of the gun in light of the DNA evidence and therefore the minimum term of imprisonment did not apply.
R v N [2025] – Woolwich Crown Court. Multi-handed firearms case and conspiracy to rob. Elena’s client was 15 years old. Following service of legal argument, the Crown agreed to drop the firearm charge, despite him being found in the vehicle with the gun and DNA evidence linking her client to the gun.
R v C [2025] – Woolwich Crown Court. The Crown discontinued charges against Elena’s client in relation to possession of a prohibited firearm (replica Uzi) and ammunition in public outside a block of flats, following service of an application to dismiss.
R v T [2021] – Inner London Crown Court. The young adult defendant was charged with possession of a prohibited firearm. Elena successfully argued, on an application to dismiss, that there was insufficient evidence on which a jury could exclude the possibility that the illegal firearm was an antique held as an ornament or curiosity. The court dismissed the charge and her client was acquitted.
Serious crime
R v A [2026] – Croydon Crown Court. Elena represented the first defendant in a £200,000 conspiracy to rob allegation. Elena’s client was alleged to be the organiser of the robberies. The prosecution instructed senior leading counsel and junior. Elena’s client was acquitted.
R v TR [2025] –Ipswich Crown Court. Elena was instructed to represent the first defendant in a multi-handed case involving three counts of human trafficking. The prosecution were represented by Kings Counsel and senior junior counsel. Elena was able to force a terminatory ruling in relation to all three counts of human trafficking by way of various legal arguments which led to the exclusion of the majority of the evidence. This meant her client was found not guilty of the very serious charges he faced.
R v L [2023] – Birmingham Crown Court. Elena defended an adult defendant who was charged with false imprisonment and robbery of a victim who was taken into a vehicle and driven around for several hours by the defendant and others and had money taken from his banking apps. The victim had £1,000 transferred to the defendant’s bank account and was seen on CCTV footage with the victim. Elena’s client was acquitted.
R v J [2023] – Inner London Crown Court. The defendant, who was 18 at the time of sentence, had entered guilty pleas to six robberies, three at knife point, fraud, theft and handling stolen goods. Elena secured a suspended sentence for her client.
R v L [2022] – Harrow Crown Court. The defendant was 15 years old with previous convictions for robbery. He appeared in the Crown Court with two others and entered guilty pleas to a false imprisonment and theft which involved the 14-year-old victim being held inside a property for several hours, tied up and hit with knives, which was filmed for social media. Elena secured a youth rehabilitation order for her client, whilst the other youth defendant received a custodial sentence of three years.
Drugs
R v A [2025] – Inner London Crown Court. Acquittal for Elena’s client for Class A drug trafficking who was found with large amounts of cash, drugs and scales on his person and in his home.
R v A [2024] – Basildon Crown Court. Elena represented a 15-year-old in a five-week multi-handed Class A drugs conspiracy trial. Elena’s client ran a modern slavery defence and was the only defendant acquitted. Elena successfully challenged police officer’s evidence about the interpretation of phone evidence and his lack of understanding of patois.
R v S [2024] – Guildford Crown Court. Elena’s client was 21 years old with two previous convictions from 2021 & 2022 for supply of class A drugs. He was charged with being concerned in the supply of class A drugs. Elena was able to argue against the admission of her client’s previous convictions and her client was successfully acquitted following a modern slavery defence.
R v A [2023] – Canterbury Crown Court. The defendant was charged with the trafficking of a child and being concerned in the supply of class A drugs. Through legal argument, Elena was able to persuade the court to exclude all the significant evidence in the case, which led to a terminatory ruling and her client was acquitted. The co-defendant had pleaded guilty to the same charges on the same evidence.
R v C [2023] – Inner London Crown Court. The defendant was charged with possession with intent to supply cannabis. A search of his bedroom revealed a ‘Rambo’ knife, around £1000 in cash, scales and 16 snap bags of cannabis. Her client was unanimously acquitted.
Private Cases
R v R [2026] – Kingston Crown Court. Represented a professional man charged with an assault on his partner. The prosecution called three eye witnesses to the attack. Elena’s client was not convicted.
R v W [2025] – Elena represented a retired NHS consultant who had pleaded guilty to two charges of causing serious injury by careless driving. Her client had veered into the other side of the road and crashed into another vehicle, writing off both vehicles and causing serious injuries to the occupants of the other car. Elena was able to persuade the court to impose a minimal fine.
Sexual crimes
R v G [2026] – Reading Crown Court. Led in historic rape allegations against three complainant sex workers.
R v L [2025]– Harrow Crown Court. Unanimous acquittal following trial, for Elena’s 16-year-old client who was charged with three counts of rape and intentional strangulation involving two youth complainants and alleged confession evidence. Elena was able to exclude damaging communication evidence and bad character evidence through legal argument.
R v A [2024] – Wood Green Crown Court. Unanimous acquittal for a client who was charged with indecent exposure. The Crown relied on evidence from a police officer who gave evidence that the defendant had exposed himself to her in the back of a police vehicle and body worn video footage which was said to show the offence being committed.
Terrorism and Protest
R v A [2026] – Winchester Crown Court. Elena was led in a terrorism case involving allegations of distribution of terrorist publications at trial and in interlocutory appeal regarding the admissibility of psychiatric evidence.
R v D [2023] – Snaresbrook Crown Court. Multi-handed Palestine Action trial involving an allegation of conspiracy to commit high-value criminal damage of an arms factory.
R v I [2023] – Newcastle Crown Court. Defended Palestine Action activist charged with driving co-conspirators to an Israeli weapons manufacturer who went on to cause £278,000 worth of damage and loss to the factory.
Judicial Review
R v S [2024] – Elena’s client was 16 years old and charged with racially aggravated public order offences against police officers. Following representations, the prosecution refused to drop the case. Elena served a pre-action judicial review letter on the CPS who consequently agreed to discontinue the case, allowing her client to maintain her good character.
R (DPP) v Manchester Magistrates Court, ex p. Wood and Haslam [2024] 1 Cr. App. R. 12 – Led in high-profile judicial review representing the first interested party. Successful against the DPP’s judicial review of the acquittal.
Contact Elena
Children’s Rights
Overview
Elena Papamichael is a crime and youth justice specialist, regularly instructed in complex and serious cases representing children in the Youth Court and Crown Court.
Elena co-authors the youth justice update for Legal Action (the legal magazine published by the Legal Action Group) and worked on a youth justice research project with Newcastle University & the Youth Justice Legal Centre where she provided expert advice. She has worked to develop the youth justice assessment for pupils in chambers.
Elena achieves particularly successful outcomes for child victims of criminal exploitation / trafficking though her forensic understanding of the guidance and case law.
Her practice has a particular focus on racial injustice in her work and was on the Advisory Board to the Racial Bias and the Bench report. Elena was previously the Chair of Directors to 4front, a youth justice and racial justice youth led project.
Elena has written extensively on topics about children’s rights, including on the age of criminal responsibility; drill music and gang injunctions and alternatives to criminalisation for children and young people. Elena is also a contributor to the Youth Justice Legal Centre’s legal updates.
Notable Cases
R v C [2026] – Croydon Crown Court. Elena’s client was 17 years old and found in possession of the car key to a vehicle that stored a prohibited firearm and items linked by DNA to Elena’s client. Following an abuse of process application, the prosecution offered no evidence on the firearms charge.
R v S [2026] – Snaresbrook Crown Court. Elena represented a 17-year-old charged with possession of a prohibited firearm. Elena successfully argued that the prosecution could not prove when he was in possession of the gun in light of the DNA evidence and therefore the minimum term of imprisonment did not apply.
R v N [2025] – Woolwich Crown Court. Multi-handed firearms case and conspiracy to rob. Elena’s client was 15 years old. Following service of legal argument, the Crown agreed to drop the firearm charge, despite him being found in the vehicle with the gun and DNA evidence linking her client to the gun.
R v L [2025]– Harrow Crown Court. Unanimous acquittal following trial, for Elena’s 16-year-old client who was charged with three counts of rape and intentional strangulation involving two youth complainants and alleged confession evidence. Elena was able to exclude damaging communication evidence and bad character evidence through legal argument.
R v A [2024] – Basildon Crown Court. Elena represented a 15-year-old in a five-week multi-handed Class A drugs conspiracy trial. Elena’s client ran a modern slavery defence and was the only defendant acquitted. Elena successfully challenged police officer’s evidence about the interpretation of phone evidence and his lack of understanding of patois.
R v S [2024] – Elena’s client was 16 years old and charged with racially aggravated public order offences against police officers. Following representations, the prosecution refused to drop the case. Elena served a pre-action judicial review letter on the CPS who consequently agreed to discontinue the case, allowing her client to maintain her good character.
R v L [2022] – Harrow Crown Court. The defendant was 15 years old with previous convictions for robbery. He appeared in the Crown Court with two others and entered guilty pleas to a false imprisonment and theft which involved the 14-year-old victim being held inside a property for several hours, tied up and hit with knives, which was filmed for social media. Elena secured a youth rehabilitation order for her client, whilst the other youth defendant received a custodial sentence of three years.
Contact Elena
Protest Rights
Overview
Elena is part of the specialist protest law team.
Notable Cases
R (DPP) v Manchester Magistrates Court, ex p. Wood and Haslam [2024] 1 Cr. App. R. 12 – Led in high profile judicial review representing the first interested party. Successful against the DPP’s judicial review of the acquittal.
R v D [2023] – Snaresbrook Crown Court. Multi-handed Palestine Action trial involving an allegation of conspiracy to commit high-value criminal damage of an arms factory.
R v I [2023] – Newcastle Crown Court. Defended Palestine Action activist charged with driving co-conspirators to an Israeli weapons manufacturer who went on to cause £278,000 worth of damage and loss to the factory.
Contact Elena
Court of Appeal
Overview
Elena has appeared with leave in relation to appeal against conviction and sentence.
Elena was instructed as fresh junior counsel in a multi-handed appeal known as the Manchester 10 case, where ten teenagers were convicted of conspiracy to murder and conspiracy to commit grievous bodily harm with intent. JUSTICE intervened in the appeal, raising issues of racial stereotyping, adultification of black defendants, and the use of drill music and gang evidence.
In R v Wiltshire [2022] EWCA Crim 1034, Elena argued that the court’s duties to protect the welfare of her client’s children and their Article 8 ECHR rights, as well as the principle of totality, meant that her client should not have received an immediate custodial sentence for serious fraud offences. The Court of Appeal, allowing the appeal, halved the sentence imposed by the sentencing judge and would have considered a suspended sentence, except for the time already spent, by the defendant in custody. The successful appeal allowed for her client’s immediate release.
In R v Amaan Khan Brown [2023] EWCA Crim 99, the Attorney General referred the sentence of three years and three months to the Court of Appeal after Elena persuaded the sentencing judge not to impose the mandatory minimum sentence of seven years for a third Class A drug trafficking offence.
In the Court of Appeal, Elena successfully argued that the sentence imposed was not unduly lenient, and significantly the Court of Appeal accepted her submission that her client’s young age was an important aspect to the consideration of whether the imposition of the minimum term would be unjust. This marks a different approach to minimum terms for young adults post R v Clarke.
