About Valerie
Valerie has been practising at the Bar since 1994 and has vast experience of a broad range of complex and multi-handed cases. Her diverse practice involves prosecuting and defending in equal measure.
Her chosen specialisms are:
- Fraud
- Murder/Manslaughter
- Health and Safety
- Professional Disciplinary Proceedings
- Serious Sexual Offences
- Tribunals – Mental Health
- Serious Crime
- Public inquiries
Valerie Charbit is an intelligent, thoughtful, creative and pragmatic barrister. She is calm under pressure, diligent and thorough when preparing a case and a compelling and persuasive advocate for her clients, whether prosecuting or defending. She is always totally committed to achieving the best result for her client. Valerie has a particular interest in mental health and is experienced in vulnerable witness advocacy, she delivers training to other barristers on this. Her skill in cross-examining experts across a broad spectrum is well recognised.
Valerie is appointed to the CPS Grade 4 (top tier) list for prosecution advocates and the specialist rape and serious crime group panels. She is also appointed to the Grade A (top tier) list for Specialist Regulatory Advocates in Health & Safety and to the Panel A lists for the Serious Fraud Office.
Since 2004 Valerie has sat as a part-time judge for the First Tier Tribunal (Mental Health) and sits as an appointed panel member on cases involving children and adolescents. She represents health authorities before the First Tier Tribunal (Mental Health) and the Upper Tribunal.
She is appointed to act as a legal adviser/legal assessor for the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants, the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales, the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, the Nursing and Midwifery Council and the General Osteopathic Council.
She is available for instruction before: the General Dental Council, the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal, the General Pharmaceutical Council, the Teaching Regulation Agency and the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy; having defended in a number of cases.
Valerie is accredited to undertake public access work, meaning she can take on private work directly from the public.
She is the Wellbeing Director for the Criminal Bar Association and is the South Eastern Circuit’s Past Recorder. She represents both organisations on the Bar Council’s working party group for wellbeing.
Valerie chairs the Regulatory Practice Group for Red Lion Chambers.
Memberships
- Criminal Bar Association
- Health and Safety Lawyers Association
- Mental Health Lawyers Association
- Association of Regulatory and Disciplinary Lawyers
- South Eastern Circuit
Voluntary Work
- Board member for Inclusion London, a charity supporting deaf and disabled peoples’ organisations.