Emma Harris

Call: 2008

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Emma Harris is a criminal and regulatory barrister, with a background as a solicitor-advocate.

She is regularly instructed in serious and complex cases, including modern slavery, cyber crime, fraud, business crime, and high-profile prosecutions and defences.

Her expertise includes representing individuals and organisations in proceedings brought by bodies such as the FCA, HSE, Environment Agency and Natural Resources Wales.

Emma also acts in Coroner’s Inquests and professional disciplinary hearings. She is often instructed in standalone Proceeds of Crime Act matters (including confiscation).

Emma is a CPS Level 4 Prosecutor, and appointed to the Serious Crime, POCA and Specialist Fraud Panels. She also delivers training to professionals and law students. Emma is a qualified pupil supervisor and advocacy trainer. She delivers New Practitioner and education training on Circuit.

Known for her calm courtroom manner, clear advocacy, thorough preparation and strong client care. Emma plays an active role on the Circuit and in initiatives supporting women in criminal law.

Expertise

Crime

Emma is frequently instructed in large-scale drugs operations, offences involving, fraud, crypto fraud and cyber crime and offences involving human trafficking and modern slavery. Her cases are often high-profile and deal with complex legal and evidential issues. She is typically engaged at an early stage of proceedings to advise on charging decisions and pre-charge engagement.

She has notably prosecuted some of the first trafficking cases in South Wales and Gwent which have proceeded without direct evidence from victims (Operation Typha and Operation Bridport). She successfully prosecuted ‘N’, a nurse who had fabricated qualifications and experience to secure a job as a Neonatal Ward Manager in hospitals in London and South Wales.

Emma is experienced in defending and prosecuting multi-handed cases over several weeks, being led and as leading counsel. Her workload spans the appellate courts and she is often instructed to undertake appeals against sentence and conviction.

Inquests & Inquiries

Emma has acted for interested parties, individuals and organisations in inquests. Notably, she has previously been instructed in an inquest relating to a death on the Kingsway, Swansea, where recommendations were made touching upon road layout, bus lanes and infrastructure.

Professional Discipline

Emma has experience in acting for individuals in fitness to practise and interim application hearings across a number of professional disciplines, including NMC, GMC, GDC, HCPC and EWC. She notably acted for an individual before HCPC dealing with fitness to practise issues where matters of national security and disaster planning were the focal points.

Additional Information

Appointments

CPS Level 4 Prosecutor
CPS Level 4 Serious Crime Panel
CPS Level 4 Fraud Panel
CPS Level 3 POCA Panel

Awards

CPE Award, Gray’s Inn Scholar (2006)

Education

Bar Vocational Course (Very Competent), Cardiff University (2008)
Common Professional Examination (Law), University of Glamorgan (2007)
BScEcon (Hons) Politics, Cardiff University (2006)

Memberships

Criminal Bar Association
Women in Criminal Law
Wales & Chester Women’s Forum
Wales and Chester Circuit
The Honourable Society of Gray’s Inn

Notable & Reported Cases

R v A (Op Laguras) – Emma prosecuted an individual for offences of modern slavery, involving the trafficking of a 14 year old child into the drugs trade.
R v E (Operation Midsummer) – Emma prosecuted an individual who had sold Class A, B and C drugs on Dark Web marketplaces. The investigation involved extensive surveillance and complex technological examinations of heavily encrypted devices and cryptocurrency.
R v A (Op Mayland) – Emma defended in a multi-handed conspiracy to supply Class A drugs where it was alleged her client was laundering significant proceeds of crime. Her client was acquitted of laundering money through personal bank accounts.
R v D & Others (Op Typha) – Emma was instructed as leading counsel in a case involving allegations of conspiracy to supply Class A drugs and conspiracy to traffic youths (Modern Slavery Act).
R v N – Emma led Cat Jones prosecuting allegations of fraud against a nurse who had lied on application forms and gained a position as a Neonatal Ward Manager. The trial lasted for 6 weeks at Cardiff Crown Court.
R v F & M (Operation Leadtree) – Emma successfully prosecuted allegations of fraud involving the creation of ‘phishing’ websites which emulated popular consumer websites.
Cardiff Council v M – Emma is instructed to defend in allegations of trading standards offences and fraud relating to the commission of building works.
R v P – Emma prosecuted serious multiple allegations of fraud across a number of vulnerable complainants valued at £400,000. Emma was instructed as leading counsel in this case which attracted significant press attention.
R v S & Others (Operation Bridport) – Emma prosecuted members of an OCG for offences of modern slavery which related to the use of children as drug runners within a conspiracy to supply Class A drugs. The convictions resulted in the imposition of Slavery and Trafficking Prevention Orders.
R v D – Emma was led by David Elias KC, defending allegations of rape and facilitating the sexual assault of the defendant’s daughter.
R v D & Others (Operation Grey Arcadia) – Emma was led by Mark Cotter KC, prosecuting allegations of bribery and corruption in relation to recycling and waste management at a local authority.
R v T (Operation Arbus) – Emma was led by Ruth Smith, defending a semi-professional footballer accused of serious allegations of blackmail, kidnap and firearms offences. Emma’s client was one of the few acquitted of all offences. The trial spanned 2022 and 2023 and involved 14 defendants.
R v P – Emma successfully defended in a matter involving eight allegations of rape against a family member.
R v H & M – Emma prosecuted teachers accused of child cruelty against pupils at a special school.
R v O (Operation Clement) – Emma was junior prosecution counsel in a case involving multi-complainants under the age of 13 and allegations of sexual assault against their teacher. The case involved lengthy s.28 pre-recorded cross-examination and extensive third-party disclosure matters.
R v P – Emma successfully defended a Lithuanian national accused of growing cannabis across a number of sites in South Wales. He was the only defendant acquitted at trial.
R v Price [2020] EWCA Crim 1832 – Emma successfully appealed sentence in a matter involving theft from an employer. The Court of Appeal agreed that the Judge had erred in double counting aggravating features to raise the starting point and in not considering personal mitigation.
R v B – Emma successfully defended the steward of a Welsh Rugby Club, accused of theft via a complex system of refunds through the club’s EPOS. A successful ‘half time submission’ of no case to answer was made and the defendant acquitted of all charges.
R v DL (Operation Empire) – Emma was instructed as junior defence counsel in a multi-handed conspiracy to supply Class A drugs in the Newport area. The matter involved a large volume of mobile phone evidence and cell-site data.
R v M & Others (Operation Midas) – Emma was instructed as Disclosure Counsel, led by Shane Collery KC (now HHJ Collery KC) in a matter involving allegations of fraud against the Welsh Government relating to applications for European funding. Emma has been trained in using the NUIX system as a result of her involvement in this matter.
R v B (Operation Dino) – Emma defended in a conspiracy to defraud. This is one of the biggest “Cash for Crash” scam investigations in the UK.
R v Q & Others – Emma successfully prosecuted members of a family in allegations of fraud against an elderly family member. The case was widely reported in the national media.
Surrey & Bucks v C – Emma prosecuted on behalf of the local authority in matters involving the sale of counterfeit high-value watches and jewellery via Facebook.
R v D – Emma represented a prison officer accused of expenses fraud valued at over £100,000.
EWC v S – Emma defended in a complex matter before the EWC where both defendant and complainant were registered deaf, successfully defending against an application to strike-off.
HCPC v R – Emma defended in a complex matter involving a consultant paramedic contracted to provide disaster and emergency planning advice. The matter involved issues of national security and allegations of fraud.
R v Mouncher & Others – As a solicitor, Emma represented a civilian in what became known as the UK’s biggest ‘police corruption’ case. The case related to the murder of Lynette White in the 1980s and the wrongful convictions of the ‘Cardiff Three’.
SFO v Eric Evans & Others – As a solicitor, Emma was instructed in this case which involved allegations of fraud relating to solicitors and businessmen. The fraud pertained to open cast mining sites across South Wales. The case involved complex planning law and significant legal argument.
R v M (Operation Elveden) – As a solicitor, Emma was instructed to represent the Night News Editor of The Sun newspaper, who was accused of payments to public officials. Her client was acquitted after a lengthy trial at the Old Bailey.

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‘Emma's meticulous attention to detail translates into her approach. She is organised and reliable.’

Legal 500 2026

"Emma is very meticulous and she goes through papers in great detail."

Legal 500 2025

"Her client care is good, always putting clients at ease. Her advocacy is also first-rate."

Legal 500 2025

Emma Harris secures prosecution in a case of controlling and coercive behaviour

News | 10 October 2025

Emma Harris prosecuted a case of coercive and controlling behaviour which involved serious allegations of violence and fraud. Villafane, also referred to as Manson had…

“Catching a Monster” – BBC documentary on Operation Typha