Vivien Cochrane

Vivien is a Senior Associate in the criminal litigation team. Her practice focuses on serious and complex crime. She has experience of representing clients across the full spectrum of criminal matters, from Public Order offences to murder, and as such has a very good understanding of the strategies involved in advising clients from the outset of a criminal investigation, and  the tactics and complexities of representing clients at trial. Vivien has an exceptional level of attention to detail and is able to quickly identify the key issues in a case.  She is often relied upon by clients and counsel to have the forensic detail of the case at her fingertips.

Vivien is experienced in working as part of team of lawyers on large, document-heavy cases and will often lead a team of paralegals and junior lawyers in respect of document review and analysis exercises. She is thorough, efficient and dedicated to producing the best possible results for her clients.

Vivien has a particular interest in appeal work and has been involved in appeals against conviction from the Magistrates, Youth and Crown Courts.  She also regularly assists the Centre for Criminal Appeals (CCA) and has advised in relation to appeals against conviction for offences of historical sexual abuse and murder.

Vivien is also committed to pro bono work and is involved in coordinating and assisting with many such projects for the firm, including supervising students at the Queen Mary Legal Advice Centre and assisting Amicus in relation to research into the use of the death penalty in Missouri.

Vivien has been involved in a number of large scale and high profile cases.

She regularly contributes articles and comment in the press and was recognised as a legal influencer and category winner in the Lexology Content Marketing Awards in Q4 2018.

Recent work

• the investigation into the alleged fixing of LIBOR
• advising Rebekah Brooks in relation to allegations of phone hacking
• the investigation into the alleged fixing of the foreign exchange market
• advising a media company in relation to an HMRC investigation into alleged VAT fraud
• advising the partners of an accountancy firm in respect of allegations of tax evasion
• advising a man accused attempting to murder his pregnant partner
• assisting the team advising Tesco in relation to allegations of fraud and false accounting

Publications, Press Highlights, speaking engagements & Blogs

• In-house lawyers and general counsel take note: will your communications be privileged? - February 2020
• Assisted Suicide, forgiveness or permission? - July 2019
• Law Friends Society's London Criminal Defence Essential Update Spring Conference - speaking on Legal Professional Privilege at the Police Station, 24th May 2019
• Search warrants at banks in the UK: what you need to know - in  Compliance Matters, September 2018
• Search Warrants: the case for reform, an introduction - July 2018
• Search Warrants: the case for reform, costs - July 2018
• Revised PACE Codes of Practice coming into force - July 2018