Kiran Gohal

Kiran joined Chambers following the successful completion of her pupillage under the supervision of Ronnie Bergenthal.

Kiran accepts instructions in all areas of criminal law and appears daily in the Magistrates', Youth and Crown Court. She has developed experience in a wide range of criminal matters including drugs, violence, dishonesty and driving offences. She has also represented clients for forfeiture hearings. She is an effective and able advocate who is approachable and able to build a lasting rapport with clients, many of whom are vulnerable and have mental health issues. She has been priased for her dedicated and fearless approach and has been recognised by her peers for always going the extra mile for her clients.

During her pupillage she gained considerable experience with cases involving telephone and cell site evidence and was praised for her eye to detail and her strong work ethic. Prior to joining Chambers, Kiran worked as a paralegal in the Magistrates' Court department of a small criminal defence firm gaining valuable experience with preparing cases from the police station stage to trial.

• Crime
• Extradition

R v MH (March 2020) Croydon Crown Court

Successfully persuaded the court balance of probabilities that MH was entitled to reclaim his £11,945. MH was suspected of money laundering after the Police found the cash in his work van.

R v RS (January 2020) Stratford Youth Court

D acquitted of two counts of robbery. Crown offered no evidence in relation to the first count after representations made in relation to the ID and the second count after submissions made following complainant giving evidence.

R v SE (January 2020) City of London Magistrates’ Court

D acquitted of possession of an offensive weapon following D giving evidence and submissions made in relation to law of “control” and “had with”.

R v ES (January 2020) Sevenoaks Magistrates’ Court

Successfully D acquitted of dishonestly obtaining over £9,000 in benefits.

R v RB (November 2019) St Alban’s Crown Court

D had been committed for sentence for charges of dangerous driving involving a police pursuit in a residential area. Following extensive mitigation, HHJ gave D significant credit resulting in a sentence of 2 months imprisonment.

R v ED (August 2019) City of London Magistrates’ Court

D entered a guilty plea to a charge of supplying articles for use in fraud, specifically a driving theory test fraud. D was sentenced to a Community Order of 2 years following extensive mitigation.

R v RS (July 2019) Harrow Crown Court

D pleaded guilty to dangerous driving and was a second striker for possession of a bladed article. D was subject to a suspended sentence for a previous offence of passion of a bladed article. D was sentenced to 18 months in custody for both offences and for breaching the suspended sentence order.

R v RM (August 2019) Northampton Crown Court

D pleaded guilty to conveying a prohibited article into prison. The article was considered to be a list B item. Following mitigation, D was sentenced in the Magistrates’ Court and was given a Community Order of 18 months.

R v RC (May 2019) Wimbledon Magistrates’ Court

D charged with possession of a bladed article, namely lock knife and a knuckle duster. The defence put forward at trial was one of imminent threat which resulted in D being acquitted.

R v JBG (May 2019) Basildon Magistrates’ Court

D accused of common assault and using threatening words and behaviour. Upon viewing the CCTV footage and the evidence available, representations were made on the day of trial which led to the matter being discontinued.

R v WD (July 2019) Willesden Magistrates’ Court

D acquitted of an allegation of criminal damage on neighbour’s door lock after the successful cross-examination of the complainant and witness. Crown’s application for a Restraining Order was successfully opposed.

R v LN (May 2019) Woolwich Crown Court

D pleaded guilty to dangerous driving in the Magistrates’ Court and was sentenced to 6 months custody suspended for 2 years.

R v GM (July 2019) Central Criminal Court

D pleaded guilty to racially aggravated intentional harassment, alarm and distress; assault by beating of an emergency worker and battery. After much persuasion, D was given a Community Order of 12 months.

R v BM (May 2019) Staines’ Magistrates’ Court

D pleaded guilty to 6 charges of theft and Bail Act offence which resulted in the suspended sentence being breached. Following successful submissions, the suspended sentence was not activated, and the defendant was given a Community Order of 12 months.

Education

• University College London – LLM in International Law
• BBP University, London – BPTC
• University of Westminster, London – LLB Law

Awards and Scholarships

The Honourable Society of the Inner Temple

• Exhibition Award
• The Duke of Edinburgh Entrance Award
• Cumberland Lodge Bursary

Kiran has a keen interest in films and theatre and can be found to be assisting amateur productions whether that be by being in the editing suite or in front of the camera. She also enjoys playing sports, travelling as well as broadening her knowledge of food and is an avid cook.

Professional Memberships

• The Honourable Society of the Inner Temple
• Criminal Bar Association