About Louisa Ferrari
Louisa Ferrari is a solicitor at Hodge Jones & Allen Solicitors. Before joining us, she was the Head of Prison Law at Birds Solicitors. She joined Birds Solicitors in 2009 and initially practised in general crime, where her experience included serious firearms cases, robbery and large scale drugs offences. She went on to establish the Prison Law Department and single-handedly developed the firm’s outstanding reputation for this work, now one of the busiest prison law practices in the South of England, although her work extends nationwide. She is widely recognised for her work and has a very successful record before Parole Boards and Independent Adjudicators.
Louisa has developed a loyal and substantial following of clients. She is praised for her knowledge, understanding, compassion and direct advice, and renowned for her meticulous and tenacious representation, regularly achieving results beyond all expectations. Louisa is passionate about this area of law and it is evident through her solution-focussed approach, deep understanding and dedication to her clients.
She represents clients before the Parole Board in respect of recall proceedings, lifer, IPP and EDS parole hearings, before District Judges at Independent Adjudications, as well as for the purposes of sentence calculations. She predominantly undertakes Legal Aid work but considers private instructions on a case-by-case basis.
Louisa has been invited to advise at Lifer Days at various HMP establishments along with Parole Board members and other relevant professionals.
Notable Cases
- Parole Board v Terence Adams – successfully acted on behalf of the alleged head of a notorious London crime family in widely-reported recall proceedings which included an application for habeas corpus.
- Parole Board v MP – acted for a murderer who is decades over tariff and considered to be the longest serving prisoner in Britain. Complex evidence and issues, including the availability of defences now which not available at the time of conviction in 1987.
- Parole Board v CM – secured the swift release of a prisoner subject to a SOCA further to a number of significant drug importation convictions, and who had absconded to Europe for many years whilst on licence. Interpol were involved in proceedings strenuously opposing release, to no avail.
- Parole Board v LS – acted for a child who had pleaded guilty to accidentally killing his girlfriend with an automatic firearm and who had been subsequently recalled. The deceased’s family acted as witnesses before the Parole Board in support of his application in an emotionally traumatic case.
- Parole Board v KL – secured the release of a prisoner who attracted significant media attention as a result of his TV and radio appearances.
- Parole Board v WL – acted on behalf of a prisoner, convicted of brutally murdering a prostitute, in proceedings before the Parole Board, securing his transfer to open conditions two years before his tariff expiry, and subsequent release on tariff.
- Parole Board v AT – successfully acted on behalf of a prisoner, convicted of multiple sexual offences, detained in Broadmoor hospital. The case involved complex expert medical evidence.
- Parole Board v SA – Successfully represented a prisoner convicted of a gang-related murder, including the complexities of joint enterprise, and subsequently recalled for further offences.
- Parole Board v JH-R – Successfully represented a prisoner convicted of armed robbery with a machine gun, the original matter received substantial media attention.
- Parole Board v EN – Successfully represented a prisoner convicted of GBH, who was suffering severe PTSD having served as a child soldier in Burundi and who faced the potential death penalty/ torture upon deportation.
- Parole Board v AE – Successfully represented an elderly prisoner, convicted of numerous historic sexual offences, who suffered from severe learning difficulties and who had, during the course of his incarceration, become selectively mute.
Client Comments
- “Louisa was incredible, very professional and extremely knowledgeable.”
- “Known as the best prison solicitor in multiple prisons, even recommended by staff.”
- “A real force to be reckoned with.”
- “Fierce in her commitment to getting things done.”
- “Absolutely outstanding, consistently going above and beyond.”
- “So many prisoners recommend her.”
- “Her compassionate nature shines through.”
- “I love her straight talking.”
Education
- Louisa graduated from the University of Exeter in 2003 with a BA (Hons) degree in Politics and History before completing the GDL.
- She completed the Bar Vocational Course and was called to the Bar by Inner Temple in 2005. Thereafter she completed the Qualifying Lawyers Transfer Test and qualified as a solicitor in 2011.
