Joanna Curtis

Joanna joined 9BR Chambers as a third six pupil in November 2025. She has experience in crime, extradition and regulatory work.

Before coming to the bar, Joanna practised for 8 years as a solicitor - first at Ashurst LLP and then at Brown Rudnick LLP - where she focused on high-profile civil fraud and commercial litigation matters, with a number of her cases involving a crime or extradition element.

Joanna’s degree was in Spanish and Russian and she has spent time working and studying in both Madrid (2016) and Moscow (2010-11).

Crime

Joanna regularly defends in the Magistrates’ and Crown Courts, representing clients charged with a range of offences. She is appointed to the CPS Advocates Panel Level 1 for General Crime and has prosecuted multiple trials and sentencing hearings in the Magistrates’ Court.
She has acted in confiscation proceedings, account forfeiture proceedings, and proceedings for stalking protection orders, sexual risk orders and a slavery and trafficking prevention order. 

Extradition

Joanna has represented requested persons in bail and call-over hearings. During pupillage she assisted in relation to various extradition hearings, including:

• Drafting a response to appeal for a judicial authority, regarding the article 3 and 8 findings at first instance and responding to fresh evidence.
• Advising on the availability of judicial review for the Secretary of State’s decisions in Part 2 proceedings.
• Analysing an arrest warrant for cross-border trafficking offences and drafting requests to the judicial authority for further information.

International

During pupillage Joanna assisted on matters in relation to international sanctions and international crime.

Disciplinary and Regulatory

During pupillage Joanna assisted on a number of police disciplinary cases, including a judicial review case in the Court of Appeal.