Sean Poulier

Employment

Galbraith Branley Sols, London – Articles, and Solicitor specialising in crime 1990 – 1997
Sean Poulier & Co, London – started own firm 1997- 1998
Needham Poulier and Partners, London – Founded 4 partner firm 1998- 2014
Independent Higher Court Advocate 2014 – 2021
CPS, East of England – District Crown Prosecutor 2021- 2023
Public Defender Service – Higher Court Advocate 2023 – date

Profile

Sean qualified as a solicitor in 1992 and has practised as a solicitor-advocate specialising in criminal law since that time. Throughout his career his work has included offences across the criminal spectrum. He was one of the founding partners of Needham Poulier and Partners, a firm specialising in criminal and mental health law. Whilst at the firm he started concentrating on Higher Court Advocacy work and ultimately left private practise in 2014 in order to focus solely on higher end crown court advocacy work. Between 2014 and May 2021 a huge proportion of his work were multi-handed trials heard at the Central Criminal Court.

Sean is highly respected by fellow advocates and judges and is valued the for his ability, integrity, and
powerful work ethic.

In May 2021 Sean joined that Crown Prosecution Service as a District Crown Prosecutor in the Crown Court Trials Unit. During his time at the CPS, he was an area lead in disclosure, international work, and forensic work. He was also at the vanguard of how to drive efficiency and excellence within the CPS. He has now brought all of that learning from the prosecution side back into the defence ranks by joining the Public Defender Service

Notable Cases

R v KB (2026) Croydon Crown Court
Historic rape – Father accused of rape and assault by penetration of 9 year old daughter

R v LD (2026) Manchester (Minshull Street) Crown Court
Rape x3, sexual assault, false imprisonment, ABH, threats to kill

R v AG (2025) Central Criminal Court
Murder, attempted murder x3, attempted GBH x4 – D drove his car at people in Soho on Christmas Eve in what was alleged to be a racist and homophobic attack.

R v AB (2025) Croydon Crown Court
Attempted GBH of police officers by twice reversing a HGV at speed into a police car

R v JP (2025) Wood Green Crown Court
Conspiracy to supply class A drugs

R v RM (2025) Exeter Crown Court
Conspiracy to cause GBH

R v JG (2024) Southwark Crown Court
Multi-handed vat diversion fraud

R v JG (2024) Southwark Crown Court
Multi-handed defendant case involving Money laundering 30 million pounds.

R v JS (2024) Snaresbrook Crown Court
Instructed as leading junior for first defendant in a multi-handed gang shooting case. Client indicted for conspiracy to murder x 2 and attempted murder, each incident occurring on separate dates.

R v FG (2024) Leicester Crown Court
Multi-handed conspiracy to burgle and conspiracy to steal over 500k in cash from cash machines across the UK.

R v ST (2024) Wood Green Crown Court
Multi-handed conspiracy to steal over 2 million pounds worth of Nike products

R v RC (2024) Chelmsford Crown Court
Multi-handed class A drugs conspiracy involving 90kg of cocaine and heroin.

R v JCA (2024) Central Criminal Court
Multi-handed defendant case involving extreme body mutilation due to body dysphoria ideation. Case garnered national headlines. Unique circumstances of the case required very careful handling.

R v PB (2023) Wood Green Crown Court
Represented a solicitor indicted for defrauding his clients. Multi-count indictment relating to fraud running to several hundred thousand pounds.

R v AA (2023) Leeds Crown Court
Defendant who had a prior conviction for rape of a 16-year-old indicted for rape of a 16-year-old girl.

R v ZY – (2020) Central Criminal Court
Double Murder of two women killed a year apart from one another and stored in the defendant’s freezer. Defendant specifically requested Sean represent him.

R v SL (2020) Central Criminal Court
Multi-handed murder – Acting for the first defendant where defendant said to be the organiser of a planned killing.

R v JO’C (2020) Central Criminal Court
Youth Defendant who is a well know drill artist was indicted for his involvement in a multi-handed murder and attempted murder involving firearms and ‘Rambo’ knives.

R v JO’H (2020) Central Criminal Court
Very young defendant involved in a multi-handed murder of a stranger who the defendant’s tried to rob.

R v BM (2020) Central Criminal Court
Acting for the first defendant in a multi-handed murder following a fracas in a park involving two groups of youths.

R v DW (2018) Central Criminal Court
Acting for first defendant, who was very young, in a multi-handed, gang related murder which carried some national media interest due the victim being a promising rugby player.

R v AF (2019) Central Criminal Court
Acting for first defendant in a multi-handed drug related murder where all the defendants were very young.

R v CM (2019) Central Criminal Court
Multi-handed murder gang related planned murder involving firearms.

R v TA (2018) – Birmingham Crown Court
Acting for first defendant in a multi-handed murder following a fracas at a boxing match. The case had a racial element to it and involved very large number of witnesses.

R v AK (2018) – Central Criminal Court
Gang related attempted murder involving firearms.

R v M (2018) – Central Criminal Court
Multi-Handed murder

R v JP (2018) – Winchester Crown Court
Multi-handed gang related attempted murder involving firearms and drugs

R v DO (2017) Lincoln Crown Court
Conspiracy to supply class A drugs

R v TH (2017) – Chelmsford Crown Court
Conspiracy to supply class A

R v SY (2017) Blackfriars Crown Court
PWITS

R v SD (2017) – Snaresbrook Crown Court
Firearms with intent to endanger life

R v IF (2016) – Central Criminal Court
Multi-handed gang related attempted murder

R v SM (2016) Central Criminal Court
Purchasing firearms

R v GF (2016) Central Criminal Court
Multi-handed murder following fracas in a pub.

R v OB (2015) Central Criminal Court
Acting for the first defendant in a multi-handed murder where all the defendants were very young.

R v SJ (2014) Central Criminal Court
HMRC prosecution of an alcohol diversion fraud on an international scale.

R v MR (2014) Central Criminal Court
Acting for first defendant in a multi-handed murder