Portia Baker
Crime, Human Rights, Immigration & Family
Portia is a pioneering barrister with a reputation for breaking barriers and setting precedents, she has built a distinguished career marked by resilience, determination, and an unwavering commitment to fairness. Throughout her professional journey, she achieved numerous firsts and established records that opened doors for others, earning recognition as a trailblazer within the legal profession. Portia was the first barrister partner in British Legal History when she founded the first Legal Disciplinary Practice (LDP), which operated successfully for 10 years from 2010 to 2020.
Portia also set multiple legal precedents, including successfully challenging the Bar Standards Board’s definition of what amounts to conducting litigation in the case of Connor -v-BSB [2012] All ER (D) 108.
Having navigated significant challenges , she demonstrated the same courage,
perseverance and determination that defines her advocacy in the courtroom.
In coming to Justitia, Portia is seeking to re-establish her practice in the areas of law where her career began—an area dedicated to protecting rights, ensuring fair treatment, and providing access to legal representation for those who are often overlooked or disadvantaged. Her passion lies in representing individuals and communities facing hardship, giving a voice to the vulnerable, and helping clients navigate some of the most challenging periods of their lives.
Combining years of legal knowledge with lived experience, she offers clients not only skilled advocacy but also empathy, insight, and a steadfast commitment to achieving meaningful outcomes. Her return to the Independent Bar reflects a belief that justice, to the extent that it does exist, is most powerful when it serves those who need it most, and she remains dedicated to using her expertise to make a positive difference in the lives of others.
"My passion is to represent individuals and communities facing hardship and give a voice to the vulnerable"
MEMBERSHIPS
Member of Inner Temple
EDUCATION
Masters in Human Rights with specialism in ECHR Articles 3, 8 and 14
AREAS OF PRACTICE
Portia has experience both as a prosecutor and a defence barrister. She also has over 12 years’ experience dealing with financial litigation which gives her a very rare
advantage for a Criminal practitioner. She has a natural investigative ability and detailed understanding of Companies and Financial Regulations. She accepts instructions in Crime for a wide variety of offences, including Fraud.
Crime
Portia has practiced in Human Rights and Immigration for 24 years. She considers Human Rights Law not only as a specialism but also a hobby. Her passion for the area of Human Rights Law led to her personal victory against the BSB in the Supreme Court, in the Landmark decision of O’Connor -v- BSB [2017] UKSC 78, the first case to be heard by the first female president of the Supreme Court.
HUMAN RIGHTS & IMMIGRATION
Portia accepts instructions in all Children Act Proceedings and Ancillary Relief. Portia has been practicing complex family law for well over two decades. Her first reported decision from the Court of Appeal was nearly 18 years ago in Whitehouse-Piper v Stokes [2008] EWCA Civ. 1049 and the most recently reported decision was in 2020, which was the case of Re S (Parental Alienation: Cult) [2020] EWCA Civ 568.