The BCL Solicitors LLP team has strong experience in representing high-profile individuals, including businesspeople, figures in religious organisations, actors, and presenters. The practice offers representation regarding serious allegations, such as assault, sexual assault, and modern slavery offences. Ellen Peart leads the practice and has a particular specialism in matters involving children and young people. Mark Haslam often represents athletes and political figures in motoring cases. David Hardstaff, ‘always calm and collected where others might fall apart’, is well-versed in acting in matters concerning sexual assault, racial abuse, and modern slavery offences. Daniel Jackson is a key contact for high profile screenwriters and musicians, while associate Rishi Joshi provides support on cases concerning sexual abuse.

The crime, fraud and regulatory team at Bindmans LLP expertly handles a wide variety of criminal matters, ranging from sexual assault to terrorism. The practice has a strong niche in defending clients with significant mental illnesses, such as Alzheimer’s, autism, and brain damage. Katie Wheatley leads the team; she has a strong reputation in advising journalists and media organisations regarding whistleblower and undercover operations. Tayab Ali is an expert in politically sensitive cases; he has been representing a senior journalist against allegations of stirring up racial hatred as a speaker on the main stage at a major pro-Palestine protest. Kate Goold is a key contact for high profile political individuals regarding sexual assault representation. At the associate level, Catherine Jackson is particularly experienced in acting for parents accused of harming their children, while Jude Lanchin is highly regarded for acting in cases involving young people.

The ‘thoughtful and pragmatic’ Corker Binning general crime team is experienced in representing clients in matters which require great sensitivity due to their public image, young age, or nature of the matter. Jointly led by Danielle Reece-Greenhalgh and Edward Grange, the practice is well known for their extradition work. Described as ‘a reassuring and experienced pair of hands’, Grange has been providing legal counsel to Julian Assange regarding the preparation for the representations made to the Secretary of State regarding the client’s renewal hearing, while Andrew Smith has been representing a client in the first ever extradition request from Mexico to the UK. Promoted to partner in April 2023, Maia Cohen-Lask has strong expertise in representing young people facing criminal investigation and prosecution.

Edward Fail Bradshaw & Waterson has incredible breadth in its practice, ranging from murder, high profile sexual assault, conspiracy to import various kinds of contraband into the UK, to various other specialised and rare matters. Paul Harris heads the crime department; ‘a leading figure in the field’, Harris has a strong niche in representing clients regarding the Post Office Horizon software scandal. Natalie Berman, head of the in-house Crown Court department, is a market leader in matters regarding conspiracy to supply class A drugs and prohibited weapons in the UK. Kirsty Bishop, described as ‘brilliant with clients and her attention to detail is remarkable’, lends cross-sector expertise from the fraud department. Edward Preston is well regarded for his work on complex litigation.

The ‘dynamic and ambitious’ team at Hickman & Rose is strongly experienced in representing high-profile clients in matters concerning sexual assault and rape. Such matters can involve international extradition, multiple claimants, underage claimants, and domestic violence or assault. Practice head Jenny Wiltshire regularly advises athletes, businesspersons, and other high-level professionals in sexual and domestic assault matters. Peter Csemiczky, ‘approachable, extremely diligent and is able to get to the heart of the case in seconds’, is experienced in representing young people and students facing sexual misconduct allegations at schools and universities. Rose Commander and Bartholomew Dalton both support the practice in representing high profile clients, including athletes, legal professionals, and presenters.

The crime, financial crime, and regulatory team at Hodge Jones & Allen are particularly well acclaimed for their work regarding protesters, young defendants, and financial crime. Raj Chada leads the practice. The ‘top-notch’ Chada is greatly experienced in protester law; he also leads other complex matters, notably a manslaughter by gross negligence case, involving two police investigations, an inquest, hospital internal investigation, and criminal proceedings, which has required instruction from pathologist, nursing, and sleeping experts. Laura O’Brien, ‘a tremendously hard worker’, specialises in representing young and vulnerable defendants, while Caroline Liggins is regularly instructed to defend both children and adults on serious allegations, including murder, sexual and drug offences. Kerry Spence is an expert in murder and multiple defendant cases, whereas Mike Schwarz currently works on protester and financial fraud matters.

Kingsley Napley LLP, ‘a Rolls-Royce outfit’, offers a wide range of legal services for high profile and media-sensitive clients. Louise Hodges heads the criminal litigation team, while Sandra Paul and David Sleight co-lead the general crime division. Described as ‘absolutely exceptional and at the top of her game’, Paul is an expert in matters concerning homicide drug offences, and sexual misconduct. Sleight represents a range of clients and is often sought after by Premier League football clubs. Regarded for her expertise in extradition matters, Rebecca Niblock represents clients regarding submissions from INTERPOL and international counsels. Matthew Hardcastle acts for clients on a variety of sensitive issues, including representation in Parliamentary Standards Authority investigations. Edward Jones supports the practice with ‘great strategic and tactical skills’ on a wide range of matters, including murder, manslaughter, and rape.

The ‘incredibly responsive’ crime and regulatory group at Simons Muirhead Burton specialise in acting for high net worth individuals with strong media presence regarding serious allegations. Phil Smith, ‘approachable, straightforward, completely on point’ has over twenty-five years of experience of representing clients in murder and serious sexual assault cases. The ‘extremely intelligent yet empathetic’ Henrietta Ronson is a key point of contact for politicians, elite athletes, and members of the teaching profession concerning sexual allegations. Meanwhile, Anthony Burton CBE, an extremely seasoned practitioner with over forty years of experience, is a renowned expert on the application of the death penalty across the globe.

The ABV Solicitors complex crime team, led by Akhtar Ahmad and Robert Borwick, is known for its impressive work on cases covering matters such as EncroChat, illegal drug production, and people trafficking. Ahmad is described as a ‘star performer and a smooth operator‘, while Borwick, ‘a heavyweight in crime and a seasoned practitioner’, has been working alongside the ‘intelligent, conscientious and determined’ Hanisha Godhania in defending a Premier League footballer accused of multiple rapes spanning over many years. Sunita Mehta has a track record of work cases concerning the perversion of the course of justice, sexual offences, and supply of class A drugs, while Fergus Harrington has particular expertise for fraud investigations.

The team at Bark&co is well experienced in matters concerning murder, organised crime, and sexual assault. Heading the team, Giles Bark-Jones often acts in serious and sensitive criminal investigations for high profile clients in the public eye. Vanessa Wiggins, described as ‘a superstar’ and ‘exceptional’, is a safe pair of hands for matters concerning conspiracies to murder, murder, and distribution of class A drugs. Ria Kudrati, who ‘always goes the extra mile for her clients’ regularly acts in cases concerning organised crime, sexual assault and drug offences, while Dharsh Lokaswaran is experienced regarding criminal conspiracies and organised crime.

The Blackfords LLP criminal defence, serious crime and serious fraud has a very broad offering covering cases concerning sexual abuse, possession of firearms, murder, supply of class A substances, arson, perjury in military service inquiries, amongst other matters. The team is co-led by Gary Bloxsome and Trevor Francis. Bloxsome, a ‘giant of criminal litigation’, is known as 'a great judge of tactics' with 'a very loyal client following'. Francis, ‘a true warrior who knows how to use all the items in his armoury’, specialises in complex fraud cases as well as sexual assault and murder. At the senior associate level, Jennifer Richardson is a key individual to note.

The criminal litigation team at Carson Kaye offers ‘a first-class service from start to finish’. The team is co-led by John Kaye, John Carson, Ben Darabi, and Tana Adelmann. Kaye, described as ‘tactically astute with a creative legal aptitude to secure the very best outcomes’, is well-regarded for his work on complex murder cases. Carson is experienced in high-profile terrorism and extraditions. Adelmann - ‘sharp, efficient, proactive and reactive' - has a impressive record of work for individuals in very politically and reputationally sensitive matters. At the associate level, Piers Desser, Sophie Clarke and Milly Blunt support the practice on the most high-profile and sensitive matters.

GT Stewart Limited has a large criminal defence team spread across five offices across the Greater London area. This spread gives the firm broad legal aid coverage across the lower courts as well as police stations. Greg Stewart leads the appeals team, assisting clients with applications to the Criminal Cases Review Commission. Spearheading the private client team, Will Russell, ‘an absolute class act’, is well known in Southeast London for complex litigation, such as a current client with multiple counts of rape, sexual assault, and child related sexual activity. Mel Stooks, ‘a trailblazer and exceptional in her work and approach to her clients’, leads the youth team. Melanie Krudy, in charge of the training and billing team, recently acted in an EncroChat case which concerned conspiracy to supply heroin on a large-scale distribution. Ronnie Manek leads the higher court advocacy group and is well experienced in matters concerning murders involving children and teenagers.

Based in Uxbridge, the ‘incredibly impressive team’ at IBB Law often represents legal aid and private clients in matters concerning blackmail, class A drug distribution, and kidnapping. The team is co-led by Joanne Gibbons and Eddie Tang. Gibbons handles a wide range of matters, including cases concerning sexual assault, possession of firearms, and supply of dangerous substances. Tang, an individual of ‘humour, warmth, hard work, imagination, and keen legal acumen’, regularly acts in serious matters which involve organised crime, human trafficking, and modern slavery. Kam Varaitch provides ‘top-notch expertise’ in financial crime and fraud, while Natalie De-Merist is experienced in cases concerning fatal dangerous driving, illicit drugs, and theft.

The ‘phenomenal team’ at Janes Solicitors is well-known for its work in general crime. Notably, the firm has strong experience in cases regarding illicit substances, which has resulted in them receiving a large amount of EncroChat-related work. Leading the firm, Robert Berg is described as 'an all-round Rolls-Royce solicitor' with 'a brain the size of a planet'. Alex Mincoff, ‘working on cases on the cutting edge of law’, is well-versed in high value theft cases, while the ‘extremely hard-working’ Fiona Gavriel is a key contact regarding high value money laundering matters. James Mullion and Alex Chapman are both experts cases concerning the importation, supply, and distribution of class A drugs.

Lewis Nedas Law Limited, led by Jeffrey Lewis, is known as ‘an exceptional firm with a strong team of talented and expert criminal lawyers’. The practice offers a wide range of high-end legal services, including on cases concerning espionage, terrorism, and murder. Siobhain Egan has strong experience in multi-jurisdictional matters; recent highlight engagements concern organ trafficking and terrorism financing, among other matters. Unan Choudhury is noted for his work regarding espionage and murders, while Keith Wood is an expert in High Court contempt proceedings which arise from criminal activity. Other key figures include Miles Herman, who represents clients in complex litigations.

The ‘dedicated and hardworking team’ at Lloyds PR Solicitors has recently opened a new office in Baker Street, expanding their services from three to four offices. The firm is jointly led by Harsha Rupasinghe, Manoj Rupasinghe, and Moshin Ariff. Manoj Rupasinghe, a former barrister, is hugely experienced in complicated cases at all levels of court, including a Supreme Court level extradition appeal which involves underage sexual assault, and an espionage case at the Central Criminal Court. Ariff brings strong expertise in large scale modern slavery and human trafficking matters, as well as child deaths. Prasad Palihawadana also has a strong record in the trafficking and slavery area, and brings cross-sectoral white collar crime experience on matters including drug production and money laundering.

Russell-Cooke LLP primarily focuses on conducting privately funded work for regulated professionals, including members of Parliament, senior judiciary members, and CEOs, who require the utmost confidentiality and sensitivity regarding their cases. Jae Carwardine leads the firm; she is praised for her ‘authenticity and humanity’. Other key figures include Martin Rackshaw, who is noted for his niche expertise in mercy killing cases. In January 2024, Keshina Bouri joined the firm from Carson Kaye.

Shaw Graham Kersh, ‘a longstanding London defence firm offering a top-notch service in legal aid and private work’, is jointly led by Raymond Shaw and Madeleine Corr. Shaw, 'very polished and professional’, recently represented a client charged with supplying multiple kilos of class A and B drugs in London. Corr, ‘a true powerhouse of a lawyer’, often defends clients accused of murder, and is also experienced in serious crimes involving non-adults, including terrorism, abduction, and sexual abuse. Philip Hill and Paul Graham both departed the team to become consultants in November 2023.

The team at Sonn Macmillan Walker has a strong focus on high-profile extraditions to a large variety of countries as far afield as Kuwait and Armenia. Outside of extraditions, the practice is often instructed on cases involving Ponzi schemes, murders, sexual assault, and class A drugs. The team is led by David Sonn, Katy Smart, and Amy Cox. Smart oversees the extradition team; she regularly advises politically exposed individuals for INTERPOL representation. Cox, ‘intelligent, compassionate and highly motivated to always achieve great results for her clients’, spearheads the litigation department. Leah Connolly, ‘particularly expert at dealing with the young and vulnerable and their immediate family’, often defends youths on charges of murder and attempted murder.

Brett Wilson LLP, ‘a small team providing a bespoke and highly professional service in private and top end criminal work’, is led by Nick Brett. Very well-regarded by his peers, Brett is experienced in defending against allegations of rape, sexual harassment for both high profile and vulnerable individuals. At the associate level, Sharron Boyce, ‘highly intelligent and relentless in pursuit of the best outcome for her clients', regularly supports Brett in matters concerning rape, extradition, and fraud.

Based in both London and Stevenage, Cantaris Locke Solicitors regularly act in drug related cases. The practice has been described as, ‘ideally set up to represent foreign nationals who find themselves in trouble in the UK’. The firm is led by Costa Cantaris and Natalia Locke. Cantaris, ‘first-rate at anticipating the best strategies to deploy and making astute decisions’, regularly defends clients accused of importing and distributing large amounts of class A drugs. Based in Stevenage, Locke ‘always goes the extra mile in putting clients at ease and in making sure no stone is left unturned on their cases’. Also based in Stevenage, Mark Davies regularly supports Locke in matters concerning sexual assault, theft, and fraud.

Duncan Lewis Solicitors ‘stands out for its expertise in serious and complex cases, its tenacity and its realistic approach’. Hardeep Dhaliwal  and Sunjay Versani head the practice. Dhaliwal, ‘fair, well-prepared and a joy to deal with’, is experienced in cases involving extradition, sexual assault, and theft. Versani, ‘always responsive and very clear on next steps’, specialises in fraud and theft. Laurence Grant, ‘a superb tactical lawyer who chooses the right counsel for the right case’, is also experienced in fraud, as well as illicit drugs cases. Linda Barker, ‘brilliant with clients, relatable, empathetic', is experienced with murder, conspiracy to murder, and attempted murder. At the associate level, Olivia Amy Rose is a key figure to note.

Edwards Duthie Shamash, a very diverse practice, brings a personal touch to their legal aid and private clients by offering a wide range of foreign languages, including Urdu, Hindi, Punjabi, Romanian, Greek and Polish. The practice is jointly led by Shaun Murphy, Rakesh Bhasin, and Robert Dynowski. Murphy, ‘a first-class solicitor’, regularly defends cases regarding robbery, sexual assault, and supplying class A drugs. Bhasin has ‘a lovely manner in court and really drills down into the detail of his cases’; he often represents clients charged with possession of firearms, attempted murder, and conspiracy to supply class A drugs. Dynowski specialises in fraud. Shabaz Ahmed, ‘a major player in East End and East Essex crime’, is experienced with robbery, murder, and conspiracy to supply class A drugs.

Described as ‘an impeccable firm’, Freemans Solicitors is regularly engaged in cases concerning high-profile sexual offences and serious fraud. The team is spearheaded by Michael Field, Kishoree Kotecha-Pau and Peter Bedingfield. Kotecha-Pau, ‘very informative and professional’, is experienced in matters regarding class A drugs, blackmail, and fraud. Bedingfield, ‘attentive, knowledgeable, reassuring, and highly professional’, is particularly well-regarded for traffic law. Leo Martin, ‘always responsive and available’, is frequently instructed for matters involving fraud, assault, and public order.

The business crime and regulatory team at Howard Kennedy LLP specialises in representing high net worth individuals in sexual assault and assault cases. Ian Ryan leads the practice with a ‘formidable reputation'; is experienced in extensive police investigations into historical sexual assault. Kyle Phillips, who ‘works tirelessly for his clients, is always on top of his papers, and has an exceptional knowledge of the law', specialises in acting for celebrities and their family members in sensitive reputational matters.

ITN Solicitors is regularly engaged for representation in cases concerning serious crime, including murder, terrorism, and high value fraud. Simon Natas and Nadeem Thanvi lead the criminal department. Natas is particularly experienced in terrorism related matters. Thanvi, ‘meticulous and pragmatic, with charm and experience that clients love’, is an expert in money laundering and Ponzi schemes. Nick Jennaway also specialises in money laundering as well as conspiracy to supply drugs.

The team at JMW Solicitors LLP is particularly well-regarded for matters regarding gross misconduct. While the team is small, they are fully capable of acting on cross-border mandates. Daniel Martin leads the team. Martin often acts in cases regarding conspiracy to supply class A drugs, robbery, and both regulatory and criminal misconduct. Amy Shaffron is experienced in representing clients in various professional internal disciplinary proceedings for gross misconduct. Associate Ben Hall has over twenty years of criminal defence experience and is capable of leading matters concerning conspiracy to supply class A drugs and gross misconduct.

The Mishcon de Reya LLP white collar crime and investigations is adept at advising the firm’s white collar clients with general crime and extradition mandates. Nick Dent leads the practice and frequently represents clients regarding extradition to the US, Europe, and Asia on serious allegations, such as drugs importation. Ben Brandon often represents clients in politically motivated extradition matters. Johanna Walsh, ‘approachable, insightful and realistic’, is another key individual.

The Payne Hicks Beach LLP defence and investigations team regularly collaborates with the firm’s privacy and media law team in dealing with sexual assault and harassment matters. Mark Jones leads the practice. Jones, ‘a first class lawyer who knows this area inside out and is committed to the highest standards of client care’, often acts for individuals with high net worth and public images in sensitive sexual assault matters, which often involve non-adults. Jones is often assisted by Hanna Basha, Nick Grant, and Henry Watkinson.

Stuart Miller Solicitors, ‘a firm that it is at the heart of their local community’, is well-versed in defending clients on charges of murder and gang-related violence. Abu Kibla and Mohammed Zeb lead the firm. Kibla, ‘always competent and knowledgeable’, regularly act in matters concerning murder, supply of class-A drugs, and sexual assault. Zeb is active on murder and fraud cases. Sophie Lalaoui, ‘bringing intelligence and passion to every case’, provides support in a great number and variety of matters. Anna Sidgwick is also a key member of the team.

The general crime team at TV Edwards Solicitors LLP frequently deals with cases involving serious crime such as murder and rape, often relating to vulnerable victims, such as children and the elderly. Practice head Adrienne Wright, ‘responsive, empathetic and realistic’, is particularly well-regarded on matters relating to murder and negligence which lead to the death of non-adults. Sean Richards, ‘an old-fashioned defence warrior’, and Mark Ashford also frequently works with clients facing charges for murder and sexual assault.

Advice Wise Solicitors Limited, ‘an excellent firm in all areas of criminal defence work', is led by Shahid Khan and Abraar Ayaz. Khan is an expert in representing defendants in matters of fraud, money laundering, and terrorism. Ayaz, ‘dedicated and hard-working’, regularly advises clients on charges of possession of firearms, sexual assault, and murder. Associate Ian John-Baptiste provides support on a large variety of the firm’s matters.

Ahmad Jawad leads the ‘large and talented team of lawyers’ at Central Chambers Law. Jawad is an expert in cases regarding firearms possession, money laundering, and supply of class A drugs. Mahtab Aziz, ‘excellent with clients and maintains good communication with counsel’, often represents clients in cases concerning dangerous driving, fraud, and sexual assault.

Egan Meyer is jointly led by Richard Egan and Jim Meyer, both of whom hold around thirty years of experience in general crime and are well regarded by peers. The firm regularly acts for high-net-worth individuals, notably having recently represented Cristiano Ronaldo on allegations of common assault and criminal damage. Egan, ‘a giant amongst defence solicitors’, regularly acts for clients charged with assault and indecent exposure. Meyer, a ‘great eye for detail and incredibly thorough’, focuses on business crime, particularly regarding corporate manslaughter and gross negligence manslaughter.

HSR Solicitors, ‘a formidable team of lawyers who combine the client care of a local firm with the legal clout of a much larger firm’, is led by Harsharan Singh Rana. Rana, ‘a larger-than-life figure who brings out the best in everyone around him’, regularly acts on cases which involve classes A, B and C drugs, unlawful immigration, and weapon possession. At the associate level, Jaspal Singh and Shah Mashud regularly support Rana on complex sexual offences, fraud, and supply of class A drugs cases.

Jemma Michaelson, promoted to team lead in August 2023, heads the general crime practice at Reeds Solicitors. Mark Abbott, 'a robust and dedicated practitioner with a lot of integrity’, is often engaged by clients in large police investigations regarding conspiracy to murder and supply drugs. Sundeep Soor, ‘a super star’, often assists on cases involving class A and class B drugs.

Rustem Guardian Solicitors, led by Timur Rustem, regularly engages in matters involving sexual assault, assault, and supply of drugs. The team has a large pool of talented associates. Katerina Tsibouklis, ‘devoted to the cause, tactically excellent and has a touch like no other’, and Natasha Green, ‘commanding the respect of even very difficult clients’, both support the practice on matters involving murder and possession with the intent to supply illicit drugs.

While Shearman Bowen & Co is well-known for their fraud and white-collar work, the firm’s serious crime department regularly engages in a wide variety of general crime mandates. Mark Bowen and Vivien Cochrane co-lead the practice. Bowen, ‘a consummate professional, clearly wins the confidence of all his clients, and wins quickly’, regularly acts on matters concerning modern slavery, murder, and class A drugs. The ‘very approachable’ Cochrane is particularly experienced in complex sexual assault cases which may involve multiple claimants and children.

Berris Law, a ‘client-focused' firm described as 'working very hard to provide a good quality service’, offers a wide range of criminal law advice, including firearms possession, murder, modern slavery, and supply of class A drugs. Seema Dosaj leads the firm. Notably, Dosaj recently represented a client on allegations of war crimes in a different jurisdiction who has since settled in the UK.

Venters Solicitors specialises in both criminal and family law. June Venters KC, a dual qualified barrister and solicitor, leads the practice. Venters regularly engages in matters which involve sexual assault, domestic and coercive behaviour, and violent offences. These cases are often complex, some of which involving multiple members of the same family, and some involving children.

The Wells Burcombe LLP West Drayton office is jointly led by Alan Burcombe and Ravinder Khumra. Burcombe, ‘a delight to work with and especially dedicated to his clients’, frequently works with clients facing allegations of sexual assault. Khumra, ‘exactly the kind of person you'd want on your team if you got into trouble’, is an expert regarding sexual assault and criminal disputes between family members.