Next Generation Partners

General crime and fraud in South West

Burges Salmon LLP

Fielding a team spread across London and Bristol, Burges Salmon LLP‘s corporate crime and investigations team excels in its representation of corporates in a range of complex and often national financial crime cases, criminal cases surrounding environmental and health and safety legislation including corporate manslaughter issues, and cross-border sanctions matters. The corporate crime team is headed up by Guy Bastable, who has extensive experience in crisis management and internal investigations as well as areas such as anti-money laundering compliance, insider trading and market abuse. David Hall, who is head of the disputes, planning and construction department, is also active in the space, advising on matters including cases relating to cyber-fraud attacks, data protection issues and asset recovery. Covering regulatory enforcement and corporate crime work, senior associate Sam Aldous is another key member of the team.

Responsables de la pratique:

Guy Bastable; David Hall


Autres avocats clés:

Sam Aldous; Laura Beament; Andrew Matheson


Les références

‘They have an experienced multi-disciplinary team, which allows them to advise their corporate clients on a wide range of regulatory issues.’

‘My main contact at the firm is Guy Bastable – with a firm grounding in financial crime plus Health and Safety, Guy is very well placed to advise clients in respect to their fraud issues. Understanding the regulatory consequences of their criminal issues gives Guy an advantage over many practitioners.’

‘Guy Bastable is, by a country mile, the finest solicitor operating in this sector outside of London. His knowledge is second to none and he applies it with a shrewd brain, achieving outstanding results for his clients.’

Principaux dossiers


  • Advising a core participant in the Grenfell Tower Inquiry in relation to the criminal investigation by the Metropolitan Police Service into the Grenfell Tower fire.
  • Advising a multi-national manufacturer of industrial chemicals in relation to criminal breaches of the Russia Sanctions and liaison with HMRC and the NCA.
  • Advising an international commodities agent under criminal investigation by the Environment Agency in relation to allegations of the illegal export of waste to India.

Reeds Solicitors

Reeds Solicitors stands out for its expertise in criminal defence work. The practice is divided into the complex crime team, which focuses on large fraud claims, drug conspiracies and HMRC issues; and the private crime team, which advises on motoring issues, education work and general criminal cases. The former is led by Julian Richards, with the latter headed up by Stuart Matthews; both are based in Oxford. In Bristol, Stephen Clifford leads the Crown Court team, regularly defending clients at the Magistrates Court in a range of high-stakes crime cases. Nicola Hutchinson is highly experienced in a broad set of criminal and regulatory matters spanning murder, rape and sexual assault cases, fraud issues, and drug conspiracies. Solicitor advocate Andy Lee is another key member, noted for his representation of clients at the police station as well as the Magistrates Court.

Responsables de la pratique:

Nicola Hutchinson; Stephen Clifford; Julian Richards; Stuart Matthews


Autres avocats clés:

Andy Lee


Les références

‘They do everything right from start to finish.’

‘Nicola Hutchinson is a force of nature, on top of her case load, knows exactly what she is doing and commands respect from her clients and her opposition.’

‘Highly capable and experienced team, second to none in the Bristol marketplace.’

Stone King LLP

The crime and regulatory team at Stone King LLP consists of solicitor advocates who advise on a wide range of matters spanning fraud to safeguarding issues. In particular, the practice stands out for its expertise in advising on cases that are of a sexual nature, with wider areas of expertise covering regulatory work and prosecutions in the transportation and health spaces as well as firearms licensing work and inquests in the education sector. Located in Bath, practice head Matthew Graham has experience across a range of sexual misconduct and safeguarding matters, as well as mental health and developmental disorder-related issues. Andrew Banks excels in white-collar crime mandates as well as advocacy work across the Magistrates and Crown Courts as well as public inquiries. Senior associate Nicholas Wragg is another key name.

Responsables de la pratique:

Matthew Graham


Autres avocats clés:

Andrew Banks; Nicholas Wragg


Les références

‘I found the team highly professional and capable in all dealings. They were hard working, frequently communicating to ensure all matters were dealt with. When a key figure was absent for a few days their colleague picked up the matter seamlessly and continued to provide the same level of support as their colleague.’

‘My view is that there is a culture of professionalism and performance within this team. Moreover, they were pleasant and easy to deal with – they put me at my ease and formed a good working relationship. They quickly became a very much trusted part of my wider team.’

‘The key lead on this project was great to work with. I found her very relatable and was always willing to take a call or advise me on matters. She had an engaging personality and sense of humour that made a gruelling and, at times, stressful process easier to cope with.’

Principaux dossiers


  • Advising a company in respect of the Grenfell Tower Inquiry and Investigation.
  • Acting in respect of a leading Court of Appeal decision relating to sentencing online offences.
  • Advising an educational establishment in respect of a high-profile inquest.

Clarke Willmott LLP

Clarke Willmott LLP advises on all stages of the criminal process, providing support for individuals, businesses, and local government bodies. While the practice is particularly prominent in the agriculture sector, the team's experience also extends to housing standards issues, health and safety work, and traffic and motoring mandates, in addition to environment and pollution, animal welfare, and general crime matters. Based in the Bristol and Taunton offices, senior associate Bridget Sanger leads the team and has a broad focus on criminal litigation and regulatory matters, especially in the agriculture and care home sectors. Sam Harkness is regularly approached for his civil litigation and agricultural property disputes experience, together with his expertise in rural crime issues, road traffic cases, and local authority prosecutions.

Responsables de la pratique:

Bridget Sanger


Autres avocats clés:

Sam Harkness


Les références

‘An excellent multi-disciplinary team offering a full range of services.’

‘Sam Harkness is an obvious choice for all Hunting Act cases. He knows the field intimately, he has jumped the biggest fences in the worst of conditions, and he shows consistent bravery and nous.’

‘Clarke Willmott truly care about their clients. They manage all aspects of the case closely and effectively, ensuring that clients understand and are understood. They are proactive in protecting their clients’ interests.’

Principaux clients

Somerset Council


Principaux dossiers


  • Assisting Somerset Council on a range of criminal prosecutions, principally in its role in enforcing housing standards for private tenants.

DWF

DWF‘s criminal defence team sits in the firm’s commercial insurance practice and specialises in motoring and regulatory criminal defence work. In particular, the practice regularly represents insured clients, on behalf of insurers, frequently advising on Road Traffic Act offences. The practice also has a strong track record in environmental offences as well as cases relating to the Health and Safety at Work Act. Senior associate Jessica Murphy leads the Bristol criminal defence team with the support of Manchester-based partner Lee Foulser. Simon Macfarlane is another key team member in Bristol and has experience covering a range of traffic offences as well as cases relating to corporate manslaughter and perverting the course of justice.

Responsables de la pratique:

Lee Foulser; Jessica Murphy


Autres avocats clés:

Simon Macfarlane


Les références

‘Simon Macfarlane, who dealt with our case, was exceptional. He was enthusiastic, meticulously thorough in his preparation and had a great depth of knowledge. He was confident and inspired confidence which gave a huge amount of comfort and relief.’

‘The team were very professional and it was clear a lot of work went into my case from the moment they were formally instructed. I consistently received information promptly that was easy to understand and did not feel pressured into making any decision, and was encouraged to take as much time as I needed to do so.’

‘Not only were the individuals I spoke to highly professional, but they were also very personable. The team were readily reachable if I had any concerns or anxieties or simply wished to go over my options again. I was never made to feel an inconvenience or a mere client, and I felt put at the centre of all the work undertaken on my behalf. They were always extremely supportive and understanding during a deeply distressing time.’

Principaux clients

NFU Mutual Insurance


Ageas


Aviva Insurance


Royal and Sun Alliance Insurance Limited


Healthcare Homes Group


DAS Group UK


Covea Insurance Plc


Liverpool Victoria Insurance


American International Group (AIG)


Allianz


Cornish Mutual


Esure


Principaux dossiers


  • Advised and represented at court a farmer who was charged under the Health and Safety at Work Act for offences relating to an attack by a cow on a member of the public.
  • Advised a driver charged with Causing Death by Careless Driving, where the defence was insane automatism.
  • Advised and represented a driver charged with two offences of Causing Serious Injury by Careless Driving. Successfully secured a suspended sentence.