Crime - Criminal Department
The department deals primarily with the most serious crimes but we also undertake general crime, road traffic law and are also on the Duty Solicitor rota for our local area .
We do both private paying work and have a legal aid franchise which means that our clients fees can be met by the legal aid fund where applicable.
We provide the same high standard of service to all clients, be they charged with large scale fraud or shoplifting.
We pride ourselves on having a good relationship with our clients and are happy to be contacted out of office hours.
SERVICES
Serious Fraud and Business Crime
Our principle area of expertise is in this very specialised field of criminal law and we represent clients who are under investigation by The Serious Fraud Office, Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs, The Department of Trade and Industry, The Law Society, as well as the police and The Benefits Agency.
We recognise that many of our clients have never been in conflict with the authorities before (usually never even getting a parking ticket!) and that although they maybe expert operators of businesses in their own field need good, friendly, professional guidance to help them through these difficult times.
Furthermore we understand that with the increasing resort by the prosecuting authorities to restraint and confiscation proceedings our clients fear that everything they have worked for, over the whole of their working life, will be taken from them and their families, they will be forced to stop trading and lose their businesses.
We are mindful at a very early stage of these challenges and give our clients proper, early, advice to pre-empt and minimise these potential difficulties.
We have had a number of successes concerning restraint orders and confiscation proceedings as well as cash seizure applications before the courts.
Allegations involving complex business matters usually require proper analysis by other professionals and we therefore have forged links with a number of firms of Forensic Accountants and computer experts to help us analyse the case against our clients and t present our case professionally in court and to our client’s advantage.
We represent many people to whom we have been recommended by former clients who have been impressed with the services we have provided.
General Crime
We also we deal general crime and have recently represented clients charged with matters such as Murder, Rape, Supplying Controlled Drugs, Dangerous Driving, Benefits Fraud and Theft and members of our team are Duty Solicitors.
Police Stations.
Most cases big or small start at the police station with an investigation by either the police, HM Revenue and Customs, the DTI or other prosecuting authority interviewing the suspect about the allegation. It is often a crucial part of the case and what is said or not said at the police station can make all the difference at a trial in the future. All our lawyers can provide specialist advice at the police station.
Prison Law
We have made a decision that our clients do not become consigned to the “closed” drawer if they get convicted and receive a prison sentence but instead that they may need legal help and assistance in a very frightening and administratively difficult environment.
We have recently employed one of the lead prison law solicitors to demonstrate our commitment to this area of work. Again many of our clients come via recommendation of other prisoners.
For further information please contact the head of department, Mark Davies.
