The Legal 500

BCL Burton Copeland covers all areas of criminal and regulatory law, acting for high-profile corporations and individuals. It represented Steve Wright in the Suffolk Murders case, involving allegations of murdering five prostitutes in Ipswich, and has also represented Amy Winehouse in connection with allegations of assault and drug offences. Practice head Mark Haslam is ‘faultless’, providing an ‘exceptional’ level of service, and Brian Spiro is also ‘very competent’. Overall its lawyers ‘respond quickly’ and have a ‘complete grasp of what is involved and what needs to be done’ in a criminal case.

Bindmans LLP ‘sets the highest standards’ in criminal law, and is for some ‘the best criminal firm in North London’. The two-partner led practice is renowned for defending political protestors, with recent successes including the representation of six Greenpeace activists arrested during the Kingsnorth demonstrations, who were all acquitted. The team also defended Irfan Raja, who was prosecuted for possession of articles for a terrorist purpose. Following on from his representation of Lord Levy in the ‘cash for peerages’ investigation, head of the department Neil O’May (a ‘safe pair of hands’) is instructed by an MP under investigation over an expenses claim. Rhona Freidman is a ‘feisty fighter’ and Neil McInnes is ‘canny and knowledgeable’.

Edward Fail Bradshaw & Waterson has a 20-strong team led by Nigel Dean. It represented Tony Emmanuel, the only defendant acquitted in the trial of murdered special constable Nisha Patel. Nigel Dean is head of the criminal department, and also acted for Blake Fielder-Civil, husband of Amy Winehouse, on charges of assault and perverting the course of justice.

Hickman & Rose represented Jozef Skripka, who was acquitted of murder and the charge of allowing the death of his baby son in January 2009, and Jane Hickman defended in the Bodmin Moor garage murder case R v Firkins. Founding partner Ben Rose is ‘determined and able’.

Highlights for Kingsley Napley in 2008 included the successful defence of former Swiss Re employee Alberto Izaga, who was found not guilty of murder by reason of insanity. The 12-lawyer team handles all types of general and serious crime, and has acted for a number of high-profile celebrities and individuals including Gerry and Kate McCann. Mark Beardsworth is ‘very shrewd’, and ‘one to watch’ Jonathan Grimes is ‘tenacious and very hardworking’.

Bankside Law’s John Williams is ‘very sound’ and ‘really excellent’, and the team also includes William Wilson, who specialises in serious crime and fraud, and James Moreton, who successfully defended one of the soldiers charged with manslaughter after the death of a private from the Royal Welsh Regiment, Second Battalion, who was acquitted in August 2008. Other highlights included negotiating a plea for a non-English-speaking Philippino man who stabbed his wife.

Birds Solicitors recently represented the main defendant in relation to the murder of Chelsea banker John Monckton. Steven Bird, who founded the practice, specialises in serious crime including murder, rape, drugs and fraud cases.

Birnberg Peirce & Partners is a criminal defence and civil liberties firm singled out by practitioners in the field as a ‘go-to’ firm for crime.

Corker Binning’s recent work includes acting for Gary Glitter in relation to his alleged sexual offences in Vietnam, while other clients have included Naomi Campbell and Mohammed Lodhi, who faces extradition to the UAE for alleged drug trafficking offences. Robert Brown heads the practice, and name partner David Corker specialises in the area.

Hodge Jones & Allen LLP achieved a string of acquittals in murder and rape cases in 2008, including the acquittal of an individual who was the only defendant to obtain an acquittal in the gang-related murder case R v Hussein, on the basis of alibi evidence. Higher court advocate Nigel Richardson heads the crime department, and is involved in a number of high-profile appeals.

At IBB (Iliffes Booth Bennett), Anil Rajani has been handling a long-running case involving an individual facing extradition to Trinidad and Tobago for possession of narcotics. The practice also recently defended an individual charged with perverting the course of justice and other serious allegations.

Russell-Cooke LLP had a successful year, gaining a number of acquittals for individuals facing charges of murder, and other violent/sexual crime. Other successes included acting for Peter Hain MP, who was accused of reporting Labour party donations late. Jae Carwardine heads the practice.

Russell Jones & Walker ‘understands how to work a criminal case’. Particularly known for its police work, it successfully represented the two firearm officers at the inquest into the shooting of Jean Charles De Menezes. Susan Freeburn was made a partner in 2008, and represented police firearms officers following the fatal shooting of Chelsea barrister Mark Saunders. Scott Ingram heads the practice.

Shaw Graham Kersh secured the overturning of a rape conviction in May 2008 on the basis of new medical evidence, while other recent work includes acting for an individual alleged to be a member of the ‘Adams family’ criminal group on serious drugs charges. The practice also defended the artist Maurice Agis, who was acquitted of manslaughter after two individuals died whilst inside his inflatable ‘Dream Space’ exhibit. Raymond Shaw is the primary contact at the firm.

Highlights for Shearman Bowen & Co included gaining an acquittal for murder for an individual at the end of a four-month re-trial, and it also acted for John Worboys, the London taxi driver who was convicted in April 2009 of serial sexual attacks on female passengers. Richard Shearman and Mark Bowen head the team.

Simons Muirhead & Burton represented Lester Pitman, who faced a death sentence in Trinidad and Tobago for allegedly murdering three people; in March 2009 Pitman was granted an appeal in the light of new medical evidence that he was mentally impaired, casting doubt on the validity of his confession. Anthony Burton is the senior partner at the firm.

Sonn Macmillan Walker won an acquittal in March 2009 for an individual alleged to have committed murder with a firearm following a drugs dispute. Tim Walker is ‘hardworking and personable’, and provides ‘an extremely high level of service’.

Tuckers Solicitors is well known for its high street crime work. Andrew Keogh is defending an individual on a high-profile people trafficking case.

T V Edwards Taylor Nichol’s ‘good’ criminal practice is led by Anthony Edwards and Jim Nichol. The practice’s diverse caseload includes acting for a defendant in the London City Bond appeal.

Daniel Berman & Co’s highlights included the acquittal of an alleged associate of a drugs cartel in South America. Daniel Berman, the firm’s senior partner, has a wealth of criminal defence experience.

Edwards Duthie is experienced in defending individuals and medical practitioners accused of a range of serious crimes. Bernard Huber leads a 16-partner team split between East London and Ilford, Essex. Recent work includes representing convicted cannibal Peter Bryan.

Powell Spencer & Partners recently defended individuals in three terrorism cases, including the 21 July bombing trial. Greg Powell is a very experienced crime specialist.

Recent work for Saunders Law Partnership includes a US$1bn cocaine shipment case. Founding partner James Saunders and Stephen Gilchrist are experienced criminal practitioners.

Reynolds Dawson represented the police officer who was interviewed under caution for manslaughter following the death of Ian Tomlinson at the G20 protests. Colin Reynolds is the firm’s senior general crime specialist.

Tnt Solicitors was involved in the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia. Girish Thanki is a Higher Court Advocate at the firm, specialising in serious crime.

Venters Solicitors was founded by June Venters QC, who specialises in public law child care and is known for her work representing clients involved in the Damilola Taylor case.