Hickman & Rose

hickmanandrose.co.uk

Steffan Baker is an experienced lawyer who acts on behalf of individuals and corporates across a broad range of fraud, white-collar crime and regulatory matters. Steffan has advised clients on investigations and prosecutions by a wide range of bodies, including the Serious Fraud Office (SFO), Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), National Crime Agency (NCA), HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC), Financial Reporting Council (FRC) and Competition and Markets Authority (CMA). His cases frequently involve serious allegations such as fraud, insider dealing, money laundering, false accounting, bribery and corruption, and anti-competitive behaviour. He was part of the team that successfully defended a former Managing Director of Tesco UK, who was acquitted at trial of allegations of fraud and false accounting arising from an alleged £250million overstatement of profit. He has also represented individuals in connection with the SFO’s investigations into Unaoil, Serco, Libor and Euribor manipulation. Many of Steffan’s cases have an international element and involving parallel investigations in the UK and overseas, including the US and Europe. He has advised on cross-border investigations and extradition proceedings. He often works alongside lawyers based in other jurisdictions.

Tom Bushnell is a senior associate and barrister in the business crime and regulatory department, acting on complex financial crime, business crime and regulatory matters. He draws on extensive experience prosecuting and defending such cases prior to joining Hickman & Rose. Tom has been closely involved in some of the most significant financial crime cases of the last decade. Tom acted for Carlo Palombo in his landmark, successful appeal to the Supreme Court (with Tom Hayes) against conviction in relation to EURIBOR and LIBOR. The Supreme Court overturned Mr Palombo and Mr Hayes’ convictions, after the Court of Appeal had refused similar appeals against conviction on five occasions. Tom is now advising four other traders on appeals in light of the Supreme Court’s decision. He was also part of the Hickman & Rose team which successfully defended the former Managing Director of G4S Care and Justice Services in criminal proceedings brought by the SFO. Whilst at the Bar (as a member of leading chambers Three Raymond Buildings) Tom was the FCA’s junior counsel in its investigation and prosecution of NatWest for breaches of the Money Laundering Regulations 2007. The case was the first time the FCA had prosecuted a large bank and culminated in the highest ever fine imposed on conviction in the UK (over £264m). Tom is an expert in contentious FCA cases, having previously been seconded into and instructed by the FCA’s Criminal Prosecutions Team. He is particularly adept in situations where the FCA’s criminal and regulatory jurisdictions overlap. In addition to the milestone prosecution of NatWest, Tom advised the FCA on two significant insider dealing prosecutions whilst at the Bar, and defended a third insider dealing trial against the FCA. Whilst at Hickman & Rose, he has advised multiple individuals on voluntary requests by the FCA for information in relation to trading; and represented three individuals under dual-track investigation for insider dealing/market abuse. Tom’s FCA regulatory experience includes representing an individual who has referred a prohibition order and financial penalty to the Upper Tribunal, and advising a senior executive within a regulated firm on a high-stakes internal investigation. Tom is also well placed to advise when criminal or regulatory issues arise in relation to licensed premises and in the hospitality sector, having developed a busy licensing practice at the Bar. Recent work includes successfully avoiding prosecution for an innovative restaurant in Westminster following pest issues; and acting for a food production business and director in an extensive Food Standards Agency investigation. Tom brings deep and practical experience of criminal litigation to all his cases. At the Bar, he regularly represented individuals accused of serious general criminal matters in the magistrates’ and Crown Courts: often professionals whose livelihoods were at stake.

Laura Chapman is an experienced solicitor specialising in representing individuals whose human rights have been violated by the state and its agents. Her practice focuses on holding public authorities to account through civil claims for compensation, police complaints, and public law challenges. Her cases often engage broader public interest issues and involve historical miscarriages of justice, allegations of serious police corruption and the criminalisation of political dissent. Laura is also an experienced inquest and public inquiries lawyer. She acts for bereaved families of those who have died in state custody or following contact with the state, during inquest proceedings, and is currently acting for clients in the Undercover Policing Inquiry. Laura is deeply committed to protecting the fundamental rights of her clients and using the law as a means to help people achieve accountability, justice and compensation, where their rights are infringed.

Rose Commander is an experienced criminal defence lawyer who represents clients facing the full range of criminal allegations. A solicitor and higher courts advocate, Rose often represents professional people for whom any criminal investigation, no matter how minor, can have serious and multi-faceted implications. Rose has represented clients charged with the most serious offences on the statute book, as well as those being investigated in relation to criminal allegations which, while less serious, can nonetheless have significant reputational, professional and personal impacts. No matter what the allegation, Rose brings the same level of attention and enthusiasm to all her cases. Experienced across all areas of criminal law, Rose often represents clients and witnesses in sexual allegation matters. She has been highly successful in this area and combines a supportive manner with a dogged determination to challenge the issues that plague many of these cases. Rose advises at every stage of the criminal process and recognises the importance of swiftly stopping unmerited criminal investigations. She has an enviable track record of persuading the police and the Crown Prosecution Service to drop unnecessary investigations and prosecutions. An extradition specialist, Rose frequently works on the firm’s most important criminal matters whenever an international or cross-border element is in play. She has expertise in associated orders (such as European Investigation Orders); requests for Mutual Legal Assistance; and cases involving INTERPOL. Rose has conducted numerous Magistrates’ Court trials; has appeared in the Crown Court; has successfully appeared before the Court of Appeal; and has received praise from the High Court for her oral and written submissions. Her experience as a trial advocate and litigator means she has astute tactical case strategy.

Ellie Cornish has extensive experience in acting for individuals whose human rights have been breached by state bodies, officials and agents. She has extensive experience advocating on behalf of people who have been failed by state bodies and, in particular, by the criminal justice system. She advises individuals on civil claims for compensation, public law challenges and in police complaints. In inquests, Ellie has represented families of those who have lost their lives following contact with public authorities or whilst in state custody. Ellie believes in the importance of establishing strong, trusting and comfortable working relationships with her clients, so that they feel supported to engage directly in what can be long and intimidating processes in order to obtain compensation for and acknowledgement of their experiences. Ellie currently works alongside Daniel Machover, Toby Wilton and Helen Stone on behalf of a group of the bereaved, survivors and former residents of Grenfell Tower in the Grenfell Tower Inquiry and associated civil litigation.

Peter Csemiczky

Peter Csemiczky is an expert criminal defence solicitor in our Serious & General Crime team who offers his clients a complete service from investigation to trial. He acts for individuals and organisations facing a broad spectrum of criminal allegations: from homicide and other violent offences to serious sexual assaults, drugs, communications, and motoring offences. Whatever the allegation, Peter understands the impact of an investigation or proceedings on his clients and gives the same intense commitment to all his cases. Peter has a particularly strong reputation for representing professionals, high-profile, and High Net Worth individuals for whom any suggestion that they may be connected to criminality is can be professionally and personally devastating. He takes pride in providing his clients with a truly personal, dedicated service, whatever the problem they face. Peter is expert in navigating the investigation and prosecution processes so that allegations are either ended early or are completed in in the most discreet way possible. His diligent case preparation, fierce determination and sympathetic manner mean that clients are highly enthusiastic about the results he achieves. Peter’s success in this area is, in part, due to his ability to handle with sensitivity matters which, if not given the appropriate care and attention, would cause huge personal, professional, financial, and reputational damage. Peter has a niche specialism in advising school and university students facing disciplinary investigations, often involving sexual allegations, which have the potential, if not handled correctly, to develop into police investigations.

Bartholomew Dalton

Bartholomew Dalton is a solicitor who provides expert advice in relation to all stages of criminal cases, from investigation through to trial and appeal. He has represented clients accused of a wide range of offences including murder, firearms offences, robbery, rape, people trafficking, large scale drugs supply and multi-million pound frauds. He is an experienced representative at the police station, advocate in the Magistrates’ Court and litigator in both the Magistrates’ and Crown Courts. Bartholomew understands the severe impact that a criminal investigation and case can have on his clients’ lives, regardless of the seriousness of the allegations. He takes pride in his diligent case preparation and is acknowledged as a persuasive and tenacious advocate who achieves the best possible results. He is experienced at guiding professionals through the criminal process and has an excellent record of persuading prosecuting authorities to discontinue cases at an early stage.

Ross Dixon specialises in financial, white collar criminal and regulatory defence. He represents companies and individuals caught up in the most serious bribery and fraud related cases. Recent cases include acting for senior executives at Tesco and G4S who were prosecuted following DPAs signed with the SFO. Ross has advised individuals in the recent SFO investigations into Rolls-Royce, Amec Foster Wheeler, Petrofac and Airbus. Ross is an expert on money laundering and proceeds of crime issues. He often works on trans-jurisdictional matters.He also regularly acts in regulatory matters involving the FRC, FCA and SRA. Ross advises on dawn raids, production and restraint orders, the execution of warrants, and the regulatory and strategic obligations that may arise from the discovery of potential wrong doing within a company. Ross regularly acts for professional people and their families caught up in police investigations. He appreciates the reputational damage being named in connection with criminal proceedings can cause and works carefully to minimise this.

Kate Goold is a criminal defence and extradition expert who represents individual clients facing the most serious and potentially life-changing criminal allegations. Kate acts across the full range of charges and is often instructed by high profile and HNW individuals for whom maintaining a good public reputation is everything. She is particularly regarded for her sensitivity, tactical skill and attention to detail. She understands the pressures that press attention can place on an under-fire individual and is expert at navigating clients through the media storm. Kate is particularly well known for representing university students facing misconduct-related allegations with criminal implications. She is skilled in acting for vulnerable clients and regularly advises on assisted dying, and cases that interact with the family courts and social services interventions. Kate regularly draws on the Human Rights Act to ensure clients’ rights are protected. She is an expert on police powers, production orders, search and seizure, pre-charge bail and suspect anonymity: subjects on which she has provided expert evidence to the UK Parliament.

Humzah Ilyas is a criminal defence solicitor who provides expert advice and assistance to clients facing the full spectrum of criminal allegations. Humzah represents clients who are either detained at – or are voluntarily attending – a police station for interview under caution. He advocates at the Magistrates’ Court and litigates both Magistrates’ and Crown Court cases. Humzah has represented clients charged with a wide range of offences; from minor assaults and driving matters through to homicide, terrorism, rape and serious sexual offences, controlling and coercive behaviour, human trafficking, drugs supply, violence, and firearms offences. Humzah recognises the profound impact criminal proceedings can have on his clients, regardless of the type or seriousness of the offence. He meticulously prepares his cases and adopts a strategic approach to even the most minor allegations. He has experience of drafting written representations to the police and to the Crown Prosecution Service in respect of charging decisions which can often avoid prosecution or lead to a case being discontinued. He routinely acts for professionals and high-profile individuals. He also has experience of representing youths, and has represented young people both as an advocate in the Youth Court as well as litigating cases involving allegations of serious sexual offences, and robbery. Humzah has a Law degree from Oxford Brookes University. He completed his LPC LLM at the University of Law, London Bloomsbury. He trained at a busy North London firm and joined Hickman & Rose in May 2023.

Anna Jemmison is an experienced criminal defence solicitor who works tirelessly to achieve the best outcome for her clients. She offers specialist legal advice at each stage of a criminal allegation from investigation through to trial. Anna acts for individuals accused of sexual offences including allegations of rape and sexual assault, violent crime, drug possession and supply, robbery, dishonesty offences, driving matters, weapons offences, harassment, and allegations of controlling and coercive behaviour. Anna understands that being accused of a crime is distressing and daunting and impacts every aspects of a person’s life. Anna’s empathetic approach ensures she brings her clients along with her to ensure she achieves the best result possible, no matter what the severity of the allegation.

Andrew Katzen represents clients accused of the most serious financial crimes and complex and difficult regulatory and disciplinary matters. He has spent over 25 years defending against allegations of fraud, bribery and money-laundering made by law enforcement. He is currently involved in the SFO investigations into Serco and BAT. He also conducts private prosecutions and criminal investigations in selected cases. He has an expanding practice in financial and other regulatory and disciplinary matters involving solicitors, accountants and doctors. Andrew writes and speaks on bribery, regulatory law and money-laundering and advises corporates and charities on anti-money laundering and terrorism finance issues. Andrew is an extradition law specialist and has long history of representing defendants where issues of freedom of speech and assembly are at stake.

Daniel Machover

Daniel Machover is head of department at Hickman & Rose and a recognised leader in the fields of administrative and public law, civil liberties and police law. He brings enormous experience and skill to private and public law claims arising from the criminal justice system, inquests and public inquiries. His clients include victims of crime (extending to victims of international crime), families bereaved by deaths in custody and victims of miscarriages of justice. He is expert in domestic and international human rights law, acting in high profile judicial reviews and complex multi-party, cross-border and European court litigation. His international work often arises from serious human rights violations abroad, including securing judicial arrest warrants in the UK.

Kate specialises in private and public law claims arising from the criminal justice system. Her clients include bereaved families at inquests into deaths in custody, and individuals who have been failed by the police and criminal justice system. She acts for professionals, protesters, businesses and other individuals caught up in incidents involving the police, seeking redress, and for prisoners in complex and serious injury claims against the Ministry of Justice. Her international work includes assisting victims of torture and war crimes to pursue the arrest and prosecution of perpetrators both in the UK and elsewhere. She is experienced in claims involving multi-party litigation.

Nisha is an associate solicitor in the business crime and regulatory departments. She advises on a broad spectrum of fraud-related criminal allegations against corporate bodies and individuals.

Ben Rose is Hickman & Rose's founding partner. He has spent over 30 years representing individual and corporate clients facing the most serious allegations of wrongdoing. An expert strategic litigator, Ben's skills extend beyond criminal and regulatory matters into extradition, Unexplained Wealth Orders, Production Orders, Confiscation and Forfeiture proceedings and working closely with foreign lawyers on multi-jurisdictional matters. Ben is acutely aware of the importance of reputation for his clients and has these concerns at the heart of his strategy. Ben frequently acts for corporations and individuals caught up in fraud investigations by law enforcement agencies such as the Serious Fraud Office, National Crime Agency, and the Financial Conduct Authority. He has a high success rate in these matters, frequently persuading the authorities not to pursue matters beyond the initial investigation stage. Clients include News Corporation, global banks, as well as senior individuals at BAT, Olympus, Deutsche Bank, HP/Autonomy and Macmillan Publishing and many other major companies. Ben has achieved significant successes for clients accused of fraud related to alleged -IBOR rate manipulation. In 2025 the Supreme Court quashed his client Carlo Palombo’s conviction for conspiracy to defraud in relation to EURIBOR: a ruling which, as well as righting a six-year miscarriage of justice, has ground-breaking significance for future SFO and other white collar prosecutions. Prior to this, Ben’s Barclays LIBOR client Ryan Reich was acquitted following a criminal trial; and UBS trader Panagiotis Koutsogiannis successfully defended regulatory misconduct proceedings before the FCA's Regulatory Decisions Committee. Ben’s regulatory expertise has seen him represent former Banque Havilland employee Vladimir Bolelyy in an Upper Tribunal challenge to the FCA’s Regulatory Decisions Committee. Ben has long experience defending against allegations of overseas bribery, particularly in the extractive industries. Current clients include senior individuals in the long-running SFO investigation into alleged corruption at the Kazakh mining group ENRC. Ben also acts for companies facing criminal charges. He has defended clients accused of corporate manslaughter and is currently acting for ITH Pharma in relation to serious health and safety offences. Ben has advised many major English and US law firms on their disclosure obligations under the Proceeds of Crime Act. Hickman & Rose's success is built on an intimate understanding of every aspect of the criminal justice system, from police station to the Supreme Court. Ben draws on this deep well of experience when advising his private clients. Ben routinely represents professional people who find themselves caught up in criminal matters that, if not handled with great care, can ruin lives. He takes strategic control from the earliest stage to steer a matter towards the best outcome. He has achieved significant success persuading the police either not to arrest, or to bring an investigation to an end before the charging stage. Ben is acutely aware of the reputational impact of being involved in any criminal matter. His clients value the way he quickly grasps this aspect of their cases. He has developed strategies to handle the most sensitive matters in a way that avoids negative publicity. Many of Ben's clients in this area remain anonymous. Ben has provided specialist legal advice to numerous individuals in relation to Operation Yewtree and 'Me Too' type sex offence allegations. Many of these cases have been disposed with the minimum - or even no - resulting publicity. His recent clients in this area include one of the best-known performers in the world, and a world-famous musician. Many of Ben's criminal cases straddle jurisdictions. He is expert in setting overall legal strategy and co-ordinating lawyers working across the globe. Ben has an extensive track record representing High Net Worth and high-profile clients such as politicians, celebrities and their families in relation to a range of legal matters, both criminal and regulatory. In 2025 Ben represented the musician Chris Brown, charged with various serious violent offences shortly before starting a global tour. Contrary to general opinion, famous people often find their high public profile a disadvantage in legal matters. Not only are the reputational risks greater, but law enforcement agencies have been known to focus on high profile suspects simply because of who they are. Ben has long experience of working in this area. He knows what may happen, and how best to mitigate against it. Ben routinely advises his HNW clients on the implications of the Criminal Finances Act for offshore wealth including what to expect from Unexplained Wealth Order legislation, and how best to react when a UWO arrives. He also advises on money laundering and POCA matters. The nature of Ben's work in this area means many of his clients’ identities are not in the public domain. Those who are include the artist David Hockney, the former X-Factor judge Tulisa Contostavlos and the businessman Hans Kristian Rausing. Ben often acts in the highest profile and significant extradition matters. He successfully prevented the Kyrgyz businessman Maxim Bakiev from being extradited to the US and for a Pakistani business tycoon in his US extradition case, as well as for former Credit Suisse broker Surjan Singh in his US extradition matter.

Stefano Ruis is a partner in the civil department. He is an acknowledged expert in police law who conducts actions against the police, including public law challenges as well as related human rights and data retention issues. Stefano has a strong track record of successful challenges to warrants, arrests, police cautions and decisions to disclose non-conviction information on DBS certificates. He also advises clients on the deletion of data retained by the police following a criminal investigation and currently acts for category M core participants in the Undercover Policing Inquiry. His caseload also includes matters involving witness protection and related civil claims. He has acted in a number of cases where arrests/prosecutions have arisen from protests/demonstrations. Stefano’s expertise includes a broad dispute resolution practice, where he acts for both individuals and businesses involved in commercial litigation. This work includes civil fraud, civil liability arising from criminal investigations and maters involving contempt of court.

Emily Sheils specialises in business and economic crime. She works on complex and often multi-jurisdictional cases involving fraud, bribery and corruption, money laundering and regulatory offences. She has extensive experience of advising individuals embroiled in Serious Fraud Office investigations and proceedings, including Serco, ENRC, Amec Foster Wheeler, Chemring and Petfrofac. She also has experience of acting in investigations and proceedings brought by the Financial Conduct Authority, Financial Reporting Council, HMRC and the National Crime Agency. Emily regularly advises on interviews under caution, Section 2 interviews, document requests and matters pertaining to Legal Professional Privilege. Her recent caseload has also included international investigations in jurisdictions such as Italy, Germany, USA and Portugal. Emily has also represented a number of individuals in police investigations into alleged serious criminal offences, such as historical allegations of sexual abuse. She has particular experience of working with US lawyers to provide assistance to individuals with criminal convictions who are looking to travel abroad.

Katherine Sorab

Katherine is a solicitor who specialises in advising individuals in civil claims against the state, police complaints and public law matters. She has experience in data protection law and challenging the unlawful use and retention of data by the state. She has successfully acted for clients in preparing representations to DBS, ACRO and the Independent Monitor. Katherine’s practice includes work on public inquiries and inquests. She currently acts for a core participant in the Undercover Policing Inquiry and for a witness in the inquests into the deaths of patients of former doctor Ian Paterson. Katherine’s current caseload includes civil claims against the Metropolitan Police, British Transport Police and Sussex Police for matters relating to stop and search, unlawful arrest, assault, false imprisonment, and discrimination.

Helen specialises in human rights law, actions against the police and public law. She has significant experience working with the families of those who have died in police and prison custody. Helen also acts in civil litigation and public law proceedings for individuals who have been failed by the criminal justice system. Helen has worked on many significant cases, including the deaths of Thomas Orchard, Sean Fitzgerald, and Sean Rigg. She was instructed by the charity INQUEST in its Supreme Court intervention regarding the stand of proof at inquests. Her current work includes inquests relating to, respectively, deaths following police restraint and a shooting by police firearms officers, civil claims against public authorities, and acting for Core Participants in the Undercover Policing Inquiry.

Eloїse is an associate solicitor in Hickman & Rose’s civil department. Prior to joining the civil team in April 2025 she spent two years working across all the firm’s main departments as a trainee solicitor. As part of her training Eloїse worked alongside Ellie Cornish and Daniel Machover on behalf of a group of bereaved survivors and former residents of Grenfell Tower in civil litigation related to that tragedy. She also advised individuals whose rights were breached by the State, including those who have been seriously injured or have lost loved ones in custody, and regularly acts for clients seeking to uphold individual data privacy rights.

Claire Wallace provides expert litigation advice to directors and senior executives facing the prospect of regulatory or criminal investigations, with a particular focus on investigations brought by the FCA or PRA. She is particularly adept at getting to grips with complex financial transactions, products and corporate structures. Claire has previously represented individuals at risk of investigation by the police, SFO, HMRC, SRA, PRA and FCA. She has experience of advising clients accused of serious financial crimes including fraud, bribery and corruption and who may be facing the prospect of parallel regulatory investigations. She has also acted for clients in dealing with regulators such as the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), Care Quality Commission (CQC) and Ofsted, as well as professional and medical regulators such as the General Medical Counsel (GMC), Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) or Bar Standards Board (BSB). Claire also advises on extradition and Mutual Legal Assistance-related issues. A dedicated and dynamic lawyer who cares passionately about helping her clients achieve the best possible outcome, Claire’s experience of defending regulatory prosecutions means that she is quick to identify any regulatory difficulties which may arise from parallel proceedings.

Toby Wilton has extensive experience acting for individuals whose human rights have been breached by, or who have suffered injuries at the hands of the State. He represents individuals who have been failed by state bodies, including those failed by the criminal justice system, victims of miscarriages of justice, and who have lost loved ones in the care of the State. His work includes acting for individuals in private law claims for compensation and public law claims for judicial review against police forces, the prison service, and other state bodies, as well as assisting bereaved families with inquests and acting for interested persons in public inquiries. Toby’s recent work has included acting for Andrew Malkinson in his claims for compensation arising from the miscarriage of justice that he suffered and the Andrew Malkinson Inquiry, as well as acting on behalf of a group of the bereaved, survivors and former residents of Grenfell Tower in the Grenfell Tower Inquiry and associated civil litigation.

Jenny Wiltshire

Jenny Wiltshire is an expert criminal defence solicitor with deep knowledge and long experience of police investigations into major crimes and the complex trials to which they can lead. Recognised as one of the UK’s leading lawyers in her practice areas and has enjoyed a long run of success representing clients facing some of the gravest criminal charges, including murder, manslaughter and serious sexual assaults. Much of Jenny’s work takes place early in a criminal allegation’s lifetime. She has often achieved positive results for her clients long before the charge stage. This has caused her to be much in demand by high-profile clients seeking swift and discreet resolutions to what, if made public, would be highly damaging allegations. She frequently acts for professional sports people and individuals in the entertainment industry, as well as professionals caught up in the criminal justice system – including doctors, bankers, teachers, lawyers and politicians. Jenny is one of the country’s foremost experts on sexual assaults (both historic and current). She has successfully represented numerous high-profile and professional individuals in respect of sexual assault allegations. Clients in this area include many professional athletes and celebrities. Jenny also a leader in so-called ‘baby shaking’ cases: an area of law in which she has broken new ground. She has successfully represented many bereaved parents and members of health services accused of harming children and babies. .