Sonn Macmillan Walker > London, England > Firm Profile
Sonn Macmillan Walker Offices
RENNIE HOUSE
57-60 ALDGATE HIGH STREET
LONDON
EC3N 1AL
England
Sonn Macmillan Walker > The Legal 500 Rankings
Crime, fraud and licensing > Crime: general Tier 3
The ‘conscientious‘ and ‘second to none‘ team at Sonn Macmillan Walker is headed by Amy Cox, David Sonn, and Katy Smart. Advice offered to clients spans a large range of criminal matters, including murder, international drug trafficking, kidnapping, attempted murder, theft, and money laundering. Associate Fiona Haddadeen is described as ‘excellent‘ and as an ‘emerging name‘ in extradition cases, while Leah Connolly offers clients expertise in youth crime cases and is a founding member of the Youth Practitioners Association.Practice head(s):
Amy Cox; David Sonn; Katy Smart
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘The team are excellent on general crime matters and offer a level of service comparative to the best private crime firms. They are particularly good with complex, document-heavy Crown Court litigation and excel at client care.’
‘Stand out individuals are Katy Smart and Fiona Haddadeen, for their excellent work and deep knowledge in the field of extradition.’
‘Katy Smart and Fiona Haddadeen stand out. They cover every angle, have a strong grasp of this complex area of law and how political changes in the world impact on extradition.’
‘Amy Cox is a truly standout partner in the field of serious crime. Her unwavering commitment to clients sets her apart from others in the field and is reflected in her exceptional results.’
‘The team at Sonn Macmillan Walker are second to none. They strive always to achieve the very best results and are able to do so through their hard work and commitment to clients.’
‘Hands on service, really conscientious across the entire firm, including paralegals. Very personable, intelligent lawyers. Collaborative approach with counsel. Well resourced.’
‘David Sonn brings vast experience to any case, stress tests every argument, and in the process showers case preparation with magic dust. Fiona Haddadeen is an emerging name in extradition law; trusted to handle difficult cases, and able to deliver results.’
‘SMW is a great firm, with great staff (from receptionists to partners). They really care about their clients and go above and beyond to ensure each client understands what is happening at every stage of the investigation process.’
Key clients
Pietro Addis
Michael Moogan
Derek Ong
Work highlights
- Represented a teenage defendant, Pietro Addis, accused of murdering his grandmother by stabbing her to death in the bathtub, and who was later found not guilty of murder and guilty of manslaughter by reason of diminished responsibility.
- Represented a defendant, Michael Moogan, charged as part of a conspiracy to import several hundreds of kilograms of cocaine into the UK.
- Represented a British national and former employee of Deutsche Bank, Derek Ong, on the first ever extradition request from the Republic of South Korea.
Sonn Macmillan Walker > Firm Profile
Sonn Macmillan Walker is one of the largest and most highly regarded criminal defence firms in London. All types of criminal (and related civil) cases are undertaken and the firm has particular expertise in the following areas: homicide and serious crime, drugs offences, sexual offences money laundering and complex fraud, confiscation proceedings, cash seizures, account freezing orders, motoring offences, and extradition.
The firm: Founded as D.J.Sonn & Co in 1992, shortly thereafter becoming Sonn Macmillan and in 2006 merging with Walkers, the firm has more than 20 fee-earners dedicated to the defence of those facing criminal proceedings. The firm has a strong reputation for its conduct of serious and complex crime and is regularly involved in high-profile cases. It has considerable experience of acting for clients in murder and attempted murder cases, substantial frauds and many other serious cases, ranging from sexual offences, to currency counterfeiting, drug-related matters and regulatory prosecutions. The firm also has an outstanding reputation for the work it undertakes in extradition proceedings.
The firm has a dedicated team of solicitors for the more serious Crown Court cases and its in-house higher courts advocates ensure continuity of representation for clients from the police station to the conclusion of their Crown Court trial. Its solicitors are also ever-present in the magistrates’ courts around London and enjoy an outstanding success rate in contested matters.
The firm undertakes a significant amount of privately funded work where legal aid is either not available or not applied for. All of its staff members are very sensitive to the needs of clients and recognise that being the subject of criminal proceedings is a stressful experience. Equally, they do not shy away from providing robust advice when appropriate.
Types of work undertaken: The practice undertakes defence work in all types of cases, with an emphasis on serious crime, fraud and money laundering. Expert advice is offered in complex allegations that can take months or years to come to trial and involve many thousands of pages of documentation. The firm is continuously acting in fraud and money laundering matters being prosecuted by the Crown Prosecution Service, the Serious Fraud Office and the FCA.
Euan Macmillan is the firm’s managing director and has more than 30 years’ experience as solicitor. He is a daily presence in the magistrates’ court.
David Sonn is highly experienced in fraud and money laundering cases. His client was the only defendant acquitted in 2017 in the HBOS fraud committed at the Reading office. There were more than 200,000 pages of served evidence. His client was also the only client acquitted in a seven month trial at Birmingham Crown Court concerning a fraudulent film tax avoidance scheme. David Sonn is also a founding and committee member of the Association of Motor Offence Lawyers. Road traffic expertise ranges from minor speeding offences to more serious charges of causing death by dangerous and careless driving, dangerous driving, and driving with excess alcohol. David Sonn also has expertise in offences relating to breaches of planning enforcement notices, HMO regulations, and health and safety prosecutions.
Katy Smart heads an extradition team that has a daily presence at Westminster Magistrates’ Court, where all extradition cases commence. The firm has had notable recent successes in all courts, from the Magistrates’ Court to the High Court and Supreme Court.
Main Contacts
| Department | Name | Telephone | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Senior partner | David Sonn | ||
| Managing partner | Euan Macmillan |
Lawyer Profiles
| Photo | Name | Position | Profile |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Mr David Bloom | Solicitor | View Profile |
|
Leah Connolly | Solicitor | View Profile |
|
Ms Amy Cox | View Profile | |
|
Mr David Kitson | Solicitor Advocate | View Profile |
|
Ms Katy Smart | Solicitor | View Profile |
|
Mr David Sonn | Director | View Profile |
Staff Figures
Number of UK partners : 2 Number of other UK fee-earners : 25Client Testimonials
CLIENT FACING POCA ENFORCEMENT PROCEEDINGS
COMPANY/FIRM: NA
TESTIMONIAL: “After my previous experience of law firms, it is refreshing to be treated so well and I will have no hesitation in recommending your services in the future. Thank you.”
CLIENT CHARGED WITH CAUSING S18 GRIEVOUS BODILY HARM
COMPANY/FIRM: NA
TESTIMONIAL: “Amy Cox was the best solicitor to have, she was professional and determined to get the right outcome for me. She went above and beyond for me at every stage of the case and left no stone unturned in securing an acquittal. Frederick Legg was also very supportive throughout and he was always there to answer any queries and act on any concerns I had. I would highly recommend this team to anyone.”
CLIENT CHARGED WITH FRAUD AND MISCONDUCT AS A COMPANY DIRECTOR
COMPANY/FIRM: NA
TESTIMONIAL: “As a recipient of Legal Aid, I have never felt undervalued by SMW”
WITH REFERENCE TO A YOUTH CHARGED WITH AFFRAY AND POSSESSION OF AN OFFENSIVE WEAPON
COMPANY/FIRM: NA
TESTIMONIAL: “As his mum, this was a truly terrifying experience, hopefully never to be repeated! You made yourself completely available, you displayed compassion, patience, professionalism and explained the process with clarity and precision. You have a calming and approachable manner and for that I thank you.”
WITH REFERENCE TO CLIENT CHARGED WITH A DRIVING OFFENCE
COMPANY/FIRM: NA
TESTIMONIAL: “….David successfully represented my friend, against a criminal charge that would have adversely impacted both his personal and professional life. He eventually persuaded the District Judge to dismiss the case. Watching the masterful exercise of his craft was so inspiring, that one cannot help but (almost) wish to require his services again!”
CLIENT INTERVIEWED FOR AN ALLEGATION OF ASSAULT AT THE POLICE STATION
COMPANY/FIRM: NA
TESTIMONIAL: “I was provided with wonderful legal support from Alex Whitmore. Smooth, easy, reassuring and caring, some words that come to mind. Would definitely recommend her and the firm.”
- Crime, fraud and licensing > Crime: general