Blackfords LLP fields a ‘highly-resourced and efficient’ team with broad experience across general crime and fraud matters, including organised crime, modern slavery and child cruelty, in addition to covering financial crime and HMRC investigations. Philip Williams heads up the firm’s Cardiff office, and has experience acting for individuals and businesses facing a range of investigations. Alongside Williams are the highly experienced Nicola Mitchard, whose focus is fraud and money laundering, and Scott Bowen, a solicitor advocate with strength in financial crime.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Accolades
Client satisfaction
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
‘Philip Williams is, in my view, quite simply one of the finest lawyers at the moment in the Country. His experience in large complicated frauds and serious crime is unsurpassed. He combines a mental dexterity in the law with an effortless ability to communicate with clients of all backgrounds.’
‘Annie Lawrence is an excellent associate legal executive. Her caseload is made up of complex and high stakes cases. Scott Bowen is a senior associate solicitor advocate who brings umpteen experience to cases. A sound advocate who undertakes complex trials, providing excellent client care whilst holding the respect of the court.’
‘The approach the firm takes is to look at each case through every angle, ensuring no potential avenue to acquittal is missed. The devil is in the detail of course, but also in the big picture, and Blackfords do both superbly.’
- 'Annie Lawrence - a star in the making, and I am sure if she wants to rise further she will. Annie takes to every aspect of the work with aplomb and a sense of humour, as we all know the path of true litigation rarely runs smoothly. But with her, you have a cool head to rely upon and traverse around, over or just through the problems.’
‘Blackfords have cornered the market for business related criminal defence in Wales. They have the resources and the team of lawyers ready to best protect privately funded clients to the best of their ability. The level of service they provide is second to none.’
‘Scott Bowen is both an extremely able advocate (often conducting Crown Court trials himself with a level of care and fortitude) and an excellent criminal litigator. He identifies procedural, evidential and disclosure weakness from the outset with such effect that many of his clients find cases being dropped rather than run to trial.'
Work highlights
Acting for an individual charged with multiple rapes over a 20-year period.
Acting for an individual in relation to a major fraud investigation by HMRC concerning a recycling / plant hire business.
Acting for one of multiple defendants after a long-running covert surveillance operation by the Tarian Regional Organised Crime Unit, the charges relating to an alleged Organised Crime Gang conspiracy to supply class A drugs, along with money laundering and possession of firearms.
Lawyers
Hall of Fame
The lawyers at the very top of the profession, widely known and respected by peers and clients for their longstanding involvement in market-leading work.
Leading associates
Leading associates with regular involvement in their team's key work, and recognition from peers or clients as being ones to watch.
Nicola Mitchard
Practice head
Philip Williams
Other key lawyers
Nicola Mitchard; Scott Bowen; Annie Lawrence