Services

Criminal Defence Solicitors in London

When facing serious criminal charges or looking to have a conviction overturned, first-class legal representation can make all the difference.

Saunders Law is exceptionally well-placed to assist should you find yourself facing criminal proceedings. We are well-known for our high-profile criminal defence work and tirelessly fighting our clients’ corners, with a long list of successful outcomes to show for it.

Whether we are advising an international airline on the implications of drug trafficking in Africa or preparing to defend against a private prosecution brought by a Fortune 500 company, Saunders Law continues to apply the single-minded purpose with which the firm was started in 1974.

The Criminal Defence team at Saunders Law are able to defend clients facing any criminal allegation, with particular expertise in tackling complex and serious offences for those looking for privately funded criminal defence representation that is a cut above the rest.

We can advise and represent you through every stage of criminal proceedings, from police station representation following an arrest, through appearing at bail and committal hearings, to trial representation at all levels, and appealing convictions and sentences.

By offering the right legal support and representation at the right time, our criminal defence lawyers can achieve outcomes for our clients including:

  • Avoiding criminal charges
  • Having charges dropped before trial
  • Securing acquittal at trial
  • Securing reduced sentences of conviction
  • Appealing convictions & sentences
  • Overturning police cautions
  • Recovering assets seized by police

With decades of experience across our team and recognition from leading industry guides the Legal 500 and Chambers & Partners, you can be assured that investing in private criminal defence representation from Saunders Law will be well worth the cost.

Want to find out what Saunders Law can do for you? We offer a free, no-obligation initial discussion with our criminal defence team to see how we may be able to help.

Speak to our criminal defence solicitors in London now

For immediate clear advice on your legal position and robust criminal defence representation, please contact us.

Call us on 02076324300 or make an enquiry online

Our criminal defence expertise

Established in 1974, our crime department is widely recognised as a leader in its field, highly ranked by leading trade directories The Legal 500 and Chambers & Partners, as well as The Lawyer’s Hot 100.

Our criminal defence lawyers in London can assist clients with expert representation for a wide range of serious criminal offences, including but not limited to:

  • Robbery
  • GBH
  • Manslaughter
  • Murder
  • Drug trafficking
  • Weapons offences
  • Sexual offences
  • Serious fraud

Find out more about our expertise with serious and heavy criminal defence.

Why privately funding your legal defence with Saunders Law is a smart investment

Exceptional experience in criminal defence for serious offences

Saunders Law draw on over 40 years of knowledge and experience in high profile criminal defence and provide a personal, bespoke service, to clients who require the very best representation.

As a practice, we have defended in all of the court jurisdictions within England & Wales, as well as other jurisdictions across the globe.

Meticulous approach to securing justice for the most complex offences

Our approach encompasses strategic planning, deeply thorough and technical reviews of evidence and exacting scrutiny of allegations made against our clients. We also understand what makes people tick and will use all the advocacy tools at our disposal to help our clients obtain justice.

Proud track record of success for our clients

Our criminal defence solicitors have a long and proud tradition of high-profile success in criminal defence and appeals and are known for our fearless commitment, meticulous preparation and command of the law.

Private criminal defence representation that finds the angles other firms miss

Operating outside the legal aid framework enables us to extend our resources to the far reaches of a defence case, explore and develop novel arguments and pore over detail until the winning angle reveals itself.

Our years of experience defending complex and serious cases is utilised today on behalf of our private paying clients who expect and receive the best defence possible.

How our criminal defence lawyers can help you

Police station representation

What happens in interview under caution at the police station often determines the outcome of a criminal case. Any mistakes made at this stage can be very hard to recover from, so it is critical to have the best possible legal representation from the outset.

Whether you have been arrested or are attending a police station voluntarily, our criminal defence lawyers can be by your side, advising you, protecting your rights and making sure no detail is missed or potential angle of defence overlooked.

Find out more about how we can help you with police station representation.

Court representation for criminal trials

Should your case go to trial, having the right representation can make the difference between conviction or acquittal. Where conviction is inevitable, an effective legal defence can result in significantly lower penalties, making a real difference to your future.

Our elite, private crime team has defended cases at every court level in England and Wales, as well as acting for clients worldwide. We can ensure your case is prepared intelligently and meticulously, so you can be confident of getting the best available outcome, no matter how challenging the case against you.

Find out more about how we can help you with court representation for criminal trials.

Appealing criminal convictions

Miscarriages of justice are, sadly, all too common. This means that, even if you have been convicted, this is not necessarily the end of the matter. In many cases, it is possible to have a conviction overturned and penalties dropped, whether pending a new trial or entirely.

Saunders Law is an acknowledged leader in Criminal Appeals, with an excellent track record of seeing our clients’ convictions overturned under highly challenging circumstances.

Find out more about how we can help you with private criminal appeals.

Sentencing appeals

Even when a conviction is sound, the sentence handed down can often be disproportionate. In such cases, challenging the sentence can see the penalties reduced significantly.

Our criminal defence solicitors are highly experienced in appealing criminal sentences and frequently achieve favourable results for our clients, including having years cut from clients sentences on numerous occasions.

Overturning police cautions

While some people might consider a caution relatively minor, it can make a huge difference to people’s lives, especially when it comes to their career prospects. Our team understand this and are happy to bring our expertise to bear on having police cautions overturned and deleted from the Police National Computer.

Police record deletion is an area in which our team particularly excel and we have helped very many clients with this over the years, so can quickly assess whether this is likely to be an option for you. Where we believe a caution can be overturned, we will work tirelessly to achieve this for you.

Find out more about how we can help you with overturning police cautions.

Challenging police asset seizures

The police have the power to seize your property, savings and other assets under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (POCA), as amended by the Criminal Finances Act 2017, if they are believed to be the proceeds of crime or intended for use in unlawful activity.

We recognise that this can cause very serious difficulties for those who have their assets seized. Our team regularly succeeds in challenging police asset seizures, gaining our clients access to the assets they need to meet their daily needs.

Find out more about how we can help you with challenging police asset seizures.

Funding your criminal defence

Our criminal defence lawyers are focused on complex and high-profile criminal defence work. As such, we are unable to take on legal aid funded criminal defence cases.

Our privately funded criminal defence work is charged at an hourly rate, which will be dependent on the level of expertise required.

We are transparent in respect of our charges and will update you frequently on the costs of your criminal defence.

Find out more about our criminal defence fees and funding options.

Our criminal defence success stories

Police caution for harassment removed for client

Our team was successful in having a police caution for ‘harassment putting people in fear of violence contrary to Protection from Harassment Act 1997’ removed for a client. This removed the caution from the client’s record, removing a potential barrier to their career.

Read more about this case

18-year extended sentence overturned for client

We represented a client who had been sentenced to an extended sentence of 18 years imprisonment and a 2-year licence period in January 2017 for the offence of robbery. Under an extended sentence, the client would have spent at least two-thirds of their sentence in custody, as opposed to a standard custodial sentence, where the client could be released from custody at the halfway point.

Our team were able to have the extended sentence overturned and the client was resentenced to a standard custodial sentence of 16 years. This means they could be released from custody after 8 years, instead of 12, as would have been the case with their original sentence.

Read more about this case

Speak to our criminal defence solicitors in London now

For immediate clear advice on your legal position and robust criminal defence representation, please contact us.

Call us on 020 7632 4300 or make an enquiry online.