Appointment to committee of SAHCA

Siobhain Egan has been appointed to the Committee of SAHCA (SOLICITORS ASSOCIATION OF HIGHER COURT ADVOCATES).

Sentencing success for Jeffrey Lewis

Jeffrey represented an individual who pleaded guilty to receiving a substantial quantity of class A drugs sent from abroad.

Our client was represented by the superb Anna Morris (Garden Court Chambers) who mitigated in full. Instead of ordering a custodial sentence of four years the sentencing Judge departed from the Sentencing Guidelines and sentenced him to a conditional discharge because the client had progressed successfully in drug rehabilitation.

Another acquittal for Jo French

Jo French, working with the excellent Piers Marquis (Doughty Street Chambers) secured the acquittal of a young man who along with a co-defendant, faced serious criminal proceedings.

Our client, in interview with police, had denied any involvement in the allegation, had raised alibi, denied any knowledge of his co-defendant and had asked police to obtain vital CCTV evidence on the night of the allegation when he was interviewed which would prove that he was not present at the time of the allegation.

Piers attended the locus and mapped out the number of relevant CCTV cameras. Jo had strived to obtain all relevant disclosure from the CPS who failed to respond at all.

At court on the day of the trial the CPS decided to drop the proceedings, acknowledging that there had been a fundamental failure to investigate the offence properly and our clients defence. They should also have admitted that they had failed to review the prosecution in light of defence representations.

Our client was delighted.

Book written by Laura Saunsbury now on sale

Released on 5th December 2011, the firm is proud to announce the publication of the British Firearms Law Handbook, a much needed reference manual on firearms licensing law and regulations, there being no other up to date work on the subject.

Written by Laura Saunsbury, consultant solicitor and head of our firearms law department, this essential guide will tell the shooting enthusiast everything he or she needs to know about getting, and keeping, a shotgun certificate or firearm license.

The book was co-written with leading firearms barrister Nick Doherty, and contains additional material from barrister Helen Dobby, so gives readers the benefit of wisdom from not just one but three expert legal brains.

That said, although the book will be useful to lawyers dealing with cases in this area, it is not intended purely as a lawyer’s text book. Rather, it is, as its title suggests, a handbook for all shooters covering many useful topics ranging from security to how to avoid or deal with all the common problems that arise on applications for grant or renewal of certificates.

At a price of £27.95 this is a worthwhile investment for all shooters, club secretaries and registered firearms dealers to ensure trouble free renewals and a good relationship with your firearms licensing officer.

The book can be ordered direct from the publishers Sweet & Maxwell or from Amazon (ISBN 978-0414044982). No sensible shooter should be without it, and its not too late to add it to your Christmas wish list!

Another Success for Lewis Nedas & Co

The Crown Prosecution Service dropped a long running and serious fraud prosecution today after three years.

Siobhain Egan defended a professional man of good character who, along with sixteen other defendants, faced a trial at Southwark Crown Court after the City of London Police and the CPS followed an investigation initiated by a complaint emanating from within the insurance industry. There were allegations of wrongdoing by various professionals in the conduct of personal injury litigation, which was considered by the City of London Police and the CPS to amount to the commission of criminal offences.

Over thirty people were interviewed by Police, and our client co-operated with the Police throughout whilst protesting his innocence. He gave lengthy detailed interviews to officers outlining his defence and provided them with a pile of documentation supporting that defence at the earliest opportunity.

We repeatedly and doggedly made representations to the CPS stating that in our view that there was no case to answer; we listed the matter for an old-style committal and a dismissal argument.

The scale of the prosecution was so large that it was labelled a Very High Cost Case by the LSC.

When the case arrived in Southwark Crown Court, thankfully an experienced Crown Court Judge also saw exactly the same weaknesses and issues with the prosecution of our client’s case, and repeatedly asked the CPS to review the prosecution.

Eventually, some three years on, they did – much to the relief of our client, his family and business partners.

We will now begin the process of recouping our client’s privately paid fees.

He was represented in court by Jeremy Ornstin who is our joint Equity Partner and heads up our successful Advocacy Department.

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