Amy Cox

Practice Areas

Amy Cox is Head of Litigation at Sonn Macmillan Walker, running a busy and highly skilled Crown Court Department. Amy is the winner of the Legal Aid Lawyer of the Year award 2024.

She has special expertise in large multi-handed conspiracies regarding the production, importation, and sale of drugs which involve high volumes of complex telephone evidence. She also has particular experience defending cases involving and firearms, and is well-versed in dealing with sexual offences, historic and otherwise, as well as large-scale fraud and violent crime. Amy is known for excellent client care and is extremely proficient when it comes to representing youths and vulnerable individuals. Amy is a founding member and Vice Chair of the organisation Women in Criminal Law.

Amy has worked solely in criminal defence since qualifying as a solicitor in 2007 and joined Sonn Macmillan Walker later that year. Amy continues to attend police stations and the magistrates' court but specialises in Crown Court litigation, including undertaking work in respect of Confiscation proceedings and Appeals. She undertakes both privately funded and legal aid work, and her caseload is nationwide.

Amy is always alive to potential legal arguments during the course of a case. She is known to pursue abuse of process arguments and applications to dismiss.  Amy is confident in making written representations pushing the CPS to review decisions to prosecute cases arguing there is a lack of sufficient evidence or that the case is not in the public interest.  Additionally, Amy is adept in negotiating with the CPS to agree pleas to less serious offending behaviour in cases if necessary.

Amy is empathetic, calm and patient and thrives representing vulnerable defendants, especially those with mental health conditions. Amy quickly identifies and arranges psychological and psychiatric assessments when necessary. She has a keen eye for identifying when a client may need an intermediary assessment to consider what assistance they might need during conferences or at their trial. Amy ensures that each client has their needs met, no matter what vulnerabilities they may have. Amy is very approachable and promptly earns the trust and confidence of her clients by demonstrating her knowledge and adapting her communication skills to ensure her client’s understand her advice. Amy has many clients she has repeatedly represented over the years due to her commitment and dedication to them, along with her legal skills.

In the preparation of her cases Amy is known for her unfaltering work ethic and dedication to her clients and their cases always ensuring clients are informed and updated throughout. She analyses and understands the evidence in her cases with great attention to detail and conducts defence enquiries leaving no stone unturned. Amy’s work is regularly complimented by Counsel and she is referred work by Counsel and solicitors at other firms due to her reputation.

Amy has a real passion for the profession as a whole and is a founding member and Vice Chair of the organisation Women in Criminal Law. WICL works to support and promote women working in the criminal justice system. She also heads the Mentoring Committee. Amy was also a finalist in the 2021 Inspirational Women in Law Awards