Ranking tables
Crime | UK
London (Firms)
Authored by BCL Solicitors LLP, Ellen Peart, Daniel Jackson, David Hardstaff, Kate Chanter
Rankings overview for Departments
Band 1
Band 2
Band 3
Bark&co 15 Years Ranked
GT Stewart Solicitors & Advocates 17 Years Ranked
Murray Hughman 9 Years Ranked
Russell-Cooke 22 Years Ranked
Sonn Macmillan Walker 15 Years Ranked
Stokoe Partnership 22 Years Ranked
TV Edwards LLP 22 Years Ranked- Blackfords LLP
- Commons Law CIC
- Edwards Duthie Shamash Solicitors
- Janes Solicitors
- Shearman Bowen & Co
Senior Statespeople
Anthony Burton Simons Muirhead Burton26 Years Ranked- Imran Khan KC Imran Khan & Partners22 Years Ranked
Mark Haslam BCL Solicitors LLP27 Years Ranked- Gareth PeirceBirnberg Peirce
- Robert BergJanes Solicitors
- Steven BirdBirds Solicitors
Star Individuals
Band 1
- Ellen Peart BCL Solicitors LLP15 Years Ranked
- Paul Morris Richardson Lissack15 Years Ranked
Phil Smith Simons Muirhead Burton17 Years Ranked
Richard Egan Egan Meyer20 Years Ranked- Mark BowenShearman Bowen & Co
- Rhona FriedmanCommons Law CIC
Band 2
Akhtar Ahmad ABV Solicitors13 Years Ranked
Bambos Tsiattalou Stokoe Partnership Solicitors21 Years Ranked
Ben Rose Hickman & Rose18 Years Ranked
Gary Bloxsome Blackfords LLP14 Years Ranked
Grant Ambridge Murray Hughman13 Years Ranked
Jae Carwardine Russell-Cooke19 Years Ranked
Kate Goold Bindmans LLP13 Years Ranked
Paul Harris Edward Fail Bradshaw & Waterson16 Years Ranked
Peter Csemiczky Hickman & Rose7 Years Ranked
Raymond Shaw Shaw Graham Kersh13 Years Ranked
Stephanie Roe Roe Lawyers4 Years Ranked
Band 3
Adrienne Wright TV Edwards LLP3 Years Ranked
Amy Cox Sonn Macmillan Walker2 Years Ranked
David Sleight Kingsley Napley LLP9 Years Ranked- Greg Stewart GT Stewart15 Years Ranked
Jim Meyer Egan Meyer20 Years Ranked
Jude Lanchin Bindmans LLP13 Years Ranked
Mark Ashford TV Edwards LLP27 Years Ranked
Martin Rackstraw Russell-Cooke16 Years Ranked- Mel Stooks GT Stewart3 Years Ranked
Michael Field Freemans Solicitors5 Years Ranked
Nick Brett Brett Wilson LLP14 Years Ranked
Raj Chada Hodge Jones & Allen14 Years Ranked
Shila Keshvari Edward Fail Bradshaw & Waterson13 Years Ranked
Tayab Ali Bindmans LLP20 Years Ranked
Band 4
Caroline Liggins Hodge Jones & Allen2 Years Ranked
Edmund Smyth Kingsley Napley LLP7 Years Ranked
Edward Grange Corker Binning11 Years Ranked
Katie Wheatley Bindmans LLP15 Years Ranked
Kishoree Kotecha-Pau Freemans Solicitors8 Years Ranked
Mike Schwarz Hodge Jones & Allen24 Years Ranked
Natalie Berman Edward Fail Bradshaw & Waterson3 Years Ranked- Ben StuttardBoutique Law LLP
- Lucinda NichollsNicholls & Nicholls
- Rakesh BhasinEdwards Duthie Shamash Solicitors
Band 5
Abu Kibla Stuart Miller1 Years Ranked- Daniel Jackson BCL Solicitors LLP2 Years Ranked
Danielle Reece-Greenhalgh Corker Binning5 Years Ranked- David Hardstaff BCL Solicitors LLP5 Years Ranked
- Giles Bark-Jones Bark&co19 Years Ranked
Matthew Hardcastle Kingsley Napley LLP2 Years Ranked
Namita Pawa Hallinan, Blackburn, Gittings & Nott1 Years Ranked
Sharron Boyce Brett Wilson LLP1 Years Ranked- Sunita Mehta ABV Solicitors1 Years Ranked
Up and Coming
Associates to watch
Anna Sidgwick Stuart Miller2 Years Ranked
Bartholomew Dalton Hickman & Rose1 Years Ranked
Ella Jefferson Bindmans LLP4 Years Ranked
Melissa Ansah Murray Hughman1 Years Ranked- Nawal Asskoumi Stuart Miller3 Years Ranked
- Vanessa Wiggins Bark&co1 Years Ranked
- Alex ChapmanJanes Solicitors
- Alex MincoffJanes Solicitors
All Departments profiles
Band 1
1 BCL Solicitors LLPCrime2025 | Band 1 | 22 Years RankedBCL Solicitors is an outstanding firm specialising in the defence of high-profile private clients. It has a strong bench of top-flight individuals experienced in handling highly complex cases, including those involving notable personalities from the sports and entertainment worlds. The firm also offers expert representation to professionals in the medical, business and political spheres. Instructions taken by the firm cover a wide range of serious and general criminal charges, including sexual offences, drug trafficking and violent crimes.
1 Hickman & RoseCrime2025 | Band 1 | 22 Years RankedHickman & Rose has a highly acclaimed criminal defence practice with a strong bench of expert lawyers. The team offers impressive strength in acting for high-profile individuals across a range of challenging cases, including murder and sexual abuse charges. It also undertakes a number of miscarriage of justice cases on a pro bono basis. The team is experienced at acting for foreign nationals accused of crimes in the UK.1 Kingsley Napley LLPCrime2025 | Band 1 | 22 Years RankedKingsley Napley is a leading criminal law practice that demonstrates impressive strength in depth across a broad range of cases. The firm is highly recommended for its handling of complex murder charges and historic sexual abuse investigations, and is also regularly instructed on domestic assault cases. The team has notable strength in cases with multi-jurisdictional aspects and also regularly acts on high-profile matters involving well-known public figures.
Band 2
2 ABV SolicitorsCrime2025 | Band 2 | 6 Years RankedABV Solicitors is an established South East outfit with a solid presence in London, handling both public and privately funded criminal law cases. The team regularly represents clients facing high-level charges such as murder and terrorism and also has considerable experience in serious sexual offences, including historic allegations and large-scale child abuse networks. It has further expertise in matters with multi-jurisdictional aspects, such as modern slavery cases and drugs importation.
2 Bindmans LLPCrime2025 | Band 2 | 22 Years RankedBindmans offers in-depth experience across all areas of criminal law. The team is particularly well-versed in representing individuals charged with highly serious offences, including murder and terrorism, and also assists clients with appeals against earlier convictions. The team offers niche expertise in acting for journalists and those charged with public order offences, drawing on additional strength in human rights issues.
2 Corker BinningCrime2025 | Band 2 | 22 Years RankedCorker Binning's serious crime practice frequently handles allegations of murder, manslaughter and drugs offences. The firm acts for high-profile clients such as major media and political figures, with extensive experience in cases arising from allegations of misconduct in public office. It also handles high-profile, politically sensitive cases involving foreign nationals as well as representing individuals facing investigation into alleged historic sexual offences.
2 Edward Fail Bradshaw & WatersonCrime2025 | Band 2 | 22 Years RankedEdward Fail Bradshaw & Waterson is highly regarded for its dedicated criminal law practice and commitment to legal aid work. The firm demonstrates expertise across the breadth of complex criminal cases, including historic sexual abuse investigations and gang-related crime. The team handles matters ranging from large-scale drug supply cases to firearms offences and murder charges, and is also renowned for its experience in advising on youth crime.
2 Hodge Jones & AllenCrime2025 | Band 2 | 22 Years RankedHodge Jones & Allen is a well-respected criminal defence practice that is noted for its specialist handling of cases involving high-profile political protests and public order offences. The firm's expertise covers all areas of serious crime, including child sexual offences, drugs conspiracy and murder charges. The firm has a general legal aid practice and regularly acts for vulnerable defendants, including those with mental health issues and neurodivergence. The team also benefits from the firm's complementary strengths in extradition law and human rights matters.
2 Shaw Graham KershCrime2025 | Band 2 | 14 Years RankedShaw Graham Kersh houses a strong bench of experienced criminal practitioners who act extensively for both private and publicly funded clients. They are adept at handling matters concerning complex criminal conspiracies, including people trafficking, gang-related violence and large-scale drug investigations. The team also demonstrates expertise in cases that involve young defendants as well as those with mental health issues.
2 Simons Muirhead BurtonCrime2025 | Band 2 | 21 Years RankedSimons Muirhead Burton has an established criminal defence group that maintains a broad client roster, including media entities and high-profile individuals. It has a strong expertise in sexual offences, including those committed against children, and cybercrime matters, with further ability to advise on serious charges related to drugs and firearms possession. The team is recommended for its experience in complex appellate and advisory work and is well-versed in acting in cases brought before the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council.
Band 3
3 Bark&coCrime2025 | Band 3 | 15 Years RankedBark&co adeptly handles the full spectrum of serious crime, from violent and sexual offences through to international criminal law matters. The firm advises clients facing charges of murder and attempted murder as well as tackling large drugs supply cases and other matters related to organised crime. It also regularly handles cases concerning well-known figures in the entertainment world. The team undertakes both legal aid and privately funded work.3 GT Stewart Solicitors & AdvocatesCrime2025 | Band 3 | 17 Years RankedGT Stewart has an extensive criminal practice that houses a strong bench of solicitor advocates. It takes on a significant proportion of legal aid work and is also highly experienced in appellate criminal proceedings. The team advises on drugs supply, joint enterprise murder and other charges related to organised crime. It frequently acts for juvenile offenders and other vulnerable clients, including those with mental health issues.3 Murray HughmanCrime2025 | Band 3 | 9 Years RankedMurray Hughman demonstrates significant experience in the criminal law domain, including cases involving allegations of serious sexual offences, multi-handed violent crimes and homicide. The team is experienced advising on organised crime cases including firearms and drugs supply, as well as human trafficking and modern slavery charges. The firm regularly handles cases that involve children as either defendants or victims.3 Russell-CookeCrime2025 | Band 3 | 22 Years RankedRussell-Cooke is a well-regarded team with extensive experience managing high-profile cases, including murder, drugs supply charges and serious sexual offences. The team has notable expertise in representing clients with mental health issues and brain injuries and also represents gang and organised crime-affiliated clients accused of serious offences.3 Sonn Macmillan WalkerCrime2025 | Band 3 | 15 Years RankedSonn Macmillan Walker is a specialist criminal defence firm advising on a wide range of cases, including murder, sexual offences and terrorism charges. The team fields extensive expertise in Crown Court, Magistrates' Court and police station work. It also has complementary expertise in extradition matters. The team undertakes both privately funded and legal aid cases.3 Stokoe PartnershipCrime2025 | Band 3 | 22 Years RankedStokoe Partnership is a dedicated criminal defence boutique noted for its expert handling of serious crime cases, including murder, armed robbery, drugs importation and FGM charges. It also advises on organised crime investigations as well as matters relating to cybercrime and hacking. The team acts for both privately funded and legal aid clients and has further strength in handling criminal appellate work.3 TV Edwards LLPCrime2025 | Band 3 | 22 Years RankedTV Edwards has a criminal defence practice that handles a wide array of complex and serious cases concerning homicides as well as violent and sexual assaults. The team is well equipped to advise on matters involving organised crime activity, including drugs supply and people trafficking. The firm is committed to legal aid work and has experience representing young offenders and vulnerable individuals, such as clients with significant mental health issues.
Band 4
4 Brett Wilson LLPCrime2025 | Band 4 | 8 Years RankedBrett Wilson primarily advises private clients under investigation for a broad range of criminal offences. The firm regularly handles very serious charges, including child sexual abuse, rape, drugs supply and murder. It can also provide assistance with reputation management issues where necessary.
4 Carson KayeCrime2025 | Band 4 | 1 Years RankedCarson Kaye represents both publicly and privately funded clients in a range of criminal cases. The firm specialises in handling serious and complex matters such as homicides, robbery, large drugs conspiracies and sexual offences. It also has expertise in terrorism offences and gang-related crimes.4 Egan MeyerCrime2025 | Band 4 | 1 Years RankedEgan Meyer is a boutique firm handling exclusively private criminal defence cases. The firm is adept at assisting clients facing very serious charges, including violent offences, homicide and terrorism. It often advises high-profile individuals, including professional sportspeople and ultra high net worth businesspeople.
4 Freemans SolicitorsCrime2025 | Band 4 | 12 Years RankedFreemans Solicitors has a strong criminal practice experienced in acting on high-profile, serious cases. It frequently deals with heavyweight criminal charges, including murder, sexual offences and GBH, as well as complex matters relating to groups of defendants and criminal networks, including joint enterprise murder and organised crime cases. The team benefits from the strength of its robust in-house advocacy team, allowing it to represent clients at all stages of criminal proceedings.
4 ITN SolicitorsCrime2025 | Band 4 | 14 Years RankedITN Solicitors is a well-respected firm that frequently handles cases of significant political sensitivity, drawing on notable expertise in human rights law. It has extensive experience in complex cross-border investigations into charges of terrorism and drugs supply as well as domestic matters such as gang-related crime and homicide. The team has a notable focus on legal aid work and is also regularly instructed to handle criminal appellate matters.
4 Stuart MillerCrime2025 | Band 4 | 5 Years RankedStuart Miller specialises in criminal defence work from police station representation through to the Magistrates' and Crown Courts, with notable commitment to legal aid cases. The firm represents clients on all manner of serious criminal matters, including homicides, gang-related violence, sexual offences and drugs supply.
4 Tuckers SolicitorsCrime2025 | Band 4 | 22 Years RankedTuckers Solicitors is a well-known criminal defence practice experienced in both privately funded and legal aid work. It provides expert representation in cases ranging from misconduct in public office to multi-party homicides and terrorist offences. The team is notably active in representing high net worth individuals. It also has experience taking on the defence of historic allegations, including sexual assault and murder charges.