Saunders Law — England

About

The firm: Saunders Law is a litigation specialist law firm, tracing its history back to 1974. Specialising in high-profile dispute resolution and asset recovery, we regularly punch above our weight, and are trusted by global organisations for our cross-border and complex problem-solving expertise. An unshakeable commitment to justice – both for our clients and society – underpins our firm’s ethos. - Types of work undertaken Commercial litigation and international arbitration: Matthew Purcell’s team advises a diverse client group, from medium-sized businesses, to global PLCs, individuals and charitable organisations. The team has a particular presence in the Middle East and Asia, advising sovereign wealth funds, global holding companies and manufacturers, in £100m+ disputes and arbitrations. The team works closely with the firm’s media lawyers, protecting the rights of artists, media and entertainment companies and those in the creative and entertainment industries. Media, entertainment and copyright: Media and entertainment experts James Ware and Joanna Stephenson offer a complete service to those in the creative industries. With decades of experience and a deep understanding of the entertainment world, their team provides a full commercial and contentious service to global media organisations, artists, creatives and anyone connected to the sector. David Gore leads a team specialising in contentious media and IP litigation. Human rights and police misconduct: Nia Williams leads a team representing clients whose rights have been infringed by the state. They have an outstanding reputation in cases against the police and prisons for abuse of power, discrimination, and breaches of human rights, with particular knowledge surrounding data protection and privacy issues. The team is renowned for its work representing families involving major deaths in custody, such as those relating to police restraint, shootings and deaths in prisons. The firm is regularly instructed in high-profile litigation and are the lead solicitors for civil claims arising out of the Hillsborough tragedy. Public inquiries: As one of the largest and most respected, dedicated public inquiry teams in the country, partner Cyrilia Davies Knight leads a team that has advised clients before every major public inquiry. The team currently represents BAME medical organisations before the COVID-19 inquiry and has advised clients before the Infected Blood Inquiry, The Undercover Policing Inquiry and the Grenfell Tower Inquiry. The firm’s experts have also appeared before Parliamentary Committees and the Leveson Inquiry. Fraud: The firm’s fraud practice deals with allegations of many complexions, from defending businesses in trouble with HMRC to legally complex allegations such as in the Wickes Plc trial, and alleged City money laundering, market abuse, and insider trading in the successful Rimmington defence. The team’s work often has an international element, including extraditions, European arrest warrants, international evidence collection, and foreign asset forfeiture proceedings. Regulation and professional discipline: Led by Alistair Parker, the firm acts for regulated professionals, particularly in proceedings before the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal, General Medical Council, CILEX and the Bar Standards Board. Matthew Purcell achieved one of only a handful of sanctions from the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal involving dishonesty, which did not result in strike-off. The firm is a longstanding member of the Solicitors’ Assistance Scheme, giving initial advice to other solicitors, free of charge. The specialist team has represented clients at the High Court, Court of Appeal and Privy Council – as well as before Select Committees and the Leveson Inquiry. Crime: Since 1974, the firm has offered an outstanding private criminal defence service, headed by expert criminal litigator, Alistair Parker. Notable cases have included persuading the Court of Appeal to overturn the murder conviction of Norfolk farmer Tony Martin for shooting a burglar, and the Privy Council to clear Isle of Man solicitor Jenny Holt of money laundering. The firm also acts in many miscarriage of justice cases such as for Kevin Nunn at the Supreme Court and Criminal Cases Review Commission with fresh DNA profiling evidence and arguments on his murder conviction. The team was also responsible for the quashing of a rape conviction in 2017 following fresh psychiatric evidence. Renowned criminal strategist, James Saunders, remains a consultant with the firm. Public law: the firm regularly challenges unlawful or controversial administrative decisions by public bodies by judicial review in the High Court. The proliferation of public bodies leads to instructions in all manner of decisions, such as in police disciplinary matters, the criminal justice system, the regulation of universities and schools, and against professional regulatory bodies. ### Staffing Figures - 3 Number of UK partners - 24 Number of other UK fee-earners

Office locations

Practice areas

Lawyers in this office

Ali Parker

Ali is an 18-year qualified solicitor with specialisms in criminal litigation, criminal record deletion, professional and university misconduct, trading standards matters for both individuals and companies, and also restraint orders, cash forfeiture and money laundering. Crime Ali has defended a plethora of violent and sexual allegations including death by dangerous driving, rape, kidnap and false imprisonment. Ali has also defended in large-scale and complex fraud investigations and trials. Ali has developed a specialism for counter-investigation, particularly where the Crown has taken the word of the complainant/s as ‘true’ or ‘correct’ whilst disregarding either potential defences or material inconsistent with the Crown’s theory. Between 2016 and 2020, Ali successfully defended the principal (and owner) of a large dental practice in both the criminal investigation and advocacy before the General Dental Council, where the alleged fraudulent activity spanned nine years and three separate dental practices. The CPS declined to prosecute Alistair’s client in 2020, but GDC proceedings continue. Ali conducted fresh evidence appeal against a 2012 rape conviction. The appeal was allowed in 2016. In 2017, the Prosecution offered no evidence at retrial. In 2017, Ali personally defended a police officer charged with harassing her neighbour by making a series of false noise complaints. Ali’s client was acquitted by a District Judge after trial. Ali obtains Defendants Costs Orders (often granted at enhanced rates) for eligible defendants, as well as costs orders against the Prosecuting body where possible. laundering. Crime Ali has defended a plethora of violent and sexual allegations including death by dangerous driving, rape, kidnap and false imprisonment. Ali has also defended in large-scale and complex fraud investigations and trials. Ali was ranked in Chambers for Crime in 2020, 2021, 2022. For 2023 he is ranked in Individuals: Band 4 “This man cares deeply about his clients, his firm, and his profession” "He brings an incisive and thoughtful approach to his cases." Ali has developed a specialism for counter-investigation, particularly where the Crown has taken the word of the complainant/s as ‘true’ or ‘correct’ whilst disregarding either potential defences or material inconsistent with the Crown’s theory. Between 2016 and 2020, Ali successfully defended the principal (and owner) of a large dental practice in both the criminal investigation and advocacy before the General Dental Council, where the alleged fraudulent activity spanned nine years and three separate dental practices. The CPS declined to prosecute Alistair’s client in 2020, but GDC proceedings continue. Ali conducted fresh evidence appeal against a 2012 rape conviction. The appeal was allowed in 2016. In 2017, the Prosecution offered no evidence at retrial. In 2017, Ali personally defended a police officer charged with harassing her neighbour by making a series of false noise complaints. Ali’s client was acquitted by a District Judge after trial. Ali obtains Defendants Costs Orders (often granted at enhanced rates) for eligible defendants, as well as costs orders against the Prosecuting body where possible. Professional Misconduct He has defended professionals before the General Dental Council, the Health and Care Professions Council, the Solicitors Regulation Authority and Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal, and the British Association of Counsellors and Psychotherapists. · Crime

Clare Evans

Clare is the Deputy Head of Human Rights. Clare is a civil liberties solicitor, specialising in human rights, inquest and public law. · Human Rights

Cyrilia Davies-Knight

Partner & Head of Public Inquiries Cyrilia is a specialist human rights, Coronial and public law solicitor and the Head of Public Inquiries department at Saunders Law. Her expertise lies in representing civil claims against the police and other public authorities. Cyrilia represents clients at four major Public Inquiries: the Grenfell Tower Inquiry, the Infected Blood Inquiry, The Undercover Police Inquiry and the Covid-19 Inquiry. · Human Rights

Jag Bahra

Jag Bahra is a Senior Associate Solicitor in the Human Rights team and is among the most long-standing members of the firm, having joined as a paralegal in 2017. · Human Rights

Nia Williams

Nia is a founding partner of Saunders Law and Head of the Human Rights Team · Human Rights

Tom Airey

Tom is an Associate in the Crime and Regulatory Department · Criminal Defence