Anthony Edwards

Admitted 1974 –Senior Partner
Anthony is a duty Solicitor and a supervisor under the specialist fraud arrangements. He has substantial experience of acting in protected witness cases including the largest in recent years. He is a past President of the London Criminal Courts Solicitors Association, a Member of the Council of Justice and of the Editorial Board of the Criminal Law Review. He has been appointed to the Sentencing Guideline Council under the chairmanship of the Lord Chief Justice. He is the author of “Advising a Suspect in the Police Station” (Sweet and Maxwell) and (with Roger Ede) “Criminal Defence: a Guide to Good Practice” (Law Society). He writes and lectures widely on criminal law.

Jenny Beck

Admitted 1994 - Managing Partner - Head of Family Department
Jenny specialises in complex care cases. She is an Advanced Family Law Panel Member. She is a member of the Association of Lawyers for Children, a Resolution accredited specialist and a member of NAGALRO. Jenny was voted Legal Aid Family Lawyer of the Year 2006 in recognition of service to her clients. She provides training and consultancy to the profession in respect of family law and law firm management.

Felix Couchman

Admitted 1993 – Head of Personal Injury Department
Felix deals with a wide spectrum of personal injury claims as well as civil actions against the police. He is a member of the Law Society Personal Injury Panel.  Felix is also an Employment Law expert.

Susan Fitzgerald

Admitted 1990.
Susan specialises in cases concerning children. She is a solicitor advocate who has been a member of the Law Society’s Children Panel since 1998 and represents both children and parents in public law proceedings. Susan also undertakes adoption, special guardianship cases and complex cases involving children issues. Susan is a member of the Association of Lawyers for Children, Resolution and NAGALRO.

Alison Leivesley

Admitted 1997 – Head of Training Department
Alison specialises in all aspects of the law relating to children. She has a particular interest in cases concerning domestic violence. She is a member of the Law Society's Advanced Family Law Panel. She is Resolution Accredited Specialist in domestic violence and private children law. Alison is also a member of the Association of Lawyers for Children and NAGALRO. Alison regularly undertakes training for practitioner's, advice agencies and the police. Alison is the current Chair of Tower Hamlets Women's Aid.

Jim Nichol

Admitted 1984. 
Jim has successfully represented clients in many nationally important miscarriage of justice cases before the Court of Appeal and House of Lords.  He was a founding partner of Taylor Nichol Solicitors and has extensive experience of investigation, advice and advocacy at all levels of the criminal justice system.  Jim has a policy of investigating all significant cases himself.

Jacky Starling

Admitted 1995
Jacky specialises in housing, social security and Community Care Law.  She has represented clients on applications to the ECHR.  She is a member of the Housing Law Practitioners Association.

Mark Ashford

Admitted 1993
Mark Ashford is acknowledged as one of the foremost Youth Crime lawyers in the country. Mark is an accredited police station representative, duty solicitor and has Higher Rights of Audience. He is co-author of “Defending Young People in the Criminal Justice System” (Legal Action Group). Mark has also written and contributed to numerous publications in relation to the youth justice system. Mark has been involved in legal professional training for 15 years. He provides specific training on youth justice matters to the profession, local authorities and other agencies.

Farhana Rahman-Cook

Admitted 2002
Farhana specialises in criminal defence and youth crime.  She is an accredited police station representative, duty solicitor and has Higher Rights of Audience. She conducts a wide range of case work including serious crime with representation commencing at the police station all the way through to trial. She undertakes most of her advocacy in the Youth and Magistrates Court.

Jamie Lake

Admitted 1995
Having had six years of experience in criminal law prior to being admitted, Jamie qualified in 1995 and specialised in homicide and serious crime. On joining Taylor Nichol in 1999 and later becoming a partner, his practice widened to include trafficking, gun and gang crime, public order and football violence. He has defended clients all over England and Wales, has a strong local following and is an experienced advocate. Jamie is an accredited police station representative, duty solicitor and has Higher Rights of Audience. Jamie has a strong interest in prison law, conducting Parole Board hearings for lifers and determinate prisoners, as well as regularly appearing before Mental Health Review Tribunals.

Julian Overton

Admitted 2001
Julian specialises in Criminal Defence and has worked exclusively in this area since 1998. He is an Accredited Police Station Representative, Duty Solicitor and has Higher Rights of Audience. He is an experienced advocate and conducts hearings in the Magistrates Court and Crown Court. Julian has a very broad range of experience and is particularly interested in Anti Social Behaviour Orders and Public Order Offences.

Ben Stanners

Admitted 1994
Ben specialises in personal injury claims as well as civil claims against the police and other public authorities. Ben has a high level of experience in pursuing claims, with a particular interest in higher value claims, prison law, inquests and judicial review. Ben is a member of the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers and a member of the Law Society Personal Injury Panel.

Carolyn Taylor

Admitted 1983
Carolyn specialises in representing mentally disordered offenders. She is an accredited police station representative, duty solicitor and has Higher Rights of Audience. She is an experienced advocate and conducts hearings in the Magistrates' and Crown Courts. She is co-author of 'Advising Mentally Disordered offenders - A practical guide' (The Law Society). She lectures widely on criminal and mental health law.

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