Criminal Defence Solicitors Manchester & Stockport

When your reputation, liberty and livelihood is at risk you need the best criminal solicitors on your side

Our Criminal Solicitors provide expert legal representation when you need it most, anywhere across England & Wales.

Clifford Johnston & Co. are leading Criminal Solicitors in Manchester & Stockport with over 30 years’ experience providing high-quality effective representation in criminal cases. We are committed to all aspects of criminal law and advise and represent clients in a variety of proceedings and investigations including murder, complex fraud investigations and  sexual offences.

People from all walks of life may, at some point, be subject to a criminal investigation. We are aware that a criminal conviction may have life-changing consequences. We have the knowledge and skills to help you and provide the best defence.  No matter how grave the offence, we are well equipped to defend your rights. We will guide you through each stage of the process and discuss your options, defence strategy and advise you on the possible outcomes.  Whatever the allegation, it is very important that you obtain expert advice from a specialist criminal law solicitor.

In 2019 and 2020, we were shortlisted for Crime Team of the year at the Manchester Legal Awards.

People choose us because of our outstanding client care and exceptional reputation. On 12 March 2020, Clifford Johnston & Co. received a rating of Excellent (Category 1) by the Peer Review Team of the Legal Aid Agency. All firms with a legal aid contract are subject to a mandatory periodic review of their work by the most experienced criminal practitioners.  We were classed as Excellent, the highest of the 5 categories available placing us in the top 3% of legal aid providers in the country. This follows a category 1 rating of Excellent in April 2017. We are delighted that external assessors share our view that we excel in the area of Crime.

Here at Clifford Johnston & Co. our criminal defence solicitors specialise in large, complex and serious offences.  We defend clients across the UK in a wide range of criminal law matters and have therefore built a strong national reputation for providing high-quality legal advice.  We ensure every avenue is explored, that inadmissible evidence is challenged, robust defences are advanced on your behalf and that important evidence is disclosed and used to assist your case.

We enjoy a close working relationship with a network of leading legal experts including barristers, QC’s, forensic accountants, forensic scientists, pathologists and medical experts.  We always select the best expert for your case based on merit and experience.

We are trusted by professional bodies to represent their members and we have a successful track record at the Police Station, Magistrates’ Court, Crown Court, Court of Appeal, Supreme Court and the European Court of Human Rights.

We deal with a full range of criminal offences including:

• Murder/Manslaughter
• Large scale drug conspiracies
• Sexual offences
• Fraud & High Value Fraud cases
• White Collar/Business Crime
• Trading Standards, Customs & Excise and Health & Safety Prosecution
• Assault
• Theft, Robbery and Burglary
• Public Order Offences
• Driving Offences

Our Criminal Defence Solicitors

Our criminal defence solicitors are all highly experienced in their field and all the legal advice that we offer is provided by senior solicitors and/or police station accredited representatives with over 15 years of experience, therefore you can rest assured that every decision and piece of advice has been carefully considered by someone with a wealth of legal knowledge in criminal defence cases.

Additionally, our Criminal Defence Lawyers are accredited as duty solicitors and we have three Higher Rights Advocates who, between them, have over 25 years’ experience of appearing before the Crown Court and dealing with the most complex of matters. Members of our staff present training course to fellow solicitors and are at the forefront of developments in the law.

Clifford Johnston & Co. has a growing immigration department. Our solicitors have a breadth of knowledge of international affairs and law. We have travelled extensively in pursuit of our clients cases, including Rwanda and Jamaica. Where there is a crossover between criminal and immigration matters we are able to provide a nuanced service ensuring that we defend not only our clients liberty but also their right to remain in the UK.

Proceeds of Crime

We have significant experience of defending cases involving fraud and money laundering.  We have a growing body of experience in regulatory work and as such are well placed to advise individuals and businesses as to the financial implications of a conviction.

Applications to confiscate money following a conviction are now routine and can not only involve a defendant but can also target the assets of partners, family members and friends. The law in this area is draconian and a successful defence of these proceedings requires an expert knowledge of the law and thorough preparation.

International Law

Unusually for a firm outside London we have a proven track record in aspects of international law. We have substantial experience of extradition law and practice and have close ties with the leading exerts in this area.  We have knowledge and experience of international tribunals and of the Red Notice procedure for the arrest of suspects across jurisdictions.

Civil Liberties and Protest

We have considerable experience in representing protestors and  have been part of successful campaigns to change the criminal law to protect individuals against discrimination and to allow freedom to protest and demonstrate.  Our solicitors have been at the forefront of developing innovative strategies to protect civil liberties and we have experience, that we believe is unique in Manchester, of pursuing cases to the High Court, Supreme Court and European Court of Human Rights.

Protecting Public Servants

The pressures on those working in public service have increased dramatically over recent years. Cuts in funding have led to dangerous staffing levels and increased pressure of work. The regulatory burden has at the same time increased. The use of criminal sanctions for alleged failures to comply with that burden has also increased significantly. We are committed to providing a sympathetic and professional service to ensure that in these cases the rights of hard working public servants are protected.

Sexual offences

There has been an explosion in the number of people prosecuted for sexual offences over recent years. These cases are traumatic and often rely on the word of one or two people about events that occurred many years ago. We know that a good defence requires us to carefully listen and understand what may be the root of false and malicious allegations and how we can develop a body of evidence to expose them.

For further resource on funding criminal defence cases and legal aid as well as an explanation on the stages of a criminal case can both be found below:

Understand the stages of a criminal case

Funding your criminal case & legal aid

Alternatively we encourage you to contact us immediately to speak with one of our experienced criminal defence solicitors who are on hand to defend you if you are accused of an offence, been arrested, charged or released on bail.

Get in touch

Our criminal defence solicitors specialise in complex serious crime offences.  We have built a strong national reputation for providing high-quality legal advice through our work defending clients across the UK in a wide range of criminal law matters.

We are proud of the Criminal Law Services we provide and the positive difference we make for our clients. Our experienced Stockport & Manchester Solicitors are experts in their fields.

If you have been arrested, invited for an interview or you have been made aware that you are the subject of an investigation contact us immediately.  Our experienced criminal defence lawyers are on hand to guide you through each stage of the process, help you understand your options, and seek to find the optimal outcome for the circumstances.