Specialist Criminal Defence Mental Health and Prison Law Solicitors
ABR solicitors is a nationally recognised criminal defence solicitors practice specialising in fraud, crime and regulatory defence. Our mental health team are highly regarded throughout the North of England. We have offices in Leeds, Liverpool, Harrogate and York.
We believe in ensuring that people and companies are properly represented in their case. We treat you as individual and know that every case is different.
To do so we always fully assess and challenge evidence. We are committed to fighting for all our clients, both publicly and privately funded.
Offices & ContactsOur Awards
Top Ranked UK Chambers 2018
Top Ranked UK Chambers 2017
5 Reasons to Appoint Us
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We are available 24 hours a day to assist clients from the police station to Supreme Court.
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We are “exceptionally approachable and easy to work with.” (Chambers UK)
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We provide proper representation to all clients, at all stages of the proceedings.
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We advise personal and corporate clients, dedicated to providing a quality service. We listen and we help you.
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We won’t confuse you with legal jargon.
One of the leading criminal practices in the country
This highly regarded team has a longstanding reputation in all matters connected with criminal law. The leading criminal practice in Yorkshire, ABR Solicitors, is ranked in the top four practices nationwide and the top three in the North West. The criminal law practice is going from strength to strength handling numerous high profile and complex cases all over the country. A highly regarded team of criminal defence solicitors; fraud and proceeds of crime act are recognised as a particular area of expertise.
The firm has been consistently ranked as a leader in the field both nationally and locally in crime, fraud and financial crime by the leading independent guides Legal 500 and Chambers,
In the most recent editions( 2018/19) the firm is recognised for its “deep expertise in fraud cases” and its “fierce reputation for strong defence.” We are acknowledged as “excellent and forward –thinking”.
The firm “has a number of specialists that complement each other well and have a depth of talent (Legal 500 2017)
“The quality of the solicitors is very high and they do everything exceedingly well” (Chambers 2018)
The “team has real courage in the cases it takes”. We prepare all cases thoroughly, leaving no stone unturned. As described by Chambers we “keep on digging”.
We pride ourselves on providing a proper defence to all of our clients.
Our expertise has recently resulted in the following awards for the firm:
Criminal Law Firm of the year- England (Lawyers International –Legal 100 2019)
Fraud Law Firm of the year-England (Global Law Experts 2019)
Best Fraud Law Firm-UK (Lawyers World 2019)
UK Fraud Firm of the year (ACQ Law Awards 2019)
Best Specialist Criminal Law Firm –England (aiglobalmedia 2019 Legal Awards)
Fraud Law firm of year –UK (Corporate USA Awards 2019)
More About UsWe Can Help You With
Meet Our Team
Rob Rode
PartnerRob is a nationally and internationally recognised specialist criminal defence solicitor. He is an acknowledged specialist fraud (white collar) and regulatory defence solicitor. He is described in one of the leading guides to the profession as “like a
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Tony Murphy
PartnerTony is a nationally known practitioner in criminal law. He has represented numerous clients throughout the country in relation to all aspects of criminal law from motoring to murder, theft to conspiracy to defraud.
Tony is a supervisor of the Law
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James McAulay
PartnerJames joined the firm in 2014. He qualified as a solicitor in 2006 specialising in both mental health law and as a criminal defence solicitor. James became a Mental Health Accreditation Panel Member in 2009 and has been a member of the criminal defence duty
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Andrew Stewardson
PartnerAndrew joined the firm in June 2006 as a paralegal having previously attended Leicester University and the College of Law. He commenced his training contract with the firm in September 2008 and qualified in May 2010. Andrew is a specialist criminal defence
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Matt Goode
ConsultantMatt joined the firm in January 2013.
Matt has established a formidable reputation as a criminal lawyer in the East and West Midlands with a huge loyal following throughout the Country. He has for many years provided the people of Nottingham criminal
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Julie Murphy
Senior AdvocateJulie qualified as a solicitor in 1993 with a top Liverpool city law firm, having previously attended the University of Hertfordshire and the College of Law in Guildford.
Julie is an experienced specialist criminal defence solicitor in Liverpool with a
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Cheryl Rudden
SENIOR ADVOCATECheryl qualified as a solicitor with a firm in North London in 2004 and has specialised as a criminal defence solicitor since then. Cheryl has a reputation for being committed to her clients, providing excellent client care and strives for justice on their
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Anna Moran
Senior AdvocateAnna re-joined ABR in February 2016 having originally trained at the firm before qualifying as a solicitor in 2013. She became a member of the criminal defence duty solicitor scheme in 2014. Anna defends people detained at the police station and also acts as
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Kenton Sargeant
Senior AdvocateKenton is a specialist criminal defence solicitor.
He is a criminal duty solicitor .
He is a higher court advocate.
He is committed to providing the firm’s clients with the best criminal defence.
As a criminal defence solicitor he enjoys an
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Anjum Nazir
Senior AdvocateAnjum is a specialist criminal defence solicitor.
He is a criminal duty solicitor.
He is committed to providing the firm’s clients with the best criminal defence.
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Arlegh Davies
Senior AdvocateShe is an experienced specialist criminal defence solicitor. She specialises in serious and general criminal litigation. She has particular expertise in acting for individuals accused of sexual offences, violent offences, drug related offending and road
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Eileen Chisnall
Senior AdvocateEileen is a specialist criminal defence solicitor.
She is a duty solicitor.
She represents clients charged with the full spectrum of criminal offences from road traffic to murder.
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Adele McBride
Senior AdvocateAdele is a specialist criminal defence solicitor.
She is a duty solicitor.
She represents clients charged with the full spectrum of criminal offences from road traffic to murder.
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Mark Whitfield
AdvocateMark joined the firm’s York branch in April 2018 and covers matters across the north of England and abroad.
Throughout his career he has defended a wide range of matters ranging from shop theft to manslaughter, including offences such as dealing in tainted
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Gemma Raines
ADVOCATEGemma is a prison Law supervisor who fights for her clients.
Our prison law team led by Gemma is able to assist clients with Adjudications and parole hearings and all prison issues.
The high level of service that we supply to our clients ensures that
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Tracey Hepworth
Police Station RepresentativeTracey joined the firm in 2010 having previously had a career in the civil service which included amongst other roles working as a judge’s clerk in the High Court before then working as a court clerk in the Crown Courts on the Manchester and Yorkshire
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Paige Newell
Accredited Mental Health Case WorkerPaige joined the firm in 2016 after working within a Mental Health Act department for a number of years. Paige’s role included checking the legality of detention procedures, under which individuals were detained in hospital under the Mental Health Act and
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Ashley Taafe
Accredited Mental Health CaseworkerAshley joined the firm in March 2018 from her previous firm of solicitors where she had worked in their mental health department since 2015. Ashley has joined ABR Solicitors mental health department as a caseworker and is currently undertaking her Mental
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Ella Barker
CaseworkerElla joined the firm as an apprentice in 2015 after completing her A-Level qualifications. Whilst working with the crime department Ella also studied part-time at Leeds City College and in February 2017 completed her apprenticeship. Ella is currently
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Stephen Arthur
Crown Court ManagerStephen has years of criminal law experience.
Working with other team members is responsible for ensuring that cases are fully prepared for crown court trials and appeals. We leave no stone unturned ensuring that we fully prepare your case.
He liaises
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Niyaz Raof
ConsultantNiyaz joined the criminal defence team in May 2018.
He like all the team is available 24/7 to assist with criminal matters.
He represents clients across the spectrum of offences from road traffic to murder. He assists in the preparation of cases
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Michael O'Garra
ConsultantMichael is a specialist criminal defence solicitor.
He is a duty solicitor.
He represents clients charged with the full spectrum of criminal offences from road traffic to murder.
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Atifa Bhatti
ConsultantAtifa is a specialist criminal defence solicitor.
She is a duty solicitor.
She represents clients charged with the full spectrum of criminal offences from road traffic to murder.
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