OUR
PEOPLE
We have a strong and professional team ready to help you every step of the way
When you are facing the biggest challenge of your life we want you to know that we are committed to doing our very best to help you. This means our team is dedicated to providing the best advice and representation.
Our team members are experienced legal professionals who pride themselves on the quality of their work.
Our experienced team are able to help you at all stages of the criminal process and this includes the full range of offences. That means you can be assured that we will match our expertise to your needs.
For example, we can provide 24-hour cover at the police station as well as representation at trial in the Crown Court.
It is also reassuring to know that you may be entitled to representation under a Representation Order (Legal Aid) which may be free or at a affordable rate. However we also can discuss representing you on an fair and affordable private fees basis.
We also have access to a wide range of experts in their field, including forensic scientists and barristers at all levels of experience.
OUR PEOPLE
Niall Doherty
Niall is a Barrister and qualified Solicitor. He was called to the Bar in England and Wales in 2003. Prior to that he worked as a language teacher for many years. Niall has been predominately London based for most of his career. He has always worked for Solicitors’ firms. Previous practice included respected and large London firms Hickman & Rose and TV Edwards. For the last couple of years he worked as one of the in-house Barristers at a Kent.
Niall is duty solicitor qualified and can represent clients at all stages of the criminal justice process from the police station right up to an including the Court of Appeal. Niall is much sought after for his sympathetic, friendly, clear and concise advice. Recent cases of his have included serious offences of violence, drug offences, motoring offences, immigration offences, robbery and fraud.
Niall speaks fluent French.
Niall is a member of the Criminal Bar Association and the Kent Bar Mess.
Gemma Adams - Paralegal, Margate
Gemma has worked in the legal field since 2004, joining Kent Defence in 2011. During her time at Kent Defence, she has gained invaluable experience of preparing trials in both the Magistrates and Crown Court. Gemma is currently Read More
Richard Atkinson - Managing Partner, Medway
Richard Atkinson is the Managing Partner of the Kent Branch who qualified in 1990. He specialises in preparing and supervising our serious and complex cases and is rated as “outstanding” by the ‘Good Lawyer Guide’. Read More
Linas Bajorunas - Solicitor, Medway
Linas praktikuoja Anglijoje, specializuojasi baudžiamosios teisės srityje, ekstradicijos bei pasienio reikaluose ir paprastai dirba su lietuviškai bei rusiškai kalbančiais klientais, tiek fiziniais, tiek juridiniais asmenimis. Read More
Nerijus Bajorunas - Police Station Advisor
Nerijus is a police station representative who is bi-lingual - speaking both English and Lithuanian.
Nicola Carter - Paralegal, Margate
Nicola is an experienced caseworker with over 12 years in this role. She started her career with Shingleton Neilson in April 2004, who merged to become Kent Defence in 2011. Read More
Sadie Castle - Paralegal, Margate
Sadie joined Kent Defence Solicitors in August 2014 as a Crown Court Caseworker. Previously having had over 25 years’ experience in the legal field, she was able to bring her knowledge and expertise from previous firms having dealt with predominately criminal defence work. Read More
Eleanor Dobson - Solicitor, Medway
Eleanor qualified as a solicitor in 2006 and specialises in criminal defence. She is a qualified duty solicitor and firmly committed to providing support, advice and robust representation for her clients. Read More
Simon Holmes - Partner, Medway
Simon joined Robin Murray & Co in 2006 and became a partner in 2010 before the merger with Tuckers in 2013. Prior to joining the firm, Simon Holmes worked for a firm in the City of London for five years specialising in serious fraud and corporate crime. Read More
Ashley Mayes - Solicitor, Margate
Ashley studied law at Kingston University before completing her studies at Guildford Law School in 2002. She qualified as a Solicitor in 2004 and worked solely in criminal law throughout Kent, before moving to Surrey to continue with criminal defence work there and in London. Read More
Luke Meyer - Partner, Medway
Luke joined the firm in 2007 and was made a Partner in 2010. He is responsible for organising and maintaining our 24 hour police station cover as well as being our principal advocate at Medway Magistrates Court. Read More
Robin Murray - Partner, Medway
Robin Murray is a solicitor who founded Robin Murray and co on the 1st June 1988. Read More
Scott Neilson - Partner, Margate
Scott has practiced as a criminal solicitor in Kent for many years becoming the head of a successful crime department in 1997 with a leading firm until setting up his own firm Shingleton Neilson on 2003. Read More
Paul Shingleton - Partner, Margate
Paul Shingleton has been part of the East Kent Justice system for many years. Having qualified in Economics/History at Leeds University in 1986, he remained in Leeds to pass his Law Society Finals. Read More
Gemma Winson - Solicitor, Margate
Gemma studied at law at the University of Reading before completing the Legal Practice Course at the College of Law. Read More