Tara started her legal career as an apprentice in Auction Conveyancing in 2016 and started her Law Degree at the University of Kent in 2017, graduating in 2021. She completed her Legal Practice Course with Masters Award at the University of Law in the summer of 2023 and began her Solicitors Qualifying Exams Part 2 in November 2023. She aims to qualify as a Solicitor in 2024. Tara is also training to be a Police Station Accredited Representative.

Tara is a member of the Kent Law Society General Purposes Committee, working on the Junior Lawyer and Education sub-committees. She is also a mentor with GROW Mentoring and works with a number of law students to assist them with the start of their legal careers by providing advice and guidance.

Tara has a strong passion for Criminal Law and supporting individual’s rights throughout the court process.

Ross joined Tuckers Kent Branch in September 2023. He is currently assisting with Crown Court casework under the supervision of Nicola Hall.

Ross has recently graduated from the University of Kent. Whilst completing his Law degree, Ross was actively involved in the Student Outdoor Clerk Scheme where he assisted Counsel and reported the proceedings of Crown Court trials.

Prior to joining the firm, Ross was accredited as an appropriate adult. He currently volunteers to assist vulnerable individuals whilst in Police Custody.

Adrian Rohard is Barrister authorised to exercise rights of audience in every court in relation to all proceedings. Adrian is also qualified as a Solicitor. Prior to joining Robin Murray & Co in 2001 (later to become Tuckers Kent Branch) Adrian was in independent practice at the Bar in London and enjoyed being instructed by well-respected and high profile solicitors. Adrian has previously been a Partner both at Robin Murray & Co and Tuckers Kent Branch.

Adrian concentrates mainly on crown court cases with a particular interest in representing youths and cases which involve knife/gang related crime and those with modern slavery issues. Adrian's advocacy experience has ranged from making applications for bail to conducting length trials with complex legal issues and occasionally making appeals to the Court of Appeal. Adrian has a versatile approach and often goes the extra mile for his clients to ensure justice is done. As a result of Adrian's high level of client care, work frequently comes by personal recommendation.

Notable cases:

R v I 2020: This was a case involving a youth (recently-turned-adult) who pleaded guilty to possession of Class A drugs with intent to supply. As a result of strategic decisions taken during the case (including the instruction of a psychologist as to issues relating to modern slavery) the Defendant was, exceptionally, not sent to prison instead being given a Youth Rehabilitation Order.

R v B & Others 2019: Adrian acted as Leading Junior in a multi-handed case involving drug supply (county lines) and modern slavery (trafficking) allegations in a trial lasting four months. Strategic decisions taken during the trial resulted Adrian's client being acquitted of the modern slavery offences as well as being able to successfully rely on a defence under s45 Modern Slavery Act 2015 and thus being found not guilty in respect of some of the allegations of drug supply.

R v D 2018: This was a case which went to trial for a private-paying client who was charged with an offence of violence. This client's character and future employment were on the line. The reason this case is notable is owing to the fact that there were serious failings in disclosure on the part of the prosecution which were only uncovered as a result of Adrian's persistence. In the end the Defendant was swiftly acquitted by the jury and it is thought that the not guilty verdict came directly as a result of the material disclosed.

Megan joined Tuckers Solicitors in 2022 as a Trainee Solicitor and is due to qualify as a solicitor in 2023. Prior to joining the firm Megan worked at a Family Law firm from 2020 – 2022 as a paralegal and then Trainee Solicitor.

Megan has a 2:1 Law Degree which she completed at Canterbury Christ Church University. Whilst completing her Law Degree, Megan volunteered at Canterbury Combined Court as a Community Legal Companion to offer legal assistance to the public who did not qualify for legal aid. Megan also volunteered at the Citizens Advice Bureau as an adviser to the public where she assisted those most vulnerable in society by providing them with her legal knowledge.

Megan was shortlisted for “Junior Lawyer of the Year 2022” in the Kent Law Society 2022 awards and in Megan’s first year in her role as a paralegal she was a finalist for Inspirational Women in Law Awards for Paralegal of the Year 2021.  In January 2020 Megan won the UK Student Mediation Competition 2020 in Glasgow and was awarded 2nd Best Individual Mediator.

Megan is also the founder and director of Women in Law Kent. Megan believes it is fundamental to create an equal profession for future generations. Women in Law Kent’s goal is to empower, support and connect women who work and aspire to work, in law.

Megan has a genuine passion to provide individual’s access to justice by being that helping hand at such an emotive time in someone’s life.

Tahir is a Duty Solicitor and attends both Courts and Police Station. He has extensive experience in defending clients accused of most types of offence, and takes a particular interest in vulnerable clients and has experience of dealing with clients having learning difficulties.

Tahir qualified in 1994 having trained with a City firm, and gained his initial grounding in criminal defence with Robin Murray & Co in South East London. Since qualifying he has continuously undertaken criminal defence work, and was a founding member of a specialist criminal practice in Kent.

Prior to joining Tuckers Tahir worked for a Medway firm where he worked on both family law and criminal cases, focusing particularly on relationships breakdowns involving criminal elements.

Tahir is fluent in spoken Punjabi.

Faouzia is a Trainee Solicitor and fully Police Station Accredited. She is currently assisting with Crown Court casework under the supervision of Nicola Hall. Faouzia is determined to ensure the best results of her clients.

Faouzia has been praised by clients and counsels for her surgical analysis of the issues that arise in complex Crown Court cases. Faouzia is particularly passionate to assist clients with serious mental health issues.

Prior joining to the firm, Faouzia was an active member at the Kent Law Clinic. She also completed a prestigious legal internship at Guernica 37 International Justice where she assisted chambers on international criminal law matters, prison law and Parole Board appeals. Faouzia also volunteered as a Pro-Bono caseworker in a notable charity Intervene Project. Faouzia assisted prisoners in matters concerning medical negligence, property disputes and mistreatment from prisoner officers.

Faouzia is highly motivated to ensure that clients receive a fair trial and criminal defence.

Niall is a Barrister and qualified Solicitor. He was called to the Bar of 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 firm.

Niall is duty solicitor qualified and can represent clients at all stages of the criminal justice process from the police station up to and 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.

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 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 is a police station representative who is bi-lingual - speaking both English and Lithuanian.

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

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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 qualified as a solicitor in 2006 and is a highly experienced duty solicitor specialising in criminal defence. Eleanor is committed to obtaining the best outcome for her clients whatever the charges, and will provide support, advice and robust representation at all stages of your case. Eleanor has extensive experience defending clients accused of offences ranging in seriousness from road traffic matters to murder, and can represent you whether your case is at the initial stages at the police station, or being heard in the Magistrates' or Crown Court. Eleanor is regularly instructed in private road traffic matters and if you are facing disqualification from driving, she will be able to advise you of the technical legal issues to try and avoid a disqualification from driving. Eleanor specialises in representing young people and vulnerable clients, many of whom have mental health difficulties, and has previously been appointed to the Independent Monitoring Board at HMYOI Cookham Wood, which detains sentenced and remanded young people under the age of 18. Eleanor is committed to ensuring that young people entering the criminal justice system are robustly represented to ensure that no young person is unjustly criminalised. Eleanor has been praised by her clients for her professional attitude and ability to obtain the best possible outcome whatever the circumstances of the case. Eleanor is a member of Kent Law Society.

Nicola Hall joined Tuckers Kent Branch in 2014. Read More

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Simon is a highly respected advocate who has developed a strong client following. Simon represents clients facing a wide range of criminal allegations. Read More

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

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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 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

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Victoria is a Crown Court Caseworker in our Margate office. She is an experienced member of the team, having been in this role for 10 years.  She started her career with Shingleton Neilson Solicitors in September 2006.  In 2010, Shingleton Neilson merged with Goldspring Jones, two criminal law firms in Kent, to become Kent Defence, the largest criminal law firm in East Kent.

Victoria’s caseload covers an assortment of criminal matters ranging from murder, serious sexual offences, facilitation and importation of drugs and weapons.  She regularly attends Prisons in order to obtain instructions from clients in custody.  Victoria also attends Crown Court to clerk hearings and assist Counsel.  Victoria is a dedicated to obtaining the best possible result for her clients.

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