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
Adrian Rohard - Barrister, Medway Copy Copy
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 Ryan - Trainee Solicitor, Medway
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 Saeed - Solicitor, Kent
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 El-Soudani - Case Worker, Medway
Faouzia joined Tuckers Solicitors in September 2021. She is currently assisting with Crown Court casework under the supervision of Nicola Hall. Faouzia intends to begin her legal career at Tuckers Solicitors as she is determined to ensure the best results of her clients.
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 passionate and highly motivated to ensure that clients receive a fair trial and criminal defence.
Niall Doherty
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 - 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 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 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
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
