Tuckers Solicitors
 | |
| No. of offices | 12 |
|---|---|
| No. of attorneys | Over 200 |
| Major practice areas | Criminal Defence |
| Key people |
Barry Tucker Richard Egan Franklin Sinclair Phil Smith |
| Date founded | 1980 |
| Company type | Limited Liability Partnership |
| Website | |
|
TuckersSolicitors | |
Tuckers Solicitors LLP, known as Tuckers Solicitors, is a national criminal defence firm that has particular specialisation in serious crime, extradition,[1] martial and military law, civil liberties, human rights, cyber crime and is one of the largest law firms headquartered in London.[2] The firm featured in series of television shows about crime and disorder on national channels and has appeared on national news,[3] commenting on various legal affairs.[4]
History
The firm was formed in 1980 by Barry Tucker, its founding partner,[5] and from its earliest days it devoted much of its practise to criminal defence, although it has since diversified into a full-service law firm that provides legal advice to a wide range of clients across many practice areas including civil litigation and immigration.[6] In the early 2010, the firm began to move away from pure legally aided criminal defence work towards private client, merging with other criminal practises around the country. It continued to expand throughout northern England and as far north as Manchester. By 2016 Tuckers have employed more than 200 lawyers in over 12 offices throughout London, Kent, Manchester and Birmingham.
Mergers
Tuckers have continually been growing in size. In December 2013 they announced merger with Robin Murray & Co solicitors based in Kent, with the benefits to both firms coming through the sharing of resources and back-office functions, to lower practice costs.[7] In September 2013, Tuckers had gone into partnership with Mulrooney Craghill, a Sussex-based criminal practice based near Brighton and Sussex which has kept its own name and format after the merger.[8] In October 2016 Tuckers added Kent Defence Ltd based in Margate to their operation in Kent.[9]
Television appearances
In 2012 the firm featured in "The Briefs",[10] ITV series which drew an audience of about 2.4 million viewers during the first show. The second show was up against the likes of Usain Bolt show with audience of nearly 3 million viewers.[11]
Practice areas
Tuckers Solicitors' practice areas include:[12]
The firm is considered "the go-to place" for criminal defence and advocacy.[12]
Notable solicitors
- Franklin Sinclair, managing partner at Tuckers, has starred in ITV television series The Briefs.[13] He has been described by TV Choice Magazine as Britain’s leading defense lawyer at one of UK’s biggest legal practices, who’s clients include the likes of Wayne Rooney.[14]
- Richard Egan, senior partner at Tuckers, in a widely publicised case represented Tania Clarence,[15] a wife of an investment banker in her defence to a charge of murder in connection with the deaths of her three disabled children.[16] Clarence family friends said the mother had felt under constant pressure by local authority and had been “very derogatory about Kingston social services”,[17] the court heard.[18] Speaking after the trial, Clarence said "lessons need to be learned" from his wife's story of "dedication and love" which turned to "despair and utter hopelessness".[19] In a statement issued on his behalf, Richard Egan blamed medical professionals and social services for contributing to Tania Clarence's depression.[20]
- Phil Smith, senior partner at Tuckers, is a regular commentator for BBC on Newsnight, BBC News, Radio 4's Today Programme & World at One, Radio 5 Live Drive and Victoria Derbyshire Programme, ITN, Channel 4 News and Dispatches.[21] He is also a commentator on Satellite broadcasting Arise TV and writes articles on legal topics for Huffington Post.[22] Smith represented Neil Wallis, former Deputy Editor of The News of the World and Andy Coulson's confidante, recently acquitted of conspiracy to hack mobile phones[23] after a high profile Old Bailey trial, throughout the entire four years’ Metropolitan Police Operations Weeting[24] and Pine Tree and also at the Leveson Inquiry on three occasions when he gave evidence. He also represented a former Mirror Editor throughout Operation Golding, the police investigation into phone-hacking at Mirror Newspapers, also representing him in related High Court litigation.
Notable awards and rankings
In 2016 Chambers and Partners named Tuckers the nation’s biggest criminal law practice, and is the only law firm to receive the national recognition for their work in defence.[25]
See also
References
- ↑ "Hound of Hounslow' trader Navinder Singh Sarao hires legal experts ahead of US extradition fight". Evening Standard=27 October 2016. Retrieved 27 October 2016.
- ↑ "Spear's 500 Tuckers Solicitors". Spears 500. Retrieved 27 October 2016.
- ↑ "The Briefs, the fly-on-the-wall series following the team from a Manchester-based criminal law firm". Telegraph Online. 26 October 2016. Retrieved 27 October 2016.
- ↑ "Tuckers features in criminal law documentary". Manchester News. 27 October 2016. Retrieved 27 October 2016.
- ↑ "Barry Tucker is the first name that ought to leap to lips". Spears WMS. 27 October 2016. Retrieved 27 October 2016.
- ↑ "Legal 500 Tuckers Solicitors Ranked Tier 1". Legal 500. Retrieved 27 October 2016.
- ↑ "Tuckers announces merger with fellow legal aid firm". lawgazette.co.uk. Retrieved 3 November 2016.
- ↑ "Criminal defence specialists are hurting and career prospects are bleak. But many retain the appetite to fight for a viable future, reports Grania Langdon-Down". lawgazette.co.uk. Retrieved 3 November 2016.
- ↑ "Merger mania takes hold up and down the country". Legal Futures. Retrieved 3 November 2016.
- ↑ "ITV Press Centre: The Briefs". ITV News. 2 November 2016. Retrieved 27 October 2016.
- ↑ "The Briefs aired on ITV1". ITV News. 2 November 2016. Retrieved 27 October 2016.
- 1 2 "Tuckers Solicitors Legal 500 Profile". Legal 500. Retrieved 27 October 2016.
- ↑ "What's on TV tonight: The Briefs, Smash and Dynamo: Magician Impossible". Gazette News. 27 October 2016. Retrieved 27 October 2016.
- ↑ "TV Choice: The Briefs". TV Choice Magazine. 27 October 2016. Retrieved 27 October 2016.
- ↑ "Heartbroken banker stands by wife who suffocated their three severely disabled children after being 'tipped over the edge by social workers and doctors'". ITV News. 29 October 2016.
- ↑ "Tania Clarence sentenced for children's manslaughter". BBC. 29 October 2016.
- ↑ "Heartbroken banker stands by wife who suffocated their three severely disabled children after being 'tipped over the edge by social workers and doctors'". TheGuardian.co.uk News. 29 October 2016.
- ↑ "Heartbroken banker stands by wife who suffocated their three severely disabled children after being 'tipped over the edge by social workers and doctors'". Independent.co.uk News. 29 October 2016.
- ↑ "Tania Clarence: Mother who killed her three disabled children given hospital order". standard.co.uk News. 29 October 2016.
- ↑ "Tania Clarence: Husband blames pressure over children's treatment". 29 October 2016.
- ↑ "Tuckers Solicitors". TuckersSolicitors. Retrieved 2 November 2016.
- ↑ TheHuffingtonPost (2 October 2016). "Philip Smith is a leading criminal lawyer with Tuckers Solicitors, with a long track record of defending serious crime cases.n". HuffingtonPost.co.uk. Retrieved 2 November 2016.
- ↑ GuardianOnline (2 October 2016). "Phone hacking: Neil Wallis will not face prosecution". TheGuardian. Retrieved 2 November 2016.
- ↑ TelegraphOnline (2 October 2016). "Phone hacking: News International paid Neil Wallis while he was at Scotland Yard". Telegraph.co.uk. Retrieved 2 November 2016.
- ↑ "Chambers and Partners: Tuckers Solicitors Ranking". Chambers and Partners. 11 December 2016.
