Olliers

Senior Associate

Martha Whitehead qualified as a solicitor in 1992 and joined Olliers Solicitors initially in 2001. She left the firm for a number of years but has now re-joined Olliers as a Senior Associate.

She has over 30 years of experience as a specialist crime practitioner including regularly advising clients at the police station. She has the ability and expertise to assess cases in detail from the outset and enjoys the challenge of assisting and advising people in this stressful initial stage of a case.

Pre-Charge

Martha undertakes a pro-active and front footed approach during the investigative stage of a case for those clients who have been released under investigation or police bail following an interview under caution. She focuses on pre-charge engagement and drafting robust representations against charge to prevent prosecutions in appropriate cases with significant success.

Sexual Allegations

In allegations of sexual offending Martha has experience of working with clients from the pre-charge investigative stage through to the Youth Court/Magistrates’ Court and Crown Court. In this area her extensive work with counsel, maturity and understanding of other areas of law particularly inform her practice.

Representing Neurodivergent Clients

Martha has many years of experience representing neurodivergent clients. Her sensitive and emphatic manner lends itself to working with clients who require additional support.

Criminal Proceedings

As a Magistrates’ Court advocate she has regularly represented clients from first appearance to trial. In this work, she takes an interest in the particular needs of clients such as their youth or mental health.

In the higher courts Martha has worked upon large scale MTIC/carousel fraud, money laundering and drugs operations. The defence of these cases spread over several years requires a consistent approach to detail, the ability to analyse large volumes of data, to work with a variety of other professionals and present clear advice to clients. Martha combines these skills with talent and proficiency.

Her work in recent years has included representation of clients charged with terrorism, sexual offences, drugs,  murder and serious violence. This has involved issues such as mental health, modern slavery and child witnesses  working with a range of professional experts.