Stokoe Partnership Solicitors

Abigail Ashford

Abigail is a Solicitor Advocate at Stokoe Partnership Solicitors, having practiced exclusively in criminal defence since qualification. She is a talented, experienced and capable solicitor, providing legal advice and representation to those accused of the full spectrum of criminal offences, but primarily complex and serious crime in the Crown Court. Abigail is frequently sought out by clients for her expertise in handling sensitive or high-profile cases of the utmost gravity, many of which attract widespread media attention, or involve vulnerable defendants. She routinely defends clients charged with conspiracy, serious drugs offences, serious violence including homicide and GBH, terrorism, and rape. Her reputation for the meticulous preparation of her caseload has also seen her instructed in Trading Standards, HMRC and SFO prosecutions across the UK, defending those involved in complex white collar financial crime, where her technical legal knowledge and analytical aptitude produce positive results, and satisfied clients.

Amjid Jabbar

Amjid Jabbar is a Partner at Stokoe Partnership Solicitors and currently heads Stokoe Partnership’s Central London office. He has a broad range of experience including defending allegations of money laundering, international drug trafficking and mortgage frauds. This experience is further enhanced by his extensive knowledge of the asset recovery and confiscation regimes, which allow him to provide his clients with a complete service. In recent years he has acted extensively in respect of civil recovery claims brought by the National Crime Agency. Amjid has been consistently ranked in the Chambers and Partners UK and The Legal 500 UK Guides for his expertise in general crime, fraud and asset forfeiture. He is listed as a Recommended Lawyer in The Legal 500 UK 2022 Guide for ‘Crime: General’, and is ranked in Chambers UK 2022 for ‘POCA Work & Asset Forfeiture’. Chambers explains how he “brings tremendous energy to the case, has a lot of common sense and is a strategic thinker.” “He’s a hard-working, driven practitioner.” The Legal 500 notes that Amjid “has an excellent sense for tactics, particularly in the pre-trial, and even pre-charge, stages of a case. He too is as personable as he is able, with excellent solicitor/client rapport”. Chambers UK reports that he “has the natural instincts of a tactical lawyer and can see all the pieces on the board. He immediately knows where you can end up in a case.”

Bambos Tsiattalou

Bambos Tsiattalou is the Founding Partner and a highly respected and sought after criminal defence lawyer at Stokoe Partnership Solicitors. Prior to his admission on the roll of solicitors, he was a barrister acting in many high profile cases. Bambos has many years’ experience of investigations and prosecutions relating to serious crime, including murder, fraud, drug trafficking, bribery and corruption cases. He specialises in cases involving money laundering, confiscation, civil recovery and extradition matters. Bambos is highly ranked in leading law directories in recognition of his talent and legal knowledge. He is ranked in Chambers and Partners and is a Leading Individual in The Legal 500 UK Guide for his general crime expertise, and is also highly ranked for his financial crime and fraud practices. The Legal 500 describes him as “a legend amongst criminal solicitors – a workaholic who goes the extra mile for clients”. The Guide also describes him as “a tactical mastermind, he just sees things in a case in an instant that others may never see. Has unrivalled instinct and his preparation is meticulously thorough”.

Brian Swan

Brian Swan is a Consultant at Stokoe Partnership Solicitors. Brian has a strong track record as a thorough and talented lawyer preparing a wide range of cases within the firm’s criminal litigation department. He has extensive experience dealing with cases involving the most serious of criminal offences, ranging from murder to large scale importation of drugs. Brian’s other areas of expertise include cases involving extradition, regulatory offences and other complex fraud cases and confiscation proceedings. Recent cases of note include; Representing a client who was extradited to the UK from Spain in respect of an allegation of murder. The client had evaded arrest for 8 years before being extradited to stand trial. At trial the defendant was acquitted and his co defendant, who was due to stand trial before our client had been extradited and had blamed him, was convicted. Representing three clients post conviction who had been sentenced to life imprisonment following their convictions for conspiracy to murder. At their Appeal the Court  quashed their convictions and a re trial was ordered. At the subsequent retrial, the Crown’s disclosure process was placed under intense scrutiny which resulted in the Crown offering no evidence following legal argument. Representing a client in respect of a Conspiracy to murder. The client escaped from custody whilst on remand and became the first Category A prisoner in 15 years to do so. Following his escape, and return to the UK the client was acquitted. Representing a client alleged to have been involved in a multi kilo conspiracy to import Class A drugs into the UK from South America and South Africa. A successful half time submission of no case to answer was made to the Court that as our client had failed to reach an agreement with his co-defendants he had not conspired with others to commit the offence. Representing two clients alleged to be drug barons who evaded capture for over a decade with estimated turnover of their business of £1 billion. On their arrest Law Enforcement Authorities had seized over £5million in cash which at the time was one of the largest cash seizures in the UK. After lengthy negotiations we were able to settle the case with a combined order of £2 million, instead of the £28 million hidden asset Order the Crown originally sought. Representing a client who was subject to confiscation proceedings following his conviction for the production of a class B drug. We were able to agree to a “full benefit” Order being made against him in the sum of £411,555.98 as opposed to £4million originally sought by the Crown. Representing a client whose extradition was sought by Belgium under an European Arrest Warrant for offences of drug trafficking, money laundering and being part of a criminal organisation. The proceedings lasted in excess of 6 years with no less than 4 separate EAW’s being issued and all of them were successfully opposed and were discharged either by the Magistrates Court or Administrative Court. The client’s extradition was originally sought under an accusation warrant requesting his extradition to Belgium to stand trial. Whilst the EAW was being challenged in the UK Courts the Belgian Prosecutor had proceeded to trial against our client in his absence in Belgium which resulted in convictions in Belgium. The Belgian Authorities then sought his extradition under a new conviction warrant. The Administrative Court condemned the conduct of the Belgian Authorities in convicting a suspect whilst they were exercising their legal right to oppose their extradition and discharged the conviction warrant.

Ernest Aduwa

Ernest is a Partner at Stokoe Partnership Solicitors, having qualified as a solicitor in 2010 and specialising in criminal defence litigation. Ernest is highly driven and focused on client care and meticulous case preparation, this has resulted in his often being recommended as the lawyer of choice to prepare a case. Ernest regularly defends individuals against serious and complex criminal allegations. His clients include high net worth individuals and those in the public eye.

Geoffrey Goldkorn

Geoffrey is a civil litigation specialist with Higher Rights since 1994. He obtained an MA at Cambridge University where he studied philosophy and law and was an Exhibitioner. He sat as a deputy District Judge for 10 years. He has all the attributes of a good litigator: a quick analytical mind, an ability to assimilate complex and voluminous factual detail, the capacity for meticulous preparation, an eye for the hidden point. He is very experienced. He counts success not only on winning cases but limiting the loss and exposure of defendants. He has appeared on television on legal issues.

Maria Theodoulou

Maria Theodoulou has been a Partner at Stokoe Partnership since 2004 having joined the Practice as a trainee in 1997. She oversees all branches of Stokoe Partnership Solicitors, ensuring that the Firm’s high standards and ethos are carried through by each member of the Team. She has overseen the rapid expansion of the Practice. Maria has a solid and strong track record as a criminal defence lawyer with a passion for defending her client’s interests. Maria specialises in all types of criminal defence matters, often those attracting media attention. She has considerable expertise in defending serious cases involving allegations of murder, armed robbery and conspiracy to supply large scale Class A drugs. Maria is ranked as a ‘Recommended Lawyer’ in The Legal 500 UK 2022 Guide where she is described as “an excellent tactician and adviser to clients, always knows the best strategy.’ She is recognised for “her work ethic and dedication. She is a fighter, the sort of person who inspires confidence by simply just being part of the team”, and is praised for her “ability to think around corners”.

Michael Sophocleous

Michael joined as a Partner at Stokoe Partnership Solicitors Manchester Office in 2020. Michael, initially based in the City of London but more recently in the North-West of England, has defended in some of the largest fraud and serious crime cases in recent history, including matters prosecuted by the Serious Fraud Office, HM Revenue & Customs, The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, the National Crime Agency, the Financial Conduct Authority, Trading Standards and the Crown Prosecution Service Complex Case Unit. He also has extensive experience defending large scale conspiracy to supply drugs and money laundering cases and is a specialist in all aspects of The Proceeds of Crime Act, from cash seizure/forfeiture in the Magistrates’ Court and confiscation in the Crown Court, through to civil recovery in the High Court. Michael often advises medical professionals in GMC and GDC matters as well as CQC compliance and HMRC investigations into medical practices. Michael has extensive experience in all aspects of motoring law, from “totting up” to death by dangerous driving. Whilst based in Manchester, Michael has established a national and international client base.

Richard Cannon

Richard Cannon is a Partner at Stokoe Partnership Solicitors. He is an extremely experienced white collar crime lawyer, practising primarily in serious fraud and related areas. Richard has particular expertise in cases relating to serious and complex fraud together with matters of alleged bribery and corruption relating to both private and corporate clients. He also has extensive experience in high value and complex money laundering matters across the Proceeds of Crime Act. Richard has a strong practice in relation to matters relating to cross border financial crime allegations particularly involving the United States assisting clients on a number of fronts including US civil proceedings and fighting extradition to the US. Richard joined Stokoe Partnership Solicitors from Gunnercooke, and prior to this he was also a Partner at Mishcon de Reya and Janes Solicitors. Significant previous cases include R v Jain (a Serious Fraud Office (SFO) case in relation to Allied Deals/RBG), R v Gangar (SFO case regarding Dobb White) R v Richards and Others (Operation Amazon), an HMRC prosecution regarding carbon credit offset tax fraud. Richard also represented the Grillo sisters in the “case of the year” of 2013. Richard has been consistently ranked by Chambers and Partners for financial crime where has been described as a “fantastic person to have on your side” who is “knowledgeable, thoughtful and efficient”. He has also been praised as a “a great tactical defence lawyer” and “a very smart and intuitive lawyer”. He is also ranked as a Recommended Lawyer in The Legal 500 UK 2022 guide where he is described as having “notable experience in international matters involving the US.”