Clarke Kiernan LLP Solicitors

A Kent-based firm of solicitors specialising in all areas of litigation.

The firm: Clarke Kiernan LLP has been recognised for many years as a leading firm in Kent and the South East offering the highest levels of service. With two offices in Tonbridge, Clarke Kiernan LLP is perfectly placed to assist clients in the South East and beyond. The firm has acknowledged expertise in many areas of litigation including fraud, crime, prison law, civil liberties, matrimonial and childcare law. This boutique firm is very flexible in its methods of working with the intention of achieving excellent service at levels normally seen only in the larger London-based firms.

Clarke Kiernan LLP acts regularly for private, professional and corporate clients, as well as offering publicly funded assistance. The firm has contracts with the Legal Aid Agency (LAA) in criminal law, family law and housing.

Formed in 1997 the firm’s reputation has grown steadily year by year with two new offices opening this year. It prides itself on being a young, modern and progressive firm that adopts a bespoke problem-solving approach to clients’ cases and for thinking of novel and practical solutions. The firm and its lawyers are members of the Specialist Fraud Panel, Children Panel and Resolution. The firm continues to demonstrate its commitment to client care by being available 24 hours a day each day of the year.

Clarke Kiernan LLP understands the importance of treating all clients with respect and keeping them fully informed as their case progresses. The firm will fiercely pursue clients’ interests regardless of their background, the popularity of their cause or the complexity of their case.

Types of work undertaken: Clarke Kiernan LLP’s lawyers specialise within the firm’s five departments – fraud, crime, prison, family and civil – but where necessary it provides a team of lawyers across departments to cater for a particular client’s needs.

The firm receives many referrals in respect of its core specialist areas from other firms in the region and beyond thus demonstrating their acknowledged expertise. They are often prepared to take on a client’s case or develop a point of law that others will not. The vein of human rights law runs through all the departments and many of the firm’s cases. The firm has developed significant expertise acting for professionals including lawyers, teachers, doctors, accountants, police officers and care home staff and owners.

Catherine McCarthy heads the crime department and is a very well-respected criminal practitioner who also specialises in prison law and miscarriage of justice cases. The crime department undertakes a wide range of work – from road traffic offences through to rape and murder.

Daniel Bonich heads the fraud and complex crime team. His team deals with a very wide range of criminal litigation, including bribery, business crime, food hygiene, fraud, financial services cases, habeas corpus, HMRC investigations and prosecutions, human rights, regulatory cases, rehabilitation of offenders cases, rehabilitation issues, and waste crime.

Dennis Clarke has vast experience in most areas of litigation, which led him to become the first solicitor in Kent to be awarded panel membership of the Serious Fraud Panel. As one of the foremost criminal practitioners in the region, he has successfully defended a large number of serious and complex fraud cases, as well as other high-profile criminal cases. A particular specialism is early intervention with clients to avoid any prosecution being brought.

Ray Collins is highly regarded and works under the supervision of Catherine leading the prison department. They assist to ensure the rights of prisoners are upheld and will oversee the progression of cases from a client becoming incarcerated through to assistance with re-categorisation, sentence planning, parole, then on to home leave and recall.

The team of family lawyers and matrimonial department has an excellent reputation both locally and further afield. The team specialises in ancillary relief, private law Children Act and public law Children Act proceedings. Cases involving children are a particular specialism. All cases are considered on both a private and publicly funded.

Other offices: Barry (Wales), Bromley (London), Tonbridge