Sonn Macmillan Walker

Sonn Macmillan Walker is one of the largest and most highly regarded criminal defence firms in London. All types of criminal (and related civil) cases are undertaken and the firm has particular expertise in the following areas: homicide and serious crime, drugs offences, sexual offences money laundering and complex fraud, confiscation proceedings, cash seizures, account freezing orders, motoring offences, and extradition.

The firm: Founded as D.J.Sonn & Co in 1992, shortly thereafter becoming Sonn Macmillan and in 2006 merging with Walkers, the firm has more than 20 fee-earners dedicated to the defence of those facing criminal proceedings. The firm has a strong reputation for its conduct of serious and complex crime and is regularly involved in high-profile cases. It has considerable experience of acting for clients in murder and attempted murder cases, substantial frauds and many other serious cases, ranging from sexual offences, to currency counterfeiting, drug-related matters and regulatory prosecutions. The firm also has an outstanding reputation for the work it undertakes in extradition proceedings.

The firm has a dedicated team of solicitors for the more serious Crown Court cases and its in-house higher courts advocates ensure continuity of representation for clients from the police station to the conclusion of their Crown Court trial. Its solicitors are also ever-present in the magistrates’ courts around London and enjoy an outstanding success rate in contested matters.

The firm undertakes a significant amount of privately funded work where legal aid is either not available or not applied for. All of its staff members are very sensitive to the needs of clients and recognise that being the subject of criminal proceedings is a stressful experience. Equally, they do not shy away from providing robust advice when appropriate.

Types of work undertaken: The practice undertakes defence work in all types of cases, with an emphasis on serious crime, fraud and money laundering. Expert advice is offered in complex allegations that can take months or years to come to trial and involve many thousands of pages of documentation. The firm is continuously acting in fraud and money laundering matters being prosecuted by the Crown Prosecution Service, the Serious Fraud Office and the FCA.

Euan Macmillan is the firm’s managing director and has more than 30 years’ experience as solicitor.  He is a daily presence in the magistrates’ court.

David Sonn is highly experienced in fraud and money laundering cases. His client was the only defendant acquitted in 2017 in the HBOS fraud committed at the Reading office. There were more than 200,000 pages of served evidence. His client was also the only client acquitted in a seven month trial at Birmingham Crown Court concerning a fraudulent film tax avoidance scheme. David Sonn is also a founding and committee member of the Association of Motor Offence Lawyers. Road traffic expertise ranges from minor speeding offences to more serious charges of causing death by dangerous and careless driving, dangerous driving, and driving with excess alcohol. David Sonn also has expertise in offences relating to breaches of planning enforcement notices, HMO regulations, and health and safety prosecutions.

Katy Smart heads an extradition team that has a daily presence at Westminster Magistrates’ Court, where all extradition cases commence. The firm has had notable recent successes in all courts, from the Magistrates’ Court to the High Court and Supreme Court.