Sandra has extensive experience in criminal and related litigation. Her practice spans the full range of criminal litigation, with a focus on defending allegations of sexual misconduct. This includes discreet representation of high profile individuals including politicians, bankers, sports and media personalities, as well as working with institutional and individual clients in the UK and abroad, following allegations resulting from the #MeToo campaign.Drawing on her advocacy experience, Sandra is particularly accomplished in preparing witnesses to give an account in settings ranging from the police station and court through to internal and external investigations or inquiries. Her passion and aptitude for working with children and young adults has resulted in her being recognised as a leader in the youth justice field. Clients rely on her proactive, no nonsense approach and sound judgement in making difficult decisions. Her willingness to support clients to achieve the right results, justify her enviable track record.Co-author - Police Station Update for Legal Action and “Defending Suspects at the Police Station” (2020).
England - London • Crime, fraud and licensing
Kingsley Napley LLP
Kingsley Napley LLP is lauded by clients as ‘arguably the best firm of criminal solicitors in the country’, with the ‘extraordinary’ team headed by Louise Hodges, Sandra Paul, and David Sleight. Hodges leads in criminal litigation, while Paul and Sleight co-lead on general crime. The practice is experienced in advising both UK and international clients on the full spectrum of general crime matters, with recent work including advice on sexual misconduct allegations within the workplace, attempted murder, driving offences, and fraud. Other key team members include Rebecca Niblock, who is highly experienced in extradition matters, pre-charge advice specialist Edmund Smyth, and Matthew Hardcastle, who was promoted to partner in May 2023. Associates Edward Jones, Rebecca Smart, Emily Elliott, and Maeve Keenan are also names to note within the team.
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Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- ‘Kingsley Napley are arguably the best firm of criminal solicitors in the country. They have always recruited extremely well, resulting in a team packed with high calibre lawyers who deliver outstanding levels of service and client care. They have first-rate facilities and resources, a very effective team of support staff, and a reputation that immediately secures an attentive response to correspondence in litigation.’
- ‘Sandra Paul is truly exceptional and is well known throughout the profession for her capability and dedication. Matthew Hardcastle is one of the brightest and best of his generation.’
- ‘The team around Sandra Paul, Matt Hardcastle and Maeve Keenan is highly professional, and every client should honour their honesty, professionalism and profound in-depth analysis of all options. Their thoughts do not only include the easy and obvious ones, but they are mind-blowing brilliant. Working with and being represented by them is the best decision.’
- ‘The team is incredibly diligent and insightful. Their skill in dealing with our particular situation was impressive.’
- ‘Sandra Paul, Maeve Keenan and the team possess a rare combination of professional skill and human compassion, making them an extraordinary team.’
- ‘My primary involvement was with Matthew Hardcastle, an exceptional partner, working in the field of youth crime. The 24hr emergency helpline was invaluable, as was the calm and reassuring manner in which the firm moved swiftly to deal with both police and youth offending teams.’
- ‘David Sleight - a lawyer who makes things happen, right at the top of his game, and has the best judgement in the game. So shrewd and focused. Matt Hardcastle - an amazing lawyer. He has an encyclopedic knowledge of criminal law, which he deploys to great effect. A go-to lawyer who will take every good point there is in the case and will invariably come out on top. Emily Elliott - just superb with the facts of the case and with clients. A dream to work with.’
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Leading individuals
David has an extensive criminal litigation background. Regularly acting for individuals and companies in high profile cases, he specialises in providing advice at the crucial early stages of an investigation. Astute and practical in his approach, David’s early involvement in the case can make the difference between being charged with an offence or not. This includes representing clients who are arrested and interviewed under caution, challenging search warrants and other investigatory powers and making pre-charge representations to the police and prosecuting authorities. Should matters progress to court he is meticulous in his preparation and has a high acquittal rate. Case highlights include representing Cambridge Analytica’s CEO in the Facebook data breach scandal and other high profile matters.David’s white collar crime practice includes acting for companies and individuals accused of complex financial investigations involving fraud, overseas corruption and Mutual Legal Assistance (MLA). He specialises in defending tax evasion/fraud allegations brought by HMRC and has developed a specialist expertise in advising in cross border tax litigation involving MLA requests between Member States. He is currently representing two separate companies in the on-going “cum ex” trading scandal in Denmark and Germany.
Next Generation Partners
Recognised for his work in pre-charge investigations, Matt has particular experience acting for the accused in high-profile cases. Matt also has significant experience in acting in cross-practice area investigations which include allegations of a criminal behaviour, including sexual misconduct in the workplace.
Rebecca is one of the UK’s leading extradition practitioners and heads the firm’s extradition team. She has successfully defended a large number of persons requested for extradition by other states, both inside and outside the EU. Her practice also encompasses other matters with an international component, including sanctions cases and Mutual Legal Assistance requests.Rebecca also advises on a wide range of white collar crime investigations including serious fraud, money laundering, cartel and corruption specialising in cases involving multi-jurisdictional elements. She has many years of experience of dealing with domestic criminal matters, from sexual offences to offences involving violence or drugs.Rebecca is a co-founder of the Defence Extradition Lawyers’ Forum, co-author of Extradition Law: A Practitioners Guide and author of the chapter on Extradition in Abuse of Process by Colin Wells.
Practice head
The lawyer(s) leading their teams.
Louise Hodges, Sandra Paul, David Sleight