Ellen Peart
BCL Solicitors LLPThe BCL Solicitors LLP team has strong experience in representing high-profile individuals, including businesspeople, figures in religious organisations, actors, and presenters. The practice offers representation regarding serious allegations, such as assault, sexual assault, and modern slavery offences. Ellen Peart leads the practice and has a particular specialism in matters involving children and young people. Mark Haslam often represents athletes and political figures in motoring cases. David Hardstaff, ‘always calm and collected where others might fall apart’, is well-versed in acting in matters concerning sexual assault, racial abuse, and modern slavery offences. Daniel Jackson is a key contact for high profile screenwriters and musicians, while associate Rishi Joshi provides support on cases concerning sexual abuse.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- 'Ellen Peart has a very thorough knowledge of the law but also excellent with clients, who she is able to guide through an often extremely difficult and challenging process with pragmatism and calmness.'
- 'Very pragmatic and efficient advice. Good at considering the wider strategy and not just advising in isolation.'
- 'David Hardstaff is just wonderful. He is always calm and collected where others might fall apart. He is courteous to a fault and is able to get the very best results pre-charge.'
- 'This is the firm I would recommend to any prospective client. The crime team devotes bundles of energy to their clients and think really creatively about how to secure the best result.'
- 'David Hardstaff is extremely popular for his calm, reassuring and sensible approach.'
- 'The criminal team are approachable, hard-working and committed to getting results.'
- 'Ellen Peart has a unique ability to make the most challenging situations feel entirely navigable, and she is the first person I would call when a client is faced with a criminal issue. Clients are very safe in her hands, and she is fantastic at working within a wider legal team, especially for high-profile clients where there are often multi-faceted issues at play.'
- 'We go to the team because of our close relationship with Ellen Peart and her specialism in working with high-profile clients, including those facing claims of sexual misconduct.'
Work highlights
- Successful defence of Oscar winning actor Kevin Spacey in defining #MeToo era criminal trial relating to sexual allegations brought by four complainants.
- Successful defence of Oscar winning screenwriter Dustin Lance Black at trial relating to an allegation of assault by a BBC presenter.
Lawyers
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David Hardstaff
BCL Solicitors LLPPractice head
The lawyer(s) leading their teams.
Ellen Peart