Hay & Kilner’s crime team is known for its experience and expertise in defending clients in the Magistrates and Crown Courts, as well as the Court of Appeal. Specialist criminal litigation lawyer Mark Harrison, based in Wallsend, heads the team, focusing on computer crime, defending individuals charged with sexual offences and high value fraud, as well as POCA cases. Crown Court procedures expert, Karen Minhas, was promoted to associate in November 2022, while police station duty solicitor Matthew Purves and associate Mark Styles, who represents children and young people in the youth court, are key names to note. Jonathan Cousins is also an important team member.
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
‘Hay & Kilner are a local firm who punch way above their weight. Their criminal and regulatory team has real strength in depth from the most junior associate to the senior partner. They can be relied upon to provide timely, accurate and tactically astute advice and assistance from before arrests up to the court of appeal.’
‘The star performers are Mark Harrison, Matthew Purves, Jonathan Cousins and Karen Minhas. They show superior dedication and skill in representing their lay clients. They demonstrate real patience and empathy when dealing with young defendants or those who suffer from mental ill health. I rely upon them for timely and accurate instructions, and we always work effectively as a team.’
Key clients
- New Park Court Chambers
- Dere Street Chambers
Work highlights
- Represented a defendant, who has allegedly taken a leading role in large scale Class A drugs conspiracy, against a serious crime prosecution order.
- Defending a client accused of fraud, having allegedly falsified her professional credentials as a consultant psychiatrist and having derived an income publicly and privately over many years as a result.