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Criminal Defence and Extradition

Road Traffic Offences

Our criminal defence lawyers represent clients accused of all types of road traffic offences, from those who receive fixed penalty notices (FPNs) for speeding to those accused of causing serious injury and death by dangerous driving.

We offer bespoke high-quality legal representation at all stages of a road traffic investigation, on an hourly rate basis and in some circumstances, we are able to act on a fixed fee basis. You can find out more about our motoring charges here.

  • We advise on how to respond to Notices of Intended Prosecution and conditional offers of fixed penalty notices
  • We protect and advance our client’s interests during police interviews, investigations, and court proceedings, to secure the best possible outcome
  • We work with a range of experts where appropriate to analyse, challenge and secure evidence
  • In appropriate circumstances, we can secure alternative disposals for our clients
  • We have experience securing discontinuance in cases as serious as death by dangerous driving

Our lawyers understand that the vast majority of people have no intention to break the law when they embark upon a journey and we recognise that even a small number of penalty points can have a catastrophic effect on our client’s livelihood.

Many of our criminal defence lawyers are ranked by Chambers and Partners and Legal 500. Our Criminal Law team has consistently obtained the highest ranking in both these independent rankings for many years, through feedback from barristers, experts and other professionals who know our work.

Frequently asked questions
What are the different types of road traffic offences?

Our criminal defence lawyers are able to act for individuals who are under investigation for a number of road traffic matters including:

  • Speeding (including when ‘totting up’ leads to penalty point disqualification)
  • Drink driving (also known as ‘excess alcohol’) 
  • Drug driving 
  • Dangerous driving
  • Careless driving
  • Driving without due care or attention
  • Driving whilst unfit to drive
  • Failing to provide a specimen
  • Death by dangerous or careless driving
How to pay if you are charged with road traffic offences

Our Criminal Team defends clients who are investigated or charged with driving offences. All of our Team members’ profiles can be found here.

For those cases which are dealt with in the Magistrates’ Court, we charge on the following basis. Please note if you have been charged with a driving offence that can be dealt with in the Crown Court (an either way or indictable offence), the charging structure set out below does not apply.   

Hourly rates

We usually charge for the work carried out on a case on an hourly rate, and according to the number of hours worked on the case.

The hourly rate charged varies according to the complexity of the case and the seniority of the solicitor handling it. Our hourly rates generally range from £200- £230 per hour for a solicitor, £280- £295 per hour for an associate solicitor to £375 per hour for a partner.

We usually work on an hourly rate basis to provide advice about evidence and plea and sentence, and the prospects of a successful exceptional hardship or special reasons finding to avoid disqualification, preparing the case including considering prosecution evidence, obtaining defence evidence and representation at court. The number of hours involved in any case will depend on a number of factors, the most important being intended plea, the amount of evidence to consider, the time spent attending you and advising you, and any witnesses (including experts), the time spent drafting documents and the time spent at court.  

Range of costs

There are a range of possible charges just as there are many different types of driving offences.  In general, for simple, single hearing cases (usually guilty pleas) fees would generally be between £2250 to £5625. That would typically include:

  1. Routine correspondence with you
  2. Perusal of a prosecution evidence 
  3. Advising you on the strength of the evidence, plea
  4. Taking your instructions 
  5. Representing you at one hearing

Typically, single hearing cases end on the day of the first hearing.

There are many variables for more complex or longer cases that go to trial or have multiple hearings. We will be able to provide an estimate when we have the necessary information about the type of charge, volume and nature of evidence, intended plea, and circumstances that gave rise to the allegation. When we have more information about the nature of the case, we will also be able to provide further details about timescales.

Disbursements

If you ask us to instruct a barrister to represent you at court the barrister’s fees will be charged in addition to our fees. We will notify you in advance what those fees will be. For low-level driving offences barrister’s fees generally range from between £500 and £5000 plus VAT but much will depend on the nature of the case and the seniority of the barrister.

In some cases, an expert witness will need to be instructed. The expert’s fees will be in addition to this firm’s fees. Again, we will let you know what those fees will be in advance. These generally range from between £1000 and £4000 plus VAT.

You may be responsible for additional costs that are incurred by us on your behalf from another organisation. In addition to barrister and expert fees as referred to above, this could include interpreter/translation costs, travel costs if we have to travel outside our office on your behalf, and courier costs. Whether or not disbursements will be incurred on your behalf will depend on the nature of the case.

Value Added Tax

Value Added Tax (VAT) is required to be added to our fees and all disbursements unless you are exempt.

Contact

To get in touch with our criminal defence lawyers please use the details below. If you need emergency assistance outside of office hours please call our out of hours phone number.

EMERGENCY – OUT OF HOURS

+44 (0)20 7305 5638

Meet the team

Tayab Ali
Deputy Managing Partner

Crime, Fraud and Regulatory | Head of International Law

Itpal Dhillon
Senior Supervisor

Crime, Fraud and Regulatory

Kate Goold
Partner

Crime, Fraud and Regulatory

Katie Wheatley
Partner

Head of Crime, Fraud and Regulatory

Hester Cavaciuti
Associate

Crime, Fraud and Regulatory

Catherine Jackson
Associate

Crime, Fraud and Regulatory

Jude Lanchin
Associate

Crime, Fraud and Regulatory

Ella Jefferson
Consultant

Crime, Fraud and Regulatory

Lodovica Degan
Solicitor

Crime, Fraud and Regulatory

Nicholas Jennaway
Solicitor

Crime, Fraud and Regulatory

Ruaa Kamaran
Solicitor

Crime, Fraud and Regulatory

Jessie Slim
Solicitor

Public Law

How can we help you?

We are here to help. If you have any questions for us, please get in touch below.