For over 75 years, our lawyers have discreetly advised public figures in some of the highest profile cases of the last century. Our lawyers understand the pressures of being in the public eye and seek to shield our clients from the often intrusive media glare.
We offer legal representation and advice to clients and their advisors to enable them to manage their public, business and private lives. Our history of discretion and sensitivity inspires trust in our clients, providing confidence in the fact that we will care for every aspect of their lives and protect their rights and interests.
Our understanding of a client’s right to privacy, the reputational damage a difficult case can bring and the need to keep business running, make Kingsley Napley the lawyers of choice when looking for a trusted advisor. Our criminal defence lawyers are astute, supportive and highly sophisticated. We are recognised for our skill in providing strategic, practical criminal law advice. We understand the reputational damage a police investigation can bring and that being in the public eye brings unwanted media attention. Discretion is our watch word and we are skilled in crisis management, shielding our clients from the media glare.
From accompanying clients to police station interviews to managing every step of a criminal investigation, we guide clients through their options and give advice on the best course of action to take.
We recognise that to achieve the very best outcome for our clients we need to be proactive from the earliest moment of a police investigation. In many instances we can help to avoid an arrest taking place, with all the potentially onerous consequences that can flow from an arrest: restrictions on travel, oppressive bail conditions, and the likelihood that fingerprint and DNA samples will be taken that will remain on a national database for life.
There is a myth that those who attend the police station with a lawyer only do so because they are guilty. In fact, those who have the benefit of legal advice are more able to make the right decision about whether and how to answer questions. Those that have a lawyer are much less likely to be taken advantage of by the police. What happens at the police station can dictate how well you are able to defend the case later if it develops. It also means you have a better chance of bringing the investigation to a conclusion sooner rather than later.
Many people, when faced with police questioning, attend on their own, believing they can talk their way out of the situation and leave as quickly as possible. This is rarely the best long term strategy. Our aim is to help you to stop, think and give the best account of yourself.
By attending the police station with one of our specialist lawyers we will be able to obtain information about the investigation, the reasons why you are being interviewed, explain the process to you, advise on your options and ensure that you are treated fairly throughout the proceedings. Sometimes the best advice is to decline to answer questions, at least until further information is provided as to the case against you; or alternatively, it may be better to produce a written statement setting out your case in a clear and structured way. Even if you decide to answer questions, you will want to think carefully in advance about the issues with which you will have to deal.