Solicitors
CALA member firms
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www.appeal.org.uk
mail@appeal.org.uk
APPEAL
APPEAL is a legal action charity. Our mission is to fight miscarriages of justice and demand reform. The lawyers and investigators at APPEAL focus solely on appeal cases, screening applications for assistance and identifying cases where we believe a miscarriage of justice has occurred.
We analyse the case papers and conduct street level investigation as well as consult with experts on any technical or scientific issues in the case. We then work with counsel to ensure a comprehensive presentation to the Criminal Case Review Commission and the Court of Appeal. For men we are only able to consider applications from prisoners seeking to challenge convictions and where the applicant is in custody and has at least 2 years to serve - more details can be found here. For women, we consider applications from prisoners seeking to challenge sentence or conviction under certain circumstances, which our outlined on the Women’s Justice Initiative page of our website.
As a charity, APPEAL only represents people who cannot afford to pay for legal representation themselves - we do not take on cases for private clients or ask prisoners or their families to pay fees.
Birds Solicitors
Birds Solicitors are criminal defence specialists with expertise in regulatory and fraud matters and a growing involvement in sports law, especially related to football. We were members of the Legal Aid Agency's now abandoned Serious Fraud and VHCC Panels and are Privy Council agents.
The firm was established on 2nd October 2000. Both Steven Bird and Richard Locke were previously partners at Simons Muirhead & Burton. Steven Bird had established a branch office for Simons Muirhead & Burton in Wandsworth specialising in criminal defence work in March 1998. That office was taken over as Birds Solicitors from 2nd October 2000.
The firm specialises in criminal defence work and deals with general crime, serious fraud and a large amount of appellate work and applications to the Criminal Cases Review Commission. Although the firm deals largely with criminal law, we also advise in regulatory matters and in prison law. We are developing a sports law department focussing on representation at disciplinary panels and advising on player contract terms.
Our criminal cases range from the minor to the most serious, from the police station to the Magistrates Court, the Crown Court and into the Appellate Courts. We also represent claimants in applications for compensation from the Home office for miscarriages of justice.
We are highly recommended in both the Legal 500 and Chambers & Partners directories as one of the top firms in London for criminal and fraud work. Both Steven Bird and Tim Greene are highly recommended in Chambers & Partners as individuals and Steven Bird is also listed as a leading individual in the Legal 500.
We have a Facebook page and you can follow us on Twitter
www.birds.eu.com
m.fisher@birds.eu.com
s.bird@birds.eu.com
http://gtstewart.co.uk
0208 299 6000
GT Stewart
The appeals team at GT Stewart is led by Greg Stewart who is the co-author of the Criminal Appeals Handbook (Bloomsbury 2015). He has specialised in criminal appeals for over a decade and his experience includes regular appeals to the Court of Appeal and the High Court by was of case stated and judicial review as well as the Supreme Court (and House of Lords). He heads a team that specialise in this work which is very different to running a case to trial.
The team accept both publicly funded and private cases and work with a select group pf barristers who are well versed in the particular challenges of successfully pursuing appeals. The firm is recommended in both Chambers UK and the Legal 500.
Landmark Law Solicitors
Landmark Law Solicitors has been established in the East End of London for over 10 years to date. It has built up a considerable own client base within criminal defence work and specialises in criminal appeals by way of case stated as well as to the appellate courts. The firm can offer initial indications on the merits of any appeal from the magistrates (including Appeals by way of Case Stated) or Crown Court as well as advice on seeking a review by the Criminal Cases Review Commission.
Bark & Co
Russell-Cooke LLP
Russell-Cooke is a leading London criminal defence firm, with a track record of defending in complex and high profile cases for over 30 years. Our Team, and partners Martin Rackstraw and Jae Carwardine, are recognised as leaders in the field and are ranked in Chambers and Legal 500. We defend across the range of serious criminal offences and in particular financial crime, and in allegations against professional individual clients. We specialise in extradition and in criminal investigations with an international element. We have a long track record of acting in miscarriage of justice cases and have a strong appellate practice.
Georgiana McCarthy
Georgiana is an experienced Chartered Legal Executive Litigator (Criminal Litigation) specialising in criminal appeals and general crime. She has developed a strong appeal practice over several years, acting in appeals against conviction and sentence, as well as applications to the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC). She represents clients in both legally aided and privately funded matters.
Alongside her appeal practice, Georgiana represents clients in Crown Court proceedings involving a broad range of serious criminal offences. She holds Criminal Litigation Practice Rights and is committed to providing thorough and effective representation at every stage of proceedings.
Shaw Graham Kersh LLP
Ranked among London's top criminal law firms by Chambers and Partners 2025 and recommended by Legal 500 and The Times, we specialise in criminal appeals. Our solicitors represent clients before the Court of Appeal and prepare applications to the Criminal Cases Review Commission. With expertise in murder, sexual offences, terrorism, fraud and money laundering, we provide dedicated representation through senior solicitors working with leading barristers. We primarily undertake private instructions while selectively accepting legal aid cases that present exceptional circumstances or significant points of law.