Welcome.

History
I was admitted as a solicitor in 1981, and have practised in West Cornwall ever since. I have been actively involved in the legal profession locally, and was elected President of Cornwall Law Society for 2003-2004.

This website was launched in 1994 when I left the firm of Reginald Rogers & Son to create my own practice in Helston. For 4½ years I ran that office, ably assisted by my wife, Jane and our dedicated staff. In October 1998 I accepted an invitation to become a partner in the firm of Hancock & Lawrence, and my firm was merged with theirs. In 1999, Hancock & Lawrence merged with Frank & Caffin of Truro to form the firm of Hancock Caffin.

These mergers gave me the opportunity to specialise in criminal litigation, providing criminal defence services, with access to public funding in conjunction with the Criminal Defence Service, at all stages of the criminal justice system, from police station advice (available 24 hours daily) to Magistrates Court and Crown Court trial proceedings and appeals to the Court of Appeal (Criminal Division).

I am also experienced in military law proceedings, having personally represented service personnel before Courts-Martial, as well as attending and advising at interviews of clients by service police or Ministry of Defence police.

In 2000 I was very honoured to receive a Royal Warrant, appointing me to sit as a Recorder in the Crown Court. In 2004 I was also appointed to sit as a Recorder in the County Court.

In 2003 Hancock Caffin decided that it would no longer provide publicly-funded Criminal Defence services to clients. As a result of this decision, I decided to retire from Hancock Caffin, in order to be able to maintain and develop my expertise in criminal defence litigation and advocacy.

Since January 2004, I have practiced as an Associate Solicitor with Vivian Thomas & Jervis, Solicitors initially at their Falmouth Office.

Since September 1st 2005, following the merger of the firm with the Camborne practice of Daniell & Battell, I have been based at their Penzance office.

Although I no longer practice from an office in Helston, I still live there and have a strong association with the town; since there is now no Solicitor working in Helston who provides publicly-funded criminal defence services, I am pleased to do so, either at one of our offices in Penzance, Falmouth, Camborne or St Ives or at the client's home address, as well as at the Police Stations and Magistrates' Courts.

Notarial Services
I have practised as a Notary Public since I was granted my Faculty to do so in 1995, authenticating documents for foreign jurisdictions. I am pleased to attend clients at any of our offices, or to arrange home visits if required. Please contact me to discuss your requirements and to receive an advance indication of fees and related disbursements.