Andrew Gibson – Director and Higher Court Advocate – Qualified 2007
Having grown up on the Eastern District in Northampton and being a book worm who wore glasses, I quickly learned to be a quick thinking negotiator. I put this to good use when becoming a carpet salesman at 15 years of age. I realised my ability to talk could not only save my good looks, but also earn me money. After finishing university I eventually worked as a Case BuiIder for Northants Police and I soon decided I wanted to work for the side of “truth and justice”. When invited to join R.J Osborne & Co my dream became a reality, I completed my training contract in the minimum time possible and worked my way up to being a Director and one of the owners of the Company. I am I always wanted to be a criminal lawyer having been fooled by LA Law and Matlock and whilst the reality is not quite as glamorous I can never say that I am bored and would never want to do anything else. With the expansion into Carter Osborne I am pleased to be part of a strong team of experienced and highly respected staff which will grow from strength to strength. I have dealt with the whole spectrum of cases from Murder to motoring and everything in between and my experience covers thousands of cases.
Liam Muir – Director and Higher Court Advocate – Qualified 2016
I qualified as a solicitor and Higher Court Advocate having completed my professional training with Carter Osborne. I have co-represented with Queens’ Counsel on a Murder, an Attempt Murder Trial and a case involving many sexual allegations. I have been successful in defending serious cases including Complex Fraud, Conspiracy to Supply Drugs and Sexual Offences. I am a born and bred Corby lad.
Alistair Evans – Director and Higher Court Advocate – Qualified 1991
I am a criminal lawyer of more than 20 years experience having studied law at Cardiff University and then completed my articles in Kettering. It was here that I realised I wanted to be a criminal lawyer. It was much more exciting than other area’s of law! I have spent most of the time since then prosecuting but I have now “seen the light” and moved over to defence work again. It has been a great experience- even getting used to those late police station nights! I believe that the average person on the street should have their rights looked after and really wanted to move into that area of work. I have not been disappointed. I have experienced all types of criminal work but particularly specialise in Road Traffic having dealt with thousands of such cases and have a considerable amount of local knowledge. It’s great being part of Carter Osborne where everyone pulls together for the client.
Neil Clark – Director and Duty Solicitor – Qualified 1980
I qualified as a solicitor in 1980. I started my own general legal practice in 1984 but eventually chose to specialise in criminal law and mental health law. For far too many years I travelled all over England representing clients in courts and psychiatric hospitals. My practice eventually merged with another successful legal practice in Northampton when I chose to concentrate my efforts in the field of criminal law. My range of work now takes me from advising in police stations outside normal working hours to representing in trials during working hours. It is work I greatly enjoy and I am pleased to say that the long tradition of successful outcomes continue to this day. I am always prepared to assist those who require legal assistance in the field of criminal law as indeed are my friends and colleagues at this leading criminal practice. My experience covers the whole gamut of offences and I have dealt with thousands of road traffic offences.
Retesh Veja – Director and Duty Solicitor – Qualified 2014
Since graduating in 2008, I have always worked in criminal defence and qualified as a solicitor in 2014. I now spend most of my working life at the Magistrates’ Court and thoroughly enjoy advocacy and in particular, working with my clients. I deal with all sorts of matters and have specialised in cases where the client suffers from mental health issues or are vulnerable. I also spend weekends and evenings assisting clients in the police station.
Gill Walker – Duty Solicitor and Higher Court Advocate – Qualified 1986
I left school at 18 by chance got a job with a solicitor and was appointed a clerk dealing with criminal defences and family work. Decided to get a degree and went to night school for 4 years whilst working full time. I had to leave that job to go to law school full time for a year. Because I was also a Fellow of the Institute of Legal Executives I did not have to do a training contract and when I passed my finals was admitted as a Solicitor.
I then decided to take a job prosecuting to see it from the other side of the fence. Then worked defending at Toller’s Northamptonshire (Toller Hales and Colcutt as it was then) dealing with crime and family.Decided I wanted my own firm so opened Gill Walker and Co in 1991. Closed that in 2000 (enough of admin!) Went to Lawrence’s for 3 years and joined RJ Osborne and Co in 2003. During my time with R.J.Osborne &Co I have continued to work hard to provide our clients with the foremost service possible and have now made my grand entrance into the Crown Court by achieving my Higher Rights of Audience. I know that Carter Osborne Limited brings together two great firms and what really matters in my job is that I provide the best service possible and to do this you need a great team and that’s what we have. What really matters in my job where I can make a difference it is not just you its the team that you have and we have a great team I am very lucky.
Caroline McGann – Duty Solicitor – Qualified 1998
I ran my own extremely successful busy practice, McGanns Law, until 2017 when I decided that trying to run a practice was preventing me from actually doing the job I love and qualified to do. I have dealt with the whole range of offences before the Criminal Courts and have a great deal of experience with private motoring matters having been the Local Law Society President in the past. I have dealt with thousands of such cases.
Michelle Fraiser – Consultant and Higher Court Advocate – Qualified 1998
I have been qualified since 1998 having been duped by many glamorous episodes of LA Law. The harsh reality of attending the police station in the middle of the night and then trying to look bright eyed and bushy tailed for court the next day is not quite so easy to achieve with only the help of the Max Factor products and not the max factor facial artist to go with it! Nonetheless with a mortgage to pay I wouldn’t want to do anything else. I have been in private practice throughout, becoming a partner at my former firm, Sherwood Dunham, and now one of the two owners of Carter Osborne Limited. I have dealt with, and continue to deal with a wide range of cases from murder to motoring and road traffic numbering many thousand. I was pleased to be granted my Higher Rights of Audience which allows me to provide a service to the clients from the Police Station to the Crown Court. I enjoy a challenge and I have to say most of the time the job does not let me down. This is now more true than ever with the recent changes. Not feeling I had enough hours of my day filled and enough wrinkles created by my job I felt expansion would help shorten my life appropriately! In all seriousness the dynamics of the new practise will ensure the high standards we have achieved are maintained and strengthened.
John Whiston – Consultant and Higher Court Advocate – Qualified 1979
I qualified as a solicitor in 1979 having trained with a firm with offices in Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire. My interest has always been criminal law and probably dates from my first proper job which was in the Probation Service in Greater Manchester. Having been a Magistrates Court Clerk, a Prosecutor and for the last 23 years a Defence Advocate I can claim to be well experienced and to have seen most things at least twice. I have dealt with every case imaginable from murder to road traffic and have dealt with many thousands of motoring cases. In my spare time (which isn’t much) I confess to enjoying a relaxing beer- which may also explain my double vision. I enjoy client contact and get my job satisfaction from doing my best for my clients whose children and grandchildren I am sometimes called upon to represent.
Dan Green Higher Court Advocate – Qualified 2008
I am an integral part of the criminal defence team. Since qualifying in 2008 I have developed my knowledge of all aspects of criminal law. Representing clients with allegations ranging from assault and public order offences to rape and murder. I am experienced in dealing with all stages of the criminal justice system from the police station through to the Higher Courts.
I regularly represent clients with cases that require the utmost sensitivity such as domestic violence or sexual allegations. This is why I am able to bring over a decade’s worth of knowledge and expertise in criminal law to your case. Clients benefit from my ability to translate the law and bring a no nonsense approach to the assessment of the evidence enabling them to understand allegations completely. This is invaluable in allowing informed decisions to be made regarding the conduct of any individual case.
Kevin McCamley – Solicitor and Higher Court Advocate – Qualified 2018
I started off life training as a chef and then I went into butchery working for a large meat processing company in Northern Ireland. During my time in Northern Ireland I was a member of a Union and became interested in the legal side of employment rights. Around 2008 when the recession hit hard I took an injury in my wrist which meant that I could no longer use a knife for long hours. Following up on my legal interest I decided to study law and moved to Chester to study at the University of Law. Initially it was my interest in Employment Law which got me interested, well that was until I started studying Criminal Law. Criminal Law captured my imagination, it is intricate, complex and interesting but what I always keep in my mind is that people’s lives and their liberty is at stake. After studying for Degree and the Post Graduate Diploma in Professional Legal Practice I moved back to Northern Ireland and spent 18 months gaining experience in a general practice which ranged from Criminal Law to Civil Injunctions, Employment and Personal Injury I knew I wanted to specialise in Criminal Law. I then moved back to England in the hope of gaining a Training Contract at a Criminal Law firm (which is as rare as hens teeth) I spent 6 months in a large firm in Manchester before being offered the position at Carter Osborne, of course after having a nerve wrecking interview with Michelle Fraiser and Gill Walker. I filled up my little red car, moved south and the rest is history.
James Smith-Wilds – Barrister – Year of call 1999
I am a barrister and have always specialised in criminal law. I cross qualified and was admitted as a solicitor in 2003, running a busy solicitors practice for 12 years, before returning to the Bar. For the last 10 years I has predominantly appeared in Crown Courts in the Midlands.
With experience of every aspect of the criminal justice system, I understand fully the issues faced by my professional and lay clients. I have conducted criminal cases of all levels of seriousness and have successfully acted as QCs junior on lengthy murder trials. Obtaining a certificate of competency in prison law in 2007, I have successfully conducted many adjudications and parole hearings.
References:
“A robust and tenacious advocate, specialising in Criminal Law. Believes passionately in justice and the proper application of the law.” Legal 500
“Expertise: All areas and aspects of Criminal Law, including Road Traffic, Sex, Drugs and Violence.” Legal 500
“…..it was very special how you just went into the gap and helped N. I’m most appreciative, and I know he is too.
“I was so relieved to know that someone was backing N up in the initial stages of this situation, and you were such a great help. I know you spent a lot of time calling/speaking to relevant people, and it is truly appreciated.”
“thanks James – you are a magician!”
David Swingler – Consultant and Duty Solicitor – Qualified 2000
My life in law started in 1989 when I got a job as the office messenger/porter at Nottingham CPS. Starting at the bottom I quickly worked my way up through managerial and crown court roles. I left the CPS in 1997 to join a large defence practice with whom I qualified as a solicitor in 2000. Over the last 19 years I have developed a wide range of experience across all areas of criminal law with my particular specialism being trial advocacy, I am a firm believer that there is no such thing as an unwinnable trial!
Married with two daughters spare time is at a premium but when I can I like to get out running or cycling or walking my Terrier, Alfie.
Nisha Raikundalia – Consultant and Duty Solicitor – Qualified 2005
I work part time for Carter Osborne Limited as a duty solicitor. I enjoy working in other fields of law but being able to enjoy the camaraderie, client contact and unique experience that only comes with being a Criminal Lawyer
Our team are able to assist you at the Police Station, the Magistrates Court and also the Crown Court and provide a cradle to grave service. Michelle, Andy, Liam, Dan, Gill, John and Alistair all have their higher rights. The whole team will be able to assist at any venue providing depth of coverage, service and experience.
“professional at all times”
