Civil & Criminal Litigation · London EC1

Defending your business. Defending your reputation. Defending you.

A boutique litigation practice in the heart of London. Acting for individuals and businesses in civil disputes and criminal investigations, instructed alongside leading King's Counsel.

Located124 City Road, EC1V
RegulatedSRA No. 669675
Urgent line24 hours · 7 days

A boutique practice. Two disciplines. One standard of preparation.

The brief Civil and criminal litigation under one roof. We act for clients in EC1 and across England and Wales, from pre-action letter to Crown Court trial.

Practice areas

Two practices, one firm.

01

Civil Litigation & Dispute Resolution.

Acting in high-value debt, commercial contract, defamation, and landlord and tenant matters. For individuals and businesses across England and Wales.

  • High-value debt recovery
  • Breach of contract claims
  • Media law, reputation & defamation
  • Professional discipline & negligence
  • Landlord & tenant disputes
  • General business agreements
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02

Criminal Litigation & Investigations.

Defence work for clients under investigation or facing prosecution. Police stations, regulatory hearings, Magistrates' Court, Crown Court.

  • Police & National Crime Agency
  • HMRC investigations
  • Youth Court & Magistrates' Court
  • Crown Court
  • Court of Appeal
  • Regulatory & other proceedings
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Specialisms

Matters we run.

Multi-defendant files, document-heavy disclosure, slow-moving investigations. The areas below are where we are most often instructed.

01

Fraud & Money Laundering

Pre-charge representations through to Crown Court trial. Complex multi-defendant work and proceeds of crime proceedings.

02

Cybercrime

Computer Misuse Act offences, online fraud, and prosecutions arising from digital evidence and forensic disclosure.

03

Homicide

Defence work in the most serious indictable matters. Crown Court trial preparation alongside leading and junior counsel.

04

Drug Offences

Importation, supply, and possession with intent. From Magistrates' to Crown Court, including conspiracy and county lines work.

05

Blackmail & Extortion

Sensitive defence and complainant matters, often involving reputational risk and parallel civil exposure.

06

Media & Defamation

Pre-action correspondence, libel and slander claims, and reputation work for individuals and businesses.

07

Debt Recovery

High-value statutory demands, Part 7 claims, summary judgment, and enforcement against UK and overseas debtors.

08

Landlord & Tenant

Section 8 and Section 21 notices, court eviction, and rent arrears work. Acting for landlords and tenants alike.

How we work

Built around the brief.

Our four commitments to every client we take on. They are how we run the file from first call to final order.

Commitment · 01

Fierce defenders

Trial-ready from day one. We prepare every file as though it is going to court. The cases that settle, settle on better terms when the other side knows you can.

Civil & criminal · Trial-ready

Commitment · 02

Honest treatment

We will keep you updated at every stage of the process. No surprises in the file, and none in the bill.

Plain English · Always

Commitment · 03

Clear advice

Plain English, in writing, before you instruct us. You know what we recommend, what it costs, and what could go wrong.

In writing · Before instruction

Commitment · 04

Smart strategies

King's Counsel and junior barristers chosen for the matter, not retained on a panel. The barrister you meet is the barrister briefed on your case.

Counsel-led · Partner-fronted

Our approach

We prepare like the case is going to trial. The cases that settle, settle on terms that reflect it.

i.

Discretion as a starting point

The first letter we send is rarely the loudest. Reputational risk is part of the brief, not an afterthought.

ii.

Counsel-led, partner-fronted

Every matter is run by a named solicitor who is on the file from first call to final order. No handovers, no hidden teams.

iii.

Transparent on cost

Fixed fees and capped stages where possible. A clear range, in writing, before you instruct us.

The firm

A boutique London practice. Built around its files.

Founded by Ernest Aduwa, a solicitor of England and Wales since 2010. Civil and criminal litigation under one roof, with King's Counsel briefed personally for the matter rather than retained on a panel. Most files are document-intensive, multi-defendant, and run for months not weeks.

More about the firm →

Need urgent assistance?

If you have been arrested, served, or contacted by a regulator, call.

Our urgent line is answered 24 hours a day. The first conversation is confidential, without obligation, and with a qualified solicitor.

Regulation & accreditation

Solicitors Regulation Authority · SRA No. 669675

The Law Society Accredited · Criminal Litigation

Solicitor of England & Wales · Founder qualified 2010

Professional indemnity insurance held as required by the SRA