Notable Cases

David Sonn litigated and acted as advocate for his client who was prosecuted for failing to comply with planning enforcement notices against Hackney Council.

Our client was charged with obstructing a police officer in the course of a drug search, where it was alleged he swallowed drugs before being searched. The case was discontinued a day before the first hearing in the Crown Court after making representations for the case to be reviewed.

Katie Lobo represented a 21-year-old client of good character, successfully negotiated an out-of-court community resolution for fraud and handling stolen goods following a police interview and prepared statement. The client avoided likely proceedingsand the risk of having a dishonesty conviction

Katie Lobo represented a young vulnerable client who successfully avoided an immediate custodial term, instead being provided with professional mental health support in the community.

Our client was found naked in the streets of London in the early hours of the morning. The prosecution offered no evidence and our client was found not guilty after we wrote a letter of representations to the CPS.

We successfully represented a vulnerable 18-year-old charged with multiple serious drug offences, securing a positive NRM decision and expert evidence that led the CPS to discontinue all charges.

SMW successfully defended a distinguished aesthetic doctor accused of sexual assault, securing a jury acquittal at Isleworth Crown Court following detailed analysis of the evidence.

SMW was appointed to cross-examine witnesses at trial for a pregnant client of good character charged with two assaults by beating and racially aggravated threatening behaviour, arising from an incident in which she was surrounded by five men and prevented from leaving a shop after politely requesting use of a toilet. At Stratford Magistrates’ Court, self-defence was successfully argued and the client was found not guilty on all charges.

SMW secured a highly favourable suspended sentence for a young man facing serious drug offences by demonstrating his limited, directed role and advancing robust mitigation, avoiding immediate custody.

SMW secured a highly favourable five-year sentence for a young client in a serious Class A drug case, so mitigated that the CPS considered appealing for being unduly lenient.

The magistrates’ court stayed proceedings as an abuse of process after Hackney Council brought a second prosecution despite having given unequivocal assurances in 2011 that enforcement action would be closed.

SMW secured a major reduction in a confiscation claim against a businessman, cutting the Crown’s alleged £8 million benefit to a £1.9 million order and nearly halving the available amount. All third-party interests were upheld, the corporate veil remained intact, and key assets were excluded after detailed submissions and robust negotiation.