Amy Cox

Winner of the Legal Aid Lawyer of the Year 2024, Amy is the Head of Litigation at SMW. 

Amy oversees the Crown Court team. She was made an Associate Director in 2023.

Amy’s expertise lies in very serious crime work, including homicides, serious violence, and sexual offences including historic allegations.

Amy has particular experience representing defendants accused of involvement in large-scale serious organised crime including drug supply, drug importations, money laundering and possession and supply of firearms.

Amy also has a practice in fraud and regulatory matters having represented defendants facing prosecution by The Insolvency Service and Environment Agency.

Ranked in both Chambers and Partners (Band 3) and Legal 500 (Next Generation Partner). 

Amy has worked solely in criminal defence since qualifying as a solicitor in 2007 and joined Sonn Macmillan Walker later that year. Amy continues to attend police stations and the magistrates' court but specialises in Crown Court litigation, including undertaking work in respect of Confiscation proceedings and Appeals. She undertakes both privately funded and legal aid work, and her caseload is nationwide. 

Encrochat Expert 

Following the NCA’s Operation Venetic in 2020, Amy has been instructed in numerous Encrochat cases and has developed working relationships with leading counsel and experts in this field. Amy is persistent in pursuing the necessary disclosure in these cases, including making applications under section 8 of the Criminal Procedure and Investigations Act.  

Legal Argument Strategist 

Amy is always alive to potential legal arguments during the course of a case. She is known to pursue abuse of process arguments and applications to dismiss. Amy is confident in making written representations pushing the CPS to review decisions to prosecute cases arguing there is a lack of sufficient evidence or that the case is not in the public interest.  Additionally, Amy is adept in negotiating with the CPS to agree pleas to less serious offending behaviour in cases if necessary. 

Amy's Approach 

Amy is empathetic, calm and patient and thrives representing vulnerable defendants, especially those with mental health conditions. Amy quickly identifies and arranges psychological and psychiatric assessments when necessary. She has a keen eye for identifying when a client may need an intermediary assessment to consider what assistance they might need during conferences or at their trial. Amy ensures that each client has their needs met, no matter what vulnerabilities they may have. Amy is very approachable and promptly earns the trust and confidence of her clients by demonstrating her knowledge and adapting her communication skills to ensure her clients understand her advice. Amy has many clients she has repeatedly represented over the years, due to her commitment and dedication to them, along with her legal skills.  

In the preparation of her cases, Amy is known for her unfaltering work ethic and dedication to her clients and their cases, always ensuring clients are informed and updated throughout. She analyses and understands the evidence in her cases with great attention to detail and conducts defence enquiries leaving no stone unturned. Amy’s work is regularly complimented by Counsel and she is referred work by Counsel and solicitors at other firms due to her reputation. 

Connections to Expert Witnesses 

Over her years in the field, she has amassed a strong network of experts and is adept at identifying what experts could assist in a case, ranging from collision reconstruction experts in serious driving matters, causation experts in violent offences, drugs experts to comment on drug weights and valuations or interpretations of messages, cell site experts, facial mapping experts, experts who enhance CCTV, the list goes on. She has even previously instructed a light bulb expert!  

Sentencing 

Not just skilled in case preparation, Amy gives careful attention to preparing for sentences. She is aware that not all clients can secure an acquittal, and sometimes getting the right result at sentence is even more crucial. Amy is masterful at collating strong mitigation bundles to put her clients in the best position at their sentencing hearings. 

Founder of WICL 

Amy has a real passion for the profession as a whole and is a founding member and Vice Chair of the organisation Women in Criminal Law. WICL works to support and promote women working in the criminal justice system. She also heads the Mentoring Committee. Amy was also a finalist in the 2021 Inspirational Women in Law Awards.