Ralli People

Joined Ralli: October 2006

Admitted as a solicitor: July 2002

Professional Qualifications: Court Duty and police station (Police and Criminal Evidence Act accredited) solicitor

What do I do at work?

I am regularly found in the Magistrates' Courts, conducting applications for bail, trials and pleas in mitigation. I also have conduct of a number of Crown Court files, giving strategic advice to persons charged with serious criminal offences including importation, possession, supply, and conspiracy to supply Class A drugs (including cocaine, heroin and ecstasy), Class B drugs (amphetamines such as speed and barbiturates, and cannabis) and Class C drugs (such as ketamine and other tranquillisers, and anabolic steroids); murder and serious assault (section 18 and section 20 assault); rape; theft; robbery; arson; forgery and fraud offences; firearms offences and money laundering (converting, transferring or dealing with criminal property).

My experience also extends to the important ancilliary issues of confiscation under the Proceeds of Crime Act and criminal lifestyle allegations.

I review the strength of the evidence presented by the Crown, advise on plea and prepare the defence to trial, including instructing expert witnesses and Counsel. I provide legal representation at Police Stations to the Firm's own clients, and also under the Duty Solicitor scheme.

I represent clients with the benefit of public funding under a Representation Order (formerly known as Legal Aid) and also on a private fee-paying basis. I assist in the making of applications for public funding, which will shortly become means-tested in the Crown Court.

I have gained Rights of Audience in the Higher Courts, enabling me to represent the Firm's clients before the Crown Court and Court of Appeal

What have I done?

I have worked exclusively in the field of criminal defence since 1999. During this time I have successfully defended charges of money laundering, arson, firearms offences, and organised criminal enterprises, including drugs-related offences of national and international dimensions. Many of the cases which I defend in the Crown Court have involved the National Crime Squad (now the Serious and Organised Crime Agency - SOCA), and HM Customs and Excise Prosecutions, as well as the Crown Prosecution Service.  I have been instructed in cases at Leicester, Nottingham, Derby, Leeds, Liverpool and Birmingham Crown Courts.

What do I like?

I have been skiing in Italy several times in recent years, where I also travel more widely including watching football. My favourite fixture is Roma v Juventus at the Stadio Olimpico – not for the faint-hearted! I enjoy socialising in Manchester, Liverpool and Leeds at weekends and play 5-a-side and Sunday football. I continue to develop my conversational Italian and have recently taken up salsa dancing. I recently married near the town of Arona in Italy, near Lake Maggiore.

Memberships

Juventus DOC (accredited to receive match tickets), Pena Blaugrana (FC Barcelona supporter's club), Manchester United season ticket holder since 1992.