Crime: Legal Aid Specialists
UK Guide 2025 : London (Firms)
Spotlight
Contact number
0344 587 9996About
Provided by ABV Solicitors
ABV Solicitors are one of the leading criminal firms in the country instructed to represent clients nationally and internationally.
A team of highly regarded and dedicated lawyers work hard to achieve the best possible outcome when defending clients against allegations investigated and prosecuted by various agencies such as the Police, NCA, Trading Standards, HMRC and Local Authority. The Department has strong links to leading Barristers, Queens Counsel and Forensic Experts in the field of Criminal Law.
The Department has an excellent reputation for providing high quality representation covering the full spectrum of criminal offences.
Our areas include:
- Murder, Manslaughter & Corporate Manslaughter
- War Crimes
- Terrorism
- Sexual Offences
- Large scale drugs conspiracies
- Extradition
- Violent Crimes
- Offences of Dishonesty
Chambers Review
ABV Solicitors is an established South East outfit with a solid presence in London, handling both public and privately funded criminal law cases. The team regularly represents clients facing high-level charges such as murder and terrorism and also has considerable experience in serious sexual offences, including historic allegations and large-scale child abuse networks. It has further expertise in matters with multi-jurisdictional aspects, such as modern slavery cases and drugs importation.
Strengths
Provided by Chambers
"ABV Solicitors is properly staffed at every level to deal with each case with the same care, attention and factual detail."
"They are conscientious, efficient, offer support whenever requested and deal with clients sympathetically whilst offering detailed and excellent advice."
"The team is extremely knowledgeable and experienced with an excellent level of understanding and expertise."
"The firm has real strength in depth from partners to trainees. It's a large team that can service pretty much everything and provides a great service from the police station up."
"ABV Solicitors is properly staffed at every level to deal with each case with the same care, attention and factual detail."
"They are conscientious, efficient, offer support whenever requested and deal with clients sympathetically whilst offering detailed and excellent advice."
"The team is extremely knowledgeable and experienced with an excellent level of understanding and expertise."
"The firm has real strength in depth from partners to trainees. It's a large team that can service pretty much everything and provides a great service from the police station up."
Notable Practitioners
Akhtar Ahmad is a skilled criminal defence solicitor and advocate. He handles a broad remit of serious crime cases, including major sex abuse and murder trials, as well as significant matters concerning organised crime.
"Akhtar is highly experienced, superb with clients, very hardworking and quite frankly a perfect all-round solicitor."
"Akhtar Ahmad is really tapped into developments in this space and always aware of the latest case law."
"Akhtar is one of the most experienced partners and is very well known in the industry. He is remarkably enthusiastic and a really astute lawyer who knows how to get the best result."
Sunita Mehta is a criminal defence lawyer whose practice runs the full gamut of serious criminal cases. Her expertise includes large scale drug conspiracies, murder, human trafficking and sexual offences.
"Sunita is relentless in her case preparation and leaves no stone unturned."
"Sunita Mehta is a fantastic solicitor with terrific interpersonal skills."
"Sunita deals with the most complex cases with self assurance and strength of character."
Hanisha Godhania is the head of the Crown Court department at ABV Solicitors. She regularly advises and represents clients in high-stakes criminal cases such as murder, sexual offences and terrorism.
"Hanisha Godhania is knowledgeable and very personable. She puts clients at ease and has a wealth of experience."
"Hanisha is a fabulous lawyer who can't do enough for her clients. Hard work is second nature to her."
"Hanisha gives nervous clients accurate advice and puts it in manner that they understand."
Ranked Lawyers at
ABV Solicitors
London (Firms)
Members
Provided by ABV Solicitors
Head of Department
Claire Hewitt
Hanisha Godhania
Rishi Verma
Robert Borwick
Sunita Mehta
Zaki Hashmi