Specialist areas of work and services:
- Judicial Reviews
- Community Care & Welfare
- Criminal Law
- Criminal appeals
- Claims against public authorities
- Mental health law
- Prison law
- Human rights
Description:
GT Stewart Solicitors is one of UK’s leading law firms in the area of modern day slavery and human trafficking.
Experience, Background and Services:
Established in 2003, GT Stewart Solicitors is a national law firm specialising in criminal defence, criminal appeals, civil liberties and human rights. It regularly advises individuals in respect of a range of complex matters relating to modern day slavery. Recently they have been involved in some of the key cases in this area including Brecani v R [2021] EWCA Crim 731, R v CS & LL [2021] EWCA Crim 285 and R v DS [2020] EWCA Crim 285; all of which have clarified points of law. Prior to the passing of the Modern Slavery Act 2015, they were instructed by two of the successful appellants in the leading case on prosecuting victims of trafficking, L & others v R [2013] EWCA Crim 991; the first case to recognise that victims of trafficking should not be prosecuted.
GT Stewart Solicitors’ work in this area involves providing specialist legal advice to individuals at all stages of the criminal justice process including at the police station and before the Magistrates’, Youth and Crown Court where they are relying on the statutory defence afforded to them under s.45 of the Modern Slavery Act 2015. They regularly challenge decisions of the competent authority and age assessments and have persuaded the Crown Prosecution Service to withdraw charges in a number of cases following written representations.
It has a specialist Youth Justice department comprising of a team of experienced and dedicated lawyers with an in-depth knowledge of how domestic and international legislation in this area applies to children and young people. It has substantial experience enforcing the rights of children and young people who have been found to be victims of child criminal exploitation before the Youth Court and the Crown Court.
There is also a dedicated Criminal Appeals Team dealing with out of time appeals who provide advice and assistance to clients who have been convicted of offences as a direct result of their exploitation. The team regularly obtains fresh evidence to support their clients’ appeals against conviction and work with some of the leading barristers in the area of modern day slavery. It is headed by a co-author of one of the leading textbooks on Criminal Appeals.
