This firm, Cantaris Locke Solicitors, started operating as a separate legal entity in 2013. Prior to that the partners, Natalia Zimareva-Locke and Costa Cantaris, were involved in other criminal defence enterprises. Each partner has over 10 years of experience in the field of criminal litigation.

We are fully accredited by the Solicitors' Regulation Authority and the Law Society. We hold a contract with the Legal Aid Agency to provide Legal Aid services. Eligibility for Legal Aid depends on the nature of the case and financial circumstances. We have secured Legal Aid for numerous clients. Please call us to discuss it in detail. There is no fee for a consultation.

If you are not eligible for Legal aid we provide competitive rates that can be agreed on a case by case basis.

We specialise in criminal defence, extradition and confiscation proceedings. We represent clients in police stations, Magistrates' and Crown Courts; we attend interviews conducted by local authorities over allegations of benefit fraud. Over the years we have dealt with the whole spectrum of criminal cases, from road traffic offences and shoplifting to multi-million pound fraud and murder. We ensure our clients receive the best possible results whatever the offence We have secured excellent results in high-profile heavy weight cases, even when the odds have been heavily stacked against our clients. These include cases that have been vigorously prosecuted by Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs, Trading Standards Departments, the Department of Work and Pensions, and, of course, the Crown Prosecution Service.

Our experience and knowledge enables us to foresee pitfalls and weaknesses in our opponent's case from an early stage.