Our Team
Paul O’Keeffe -Principle, Crown Court Advocate
Paul qualified as a solicitor in 1997 and has practiced criminal law since that time. Paul has gained extensive experience in all areas of criminal defence including serious fraud matters, murder, manslaughter, serious sexual offences, drugs matters, dishonesty cases and motoring cases. This includes advising on matters in the police station, magistrates court, Security Industry Association Appeals and Court Martials.
Paul has a large client following that he has built up over a number of years.
Paul’s Mobile Number is 07880 715918
Charlotte O’Keeffe – Practice Manager, Accredited Police Station Representative
Charlotte has worked in Criminal Law for 25 years. As well as administering the day to day running of the firm, she overseas our Crown Court cases and prepares them for trial. Charlotte also regularly attends the Police Station to advise clients in all areas of criminal defence having qualified as an Accredited Police Station Representative in 2008.
Charlotte’s Mobile Number is 07826 556442
Cath McMillan – Consultant Solicitor, Crown Court Advocate
In 1980 Cath obtained a Diploma in Magisterial Law. She worked as a Senior Legal Advisor to the Magistrates in Coventry before qualifying as a solicitor and going into private practice in 1986. She has dealt solely with criminal law since then.
As a result she has built up a large and loval following representins three generations of some families.
Cath is a duty solicitor for both Police Stations and Magistrates Court. She is a Higher Court Advocate representing clients in the Crown Court.
Cath has represented clients from murder, terrorism, serious sex cases, multiple defendant drug and gun importation cases to speeding and driving without due care and attention.
She has appeared in the Old Bailey and successfully in the Court of Appeal.
She has had many memorable successes including keeping the driving licence of an Olympian showjumper with 11 penalty facing a further 12 points. She was also able to keep the licence of a man charged with his third drink driving offence by successfully arguing “emergency” and then
“distance travelled”.
Her most notable claim to fame in the Magistrates Court must be unique, a client was accused of drinking and driving who claimed she had not had a drink. She conducted a trial with Auto Brewery Syndrome as a defence. She was able to prove to the satisfaction of a District Judge that the client’s body was converting carbohydrates into alcohol and therefore the alcohol in her body had not been “consumed”. A copy of the Judgement is available.
Cath’s Mobile Number is 07767 895534
Mark Parry – Consultant Solicitor
Mark qualified as a solicitor in 1987. He has experience in all areas of criminal defence and is a vastly experienced trial advocate. He has been a duty solicitor in both the Police Station and Magistrates Court for many years.
Mark’s Mobile Number is 07762 814245
Sean Logan – Consultant Solicitor, Crown Court Advocate
We are delighted that Sean has chosen to join us having practised in Warwick for a number of years. Sean has been qualified since 2002. He is a very experienced Advocate and specialises in all areas of criminal defence. Sean is a duty solicitor in both the Police Station and Magistrates Court.
Sean is an experienced Crown Court Advocate and has also represented clients in the Court of Appeal.
Sean’s mobile number is 07919 497167
Ian Speed – Independent Barrister
Ian is an independent Barrister who works closely with our firm offering assistance with advice and representation.
Ian Speed came to the Bar having retired as a Senior Detective Officer.
In his approach to all cases, he relies upon his investigative skills to probe existing evidence, identify other lines of inquiries and examine admissibility issues.
He has an extensive knowledge of intelligence led investigations/ prosecutions, based upon both overt and covert sources of information.
He possesses an endearing character. which immediately establishes trust and confidence by both professional and lay clients upon which he builds. He encourages a team approach involving those respective clients and himself with a view of a satisfactory conclusion to all concerned.
He has been led in the defence of both murder and terrorism cases and has also been involved in matters concerning Organised Crime Groups and more recently County Line operations.
This has further developed his expertise in criminality which involves involves “modern day slavery”, pressure and coercion utilised in the furtherance of crime.
Nick Devine
Since qualifying in 1989, Nick has practised in crime. Nick was the Criminal Partner at Blythe Liggins (Leamington Spa) before joining O’Gorman & Co (Warwick) where again, he became a Criminal Partner. In 2003 Nick was one of the co-founders and partners of Devine O’Keeffe a crime only practice based in Leamington Spa. Nick obtained his Higher Rights of Audience in July 1996 enabling him to represent clients in the Crown and Higher Courts. From 2003, Nick has almost exclusively worked in the Crown Court acting in matters of all types and all levels of gravity. Nick has also appeared at the Court of Appeal on many occasions. He has been led in a number of murder trials. Nick is one of the longest practising Solicitor Advocates. He has also been a court and police station duty solicitor since qualifying.
