CRIMINAL • LEGAL AID & PRIVATE
Criminal defence
Publicly funded and privately funded representation from police station through court, with particular focus on investigation-stage strategy and serious allegations.
LONDON • CRIMINAL DEFENCE • CIVIL LITIGATION
Criminal Defence & Civil Litigation Solicitors in London
Strategic representation for individuals and businesses in serious criminal investigations, court proceedings and complex civil disputes across England and Wales.
SRARegulated firm
No. 809508
No. 809508
LAACrime legal aid
provider
provider
LondonRed Lion Square
WC1R
WC1R
01Early interventionPolice station, pre-charge and pre-action strategy.
02Court representationMagistrates’ Court, Crown Court and civil proceedings.
03Evidence-ledDocuments, disclosure, digital evidence and case theory.
04Principal-ledSenior solicitor involvement on serious and complex matters.
ALREADY INTERVIEWED?Already interviewed and not charged? This is the stage to assess pre-charge representations.We review the allegation, interview, investigation status and defence material to decide whether evidence, reasonable lines of enquiry or focused submissions should be put before the police or CPS while the charging decision remains open.
HOW WE CAN HELP
Criminal defence and civil litigation, handled with precision.
Theodorous acts at the point where legal problems become consequential: arrest, investigation, charge, court proceedings, threatened claims, injunctions and serious civil disputes.
PRIVATE CLIENTS
Civil litigation & disputes
Private representation for individuals and businesses in civil, commercial and contractual disputes, including urgent applications and cases with significant financial consequences.
PUBLICLY FUNDED CRIME
Criminal Legal Aid where funding is available.
Theodorous appears in the government’s legal aid adviser directory as a provider able to assist with crime. Police station advice is generally free regardless of means. Legal aid for court proceedings depends on the applicable rules, means, merits and scope.
Read about criminal defence →LEGAL AID
Access to justice should not depend on panic or guesswork.
If you are arrested, invited to interview or charged, contact us before answering substantive questions or making assumptions about funding.
Police station adviceMagistrates’ CourtCrown Court casesDuty solicitor work
Check how we can assistPRIVATE CRIMINAL WORK
Private representation for serious and time-sensitive matters.
Private clients instruct us for early intervention, detailed written work, urgent bail issues, serious allegations and cases where career, professional or business consequences sit alongside the criminal investigation.
01
Pre-charge representations
Evidence preservation, chronology, witness material, disclosure requests and representations before charge.
02
Serious allegations
Violence, sexual allegations, drugs, stalking or harassment, fraud and complex investigations.
03
Financial crime
Fraud, money laundering, restraint, account freezing and proceeds-of-crime issues.
04
Professional & high-profile defence
Criminal cases where career, professional status, business interests or publicity also need to be managed.
PT
2012Admitted as a solicitor
477815SRA solicitor number
PRINCIPAL SOLICITOR
Paris Theodorou
Admitted in 2012, Paris has worked in criminal defence for more than a decade. His work in the Samson Makele case drew national attention after defence examination of a mobile phone recovered material that had not been identified in the prosecution disclosure process.
His practice now combines criminal defence, investigation-stage representations, fraud and proceeds-of-crime work with civil and commercial litigation.
WHY THEODOROUS
Preparation, evidence and strategy come first.
The firm is intentionally focused. The value is in understanding the facts, choosing the right intervention and staying close to the matter as it develops.
Direct access
Clear communication with the solicitor handling or supervising the work.
Detailed preparation
Chronology, evidence, disclosure and legal issues analysed before drafting or advocacy.
Commercial judgement
Private litigation strategy that keeps cost, leverage and practical outcomes in view.
Early action
We use police, pre-charge and pre-action stages instead of waiting for positions to harden.
PROOF & INSIGHT
Independent coverage. Client feedback. Detailed legal guidance.
You should be able to check a firm's experience before you instruct it. Read the press coverage, see what clients say on Google and use our legal guides to understand the process first.
NEWS & PRESSMedia coverage and notable workBBC coverage, disclosure work, Legal Aid Lawyer of the Year 2018 finalist and independent legal press.CLIENT REVIEWSIndependent Google feedbackLive review information and clear expectations about service, preparation and communication.LEGAL GUIDESUnderstand the law and procedureDetailed guidance on investigations, courts, evidence, Legal Aid, POCA and civil litigation.
HOW WE WORK
Legal advice built around the next decision that matters
A strong legal strategy starts by identifying what must happen next, what evidence exists, what evidence is missing and which decision-maker needs to be persuaded. Theodorous acts for individuals and businesses in criminal defence, investigations, civil disputes and reputation-sensitive matters from its London office, with work undertaken across England and Wales where appropriate.
01
Understand the immediate risk
We identify the deadline, hearing, interview, bail date, threatened publication, unpaid debt, injunction risk or other event driving the matter. Urgent issues are separated from points that can be developed later.
02
Build the evidence
Contracts, messages, CCTV, witness accounts, police material, court papers, financial records, digital evidence and chronology are reviewed against the legal issues rather than simply filed away.
03
Choose the right procedure
The correct route may be a police interview strategy, pre-charge representations, bail application, defence statement, pre-action letter, Part 36 offer, injunction application, negotiation or court proceedings. Procedure should serve the objective, not become the objective.
04
Keep strategy proportionate
Where a matter can be resolved by focused correspondence or negotiation, unnecessary litigation is avoided. Where court action is necessary, the case is prepared around the evidential and procedural points that matter most.
CRIMINAL DEFENCE
From first police contact to trial, sentence or appeal
Criminal cases can change direction quickly. Advice at the police station can affect the charging decision; bail conditions can affect work and family life; disclosure can transform the defence case; and decisions taken at the first court hearing can shape everything that follows. Our criminal defence pages explain each stage in detail.
Police station representationInterview strategy, disclosure, prepared statements and free independent advice at the police station.Pre-charge representationsFocused written representations addressing evidential weaknesses, public interest and material the investigator or CPS should consider before charge.Bail and investigationsPolice bail, court bail, conditions, variations and strategy while an investigation remains ongoing.Magistrates’ CourtFirst hearings, pleas, allocation, bail, trials, sentencing and appeals.Crown CourtPTPH, disclosure, evidence, trial preparation, counsel, sentence and complex case management.Serious crimeHigh-stakes allegations requiring early evidential analysis and coordinated preparation.Fraud & financial crimeDocument-heavy investigations, financial evidence, restraint and confiscation issues.Sexual offencesConsent, digital evidence, disclosure, interview strategy and sensitive court preparation.Drug offencesPossession, supply allegations, phone evidence, attribution and sentencing issues.POCA & confiscationBenefit, available amount, hidden assets, third-party interests and enforcement.Criminal appealsConviction and sentence appeals, time limits, fresh evidence and procedural routes.Criminal Legal AidPolice-station funding, Magistrates’ Court eligibility and Crown Court contributions.
CIVIL LITIGATION & REPUTATION
Disputes should be analysed before they are escalated
Civil litigation is rarely improved by issuing proceedings before the legal and commercial position is understood. We assess contractual rights, limitation, evidence, recoverability, urgent remedies, ADR, costs exposure and the practical value of the outcome before recommending the next step.
Civil & commercial disputesPre-action strategy, pleadings, disclosure, settlement, trial and enforcement.Contract disputesInterpretation, breach, termination, damages, limitation and commercial resolution.Business debt recoveryPre-action demands, interest, court claims, judgment, enforcement and funding options.Injunctions & urgent reliefInterim remedies, without-notice applications, evidence and undertakings.Defamation & reputationSerious harm, publication, urgent protection, correction, removal and settlement.Online content removalDefamation, privacy, data protection, harassment, delisting and platform remedies.Shareholder & partnership disputesUnfair prejudice, exits, valuations, management deadlock and urgent asset protection.Actions against the policeClaims concerning unlawful detention, assault, misuse of powers and related public-law issues.Regulatory & public lawPublic-body decisions, regulatory investigations, urgent challenges and judicial review.
BEFORE YOU CONTACT US
Send the documents that explain the problem fastest
For criminal matters, send the bail sheet, charge or requisition, hearing notice, custody or disclosure papers and any relevant messages or recordings. For civil matters, send the contract, key correspondence, chronology, notices, invoices, court papers and documents showing loss. If the bundle is large, start with the documents that show what has happened and the next deadline.
FUNDING
Legal Aid, fixed fees, hourly work and risk-based funding
Funding depends on the type of matter. Criminal work may qualify for Legal Aid. Private work may be handled on a fixed-fee, staged or hourly basis. In suitable civil matters we may consider conditional-fee, damages-based or hybrid arrangements after assessing merits, proportionality and recoverability.
Read about fees & fundingCONFIDENTIAL ENQUIRIES
Tell us what has happened. We will identify the next step.
Police interview, bail, charge, court hearing, threatened claim or urgent dispute: contact the firm with the key facts and the next date.
Speak to TheodorousAbout Theodorous
Theodorous is an SRA-regulated law firm based at 14 Red Lion Square, London WC1R 4QH, acting for clients across England and Wales. The firm was established in 2020 and is led by Paris Theodorou as Principal Solicitor, who has been admitted as a solicitor since 2012 and advises personally on private client matters throughout.
Theodorous practises in two main areas. On the criminal side, the firm holds a Legal Aid Agency criminal contract and represents clients from the police station through to the Crown Court, covering serious crime, sexual offences, fraud and financial crime, proceeds of crime, domestic abuse allegations, stalking and harassment, drug offences, extradition, and criminal appeals, for both Legal Aid and privately funded clients. On the civil side, the firm acts privately for individuals and businesses in contract disputes, debt recovery, injunctions, partnership and shareholder disputes, defamation and reputation protection, actions against the police, and regulatory and public law matters, including judicial review.
Care Home Cost Claims is Theodorous’s specialist service for NHS Continuing Healthcare, CHC appeals and the investigation of care-fee recovery where there is a proper legal and evidential basis.
Clients can be represented under Legal Aid, where eligible, or privately, with fees agreed in advance on a fixed or hourly basis. An initial conversation about any matter costs nothing and commits you to nothing.
Common questions
Do I have to answer police questions in an interview?
No. You have the right to silence, though the legal effect of staying silent should be explained to you before deciding.
Is police station advice free?
Advice and representation at the police station is available under Legal Aid regardless of your means, or privately if you prefer.
Should I attend a voluntary police interview without a solicitor?
No. A voluntary interview carries real legal risk and should never be attended without advice first.
What happens if I am arrested?
You are taken into custody, your rights are explained, and you are entitled to free legal advice before any interview.
Am I automatically entitled to Legal Aid for a criminal case?
No, eligibility depends on a means test and, for most matters, an interests of justice test.
Is Legal Aid always free?
Not always. Some Crown Court cases involve a contribution based on income, refundable if you are acquitted.
What is the difference between the Magistrates' Court and the Crown Court?
Less serious matters are dealt with in the Magistrates' Court. More serious offences, or matters too serious for a Magistrates' sentence, go to the Crown Court.
Can I get bail while waiting for trial?
In most cases yes, though this depends on the offence, your history, and any perceived risk.
What is the burden of proof in a criminal case?
The prosecution must prove guilt beyond reasonable doubt. The defendant does not have to prove innocence.
Can a conviction be appealed?
Yes, appeals against conviction or sentence are possible within specific time limits and generally require identifiable grounds.
Will a conviction show on a background check?
Depending on the offence and sentence, some convictions become spent after a period and are not disclosed in standard checks. Serious matters may always be disclosable.
How are private fees charged?
Either as a fixed fee agreed in advance for defined pieces of work, or at an hourly rate for ongoing matters, always agreed before work begins.
Can I instruct Theodorous privately even if I would qualify for Legal Aid?
Yes. Some clients who would qualify for Legal Aid instruct us privately for work that public funding does not cover, direct access to the Principal Solicitor, and discretion.
Do I need to go to court to resolve a civil dispute?
No, many disputes settle through negotiation, correspondence or mediation before any claim is issued.
How long do I have to bring a contract claim?
Generally six years from the breach for a simple contract, or twelve years if the contract is a deed.
How long do I have to bring a defamation claim?
Generally one year from publication, considerably shorter than most other civil claims.
Can I sue the police?
Yes, in appropriate circumstances, including for wrongful arrest, false imprisonment or excessive force.
What counts as defamation?
A published statement that has caused, or is likely to cause, serious harm to reputation.
Is Theodorous regulated?
Yes, Theodorous is authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority.
How do I start working with Theodorous?
Contact us with a short account of your situation, and we will advise on the right next step.