We are delighted to share that Gamlins Law’s criminal team has been shortlisted for Criminal Team of the Year at the Modern Law Awards 2026.
The Modern Law Awards recognise excellence across the legal profession, and being shortlisted in a competitive category alongside some of the country’s leading criminal practices is recognition we are genuinely proud of.
A team built on commitment
Seven years ago, Gamlins’ criminal practice consisted of a single solicitor. Today, the team comprises six solicitors, two caseworkers and dedicated support staff, with a further Law Society-accredited Duty Solicitor joining imminently. That growth has not happened by accident – it reflects a deliberate decision to invest in criminal defence at a time when many firms have been moving away from it.
Approximately 90% of the team’s work is publicly funded. In Flintshire, Gamlins provides around half of all duty solicitor cover, maintaining a 24/7 presence at police stations. Sustaining that level of service – training new representatives, absorbing the pressures of legal aid funding and continuing to show up for clients at every hour – is not the easiest path. It is, however, the right one.
We believe that everyone, regardless of their background or their means, deserves skilled and committed legal representation. That belief is reflected in how the team is structured, how it is resourced and the cases it takes on.
Serious and complex work
The team is instructed in some of the most serious and legally complex cases heard in the Crown Courts of England and Wales including conspiracy, homicide, serious fraud, terrorism-related prosecutions and organised crime. Cases of this nature require not just technical legal expertise but sound judgment under pressure, careful management of expert evidence and disclosure, and an ability to maintain focus in matters that are often emotionally demanding and publicly scrutinised.
The firm’s specialist conspiracy practice, delivered through Conspiracy Lawyers UK, was established in 2022 to respond to the growing scale and complexity of conspiracy prosecutions. These cases frequently involve multiple defendants, vast volumes of digital and financial evidence and investigations spanning several years. The model brings together criminal defence solicitors, specialist barristers, expert witnesses and caseworkers within a single coordinated structure – giving clients continuity and consistent oversight rather than fragmented advice from multiple providers.
Recognised beyond the region
The criminal team is one of only five in Wales ranked in the Chambers UK Legal Guide 2025 – and the only one in North Wales. The guide describes Gamlins as “a well-established and reliable general crime firm”, reflecting a reputation that extends well beyond the firm’s regional base.
Congratulations to the team
Being shortlisted for Criminal Team of the Year is recognition of a team that handles difficult work with care, maintains its commitment to access to justice and consistently delivers for clients facing the most serious circumstances of their lives.
Congratulations to Dafydd Roberts and everyone in the criminal team on this fantastic achievement.
The Awards will be announced on Wednesday 29 April. Good luck to all the finalists!
