Precedence Law, a leading law firm specialising in Private Criminal Litigation and Regulatory defence, is thrilled to announce the addition of Steve Gelsthorpe to the team.
Steve is one of the most experienced defence solicitors in the country. With a career spanning over four decades, he brings a wealth of expertise and a track record of success in defending individuals charged in some of the nation's most high-profile criminal cases.
Steve's decision to join Precedence Law marks a significant milestone in his career, as he moves away from publicly funded defence work. Since qualifying in 1983, Steve has made significant contributions to the legal profession, including leading the criminal department at a renowned regional heavyweight firm. In 2000, he co-founded a boutique law firm specialising in defending suspects and organisations accused of criminal, white-collar, road traffic and regulatory offences. Under his leadership, the firm grew into one of the country's largest providers of legally aided work, operating across 12 offices nationwide.
Throughout his career, Steve has been a trusted advocate for his clients, achieving notable successes in complex and high-profile cases. Some of his career highlights include:
- Successfully defending one of the accused in the infamous "Trusthorpe" murder trial, where two innocent individuals were tragically gunned down while participating in a witness protection program.
- Defending a child charged with arson and matricide in a case that garnered national attention and was dubbed the "Coronation Street copycat murderer" by the press.
- Leading a team that persuaded the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC) to reopen homicide convictions against a man once considered the country's biggest mass killer at the time of his arrest. This followed arguably the Commission’s biggest ever investigation of its kind and led, in 2021, and some 40 years after his client’s arrest, to one of the longest appeals to come back before the Court of Appeal.
Throughout his career Steve has also provided legal representation to prominent figures from the world of show business, television, and professional sports, successfully defending them in both Crown and Magistrates' Courts.
Joining Precedence Law as a consultant, Steve said, “I am excited to focus on what I do best, providing a safe route for those accused of offences and ensuring the best possible outcomes for my clients. Based on the experiences I have gathered over many years practising before the criminal courts along with the high levels of client care which I pride myself in giving I believe I can complement the existing services provided by Precedence Law."
Precedence Law is delighted to welcome Steve to the team and looks forward to benefiting from his valuable insights and expertise.
Mandip Kumar, Director at Precedence Law commented on the appointment, “Steve’s addition to the firm further solidifies our commitment to providing the highest quality representation to clients across the country, safeguarding the rights of individuals facing criminal charges or regulatory proceedings.”
