London Heavyweight Criminal Defence Practitioner Training Conference | Now Closed
7 CPD All Essential Updates ÂŁ105
7 CPD
All Essential Updates
ÂŁ105
Friday, October 10, 2025
9:00am Registration – 4:30pm Finish
Mary Ward Conference Centre, Tavistock Place,
London WC1H 9SN
We were excited to deliver this dynamic, interactive full-day conference for lawyers practising in Criminal Defence.
With a full spread of the latest must-know legal updates and practical skills, the event featured a collection of highly useful presentations from London heavyweights: top-tier practitioners with vast hands-on experience in Criminal Law.
The conference took place on Day Five of our London CPD Festival Week at the Mary Ward Conference Centre, where Law Friends delivered a full week of unique and energetic training across key areas of legal practice.
Everything You Needed, All in One Place
Delegates joined us for an unmissable day of continuing professional development, with a carefully curated panel of leading voices in Criminal Defence. From grassroots protest cases to courtroom wellness, the speakers were not only active in practice but at the cutting edge of change within their specialisms.
The programme included Steve Kennedy, Solicitor and Founder of Law Friends Society, who shared decades of experience and insight into the evolving nature of police station representation and case developments through the courts. Alongside him, delegates heard from Solicitor Ghislaine Sandoval, and from Laura O’Brien and Caroline Liggins, top-tier partners and solicitors at Hodge Jones & Allen, widely respected for their tireless commitment to protest law, youth justice, and safeguarding rights under pressure.
Relevant. Real-World. Right Now.
Each seminar delivered essential updates that mattered to day-to-day practice, whether delegates were navigating new PACE guidance, youth court strategy, or defending clients under complex cost pressures.
The afternoon sessions brought further depth, including forensic science insights from Ross Donnelly (Keith Borer Consultants), a financial lens on maximising legal aid costs from Colin Wells (25 Bedford Row), and compassionate reflections on wellness and kindness from Casey Lee Jenkins, President of the LCCSA (MKLaw). Respected barristers Valerie Charbit (Red Lion Chambers) and Nicola Shannon KC (Furnival) also delivered focused, high-calibre updates designed for practitioners who needed to stay sharp, compliant, and connected in a fast-changing legal landscape.
With the headline miscarriage of justice issue at the time being the Post Office scandal, we were proud to welcome Ms Flora Page KC (23 Essex Street). Greg Foxsmith, Solicitor at Kingsley Napley, closed this special day by raising key questions on the Leveson Review and the future of jury trials.
As always, the day concluded with post-conference drinks nearby.
| Time | Seminar | Speaker | Organisation | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9.00 | Coffee | |||
| 9.30 | Welcome | Steve Kennedy - Solicitor – Law Friends Society |  |
 |
| 9.40 | Current Problems in the Police Station & PACE Updates | Steve Kennedy – Law Friends Society; Ghislaine Sandoval - Solicitor – Hodge Jones & Allen |  |
 |
| 10.10 | Magistrates and Crown Court Update | Ghislaine Sandoval – Hodge Jones & Allen | |
|
| 11.00 | Coffee | |||
| 11.25 | Without a Voice – Court Strategy in Protest Cases | Laura O’Brien – Partner - Hodge Jones & Allen |  |
|
| 12.00 | Youth Justice Update | Caroline Liggins – Partner - Hodge Jones & Allen |  |
|
| 12.30 | Lunch | |||
| 1.30 | Forensics – Something from nothing | Ross Donnelly – Forensic Scientist - Keith Borer Consultants |  |
 |
| 2.00 | Costs Update (maximising revenue) | Colin Wells – Barrister - 25 Bedford Row |  |
 |
| 2.30 | From Courtroom Trauma to Compassion – Welcome to Wellness | Casey Jenkins – MK Law / LCCSA |  |
 |
| 2.55 | Research on Kindness in the Legal Profession | Valerie Charbit – Red Lion Chambers; Nicola Shannon KC – Furnival Chambers |
|
|
| 3.20 | Coffee | |||
| 3.35 | Lessons from the Post Office scandal for criminal lawyers | Ms Flora Page KC – 23 Essex Street |  |
 |
| 4.10 | The Leveson Review — Jury Trials Under Threat and Other Developments | Greg Foxsmith – Solicitor at Kingsley Napley |  |
 |
| 4.30 | Course code and close | Steve Kennedy – Law Friends Society | |
|
Course Features
- Full practice-focused law updates for all practitioners across the jurisdiction
- Suitable for paralegals, trainees, solicitors, pupils, and barristers
- 7 CPD courses covering all essential updates, new laws, practice, and procedure
- All practice-focused seminars presented by hand-picked Law Friends ambassadors
- Big room, large-screen HD visuals
- Professional audio-visual film crew working to broadcast quality
- Comfortable seating at cabaret-style tables
- Summaries, strategies, toolkits, and skills bringing you up to date on best practice
- Q&A and post-seminar discussion with speakers available after all seminars
- Post-conference drinks – come and relax with your colleagues after the event
- Easily accessible state-of-the-art Central London location
- Quick check-in and early get-out
- Full venue air-conditioning
- All-day tea, coffee, and biscuits included
- Delegate pack included
Delegate Reviews from Our Conferences Last Year
“I have been attending these events for years and each time they improve. Excellent organisation and conference”
Oliver Al-Falah, Solicitor – 100% score
“Amazing overview on various topics especially in the light of recent developments and changes in the law”
Chris Pelentrides, Solicitor – 100% score
“Excellent presentations and audio visual / media facilities”
Aisha Abdul Latif, Solicitor Manager – 100% score
“Great day out. Value for money, loved the venue, fabulous speakers, easy to get to. All in all, very well put together”
Jeevan Gill, Solicitor – 100% score
“Excellent”
Rachel Viko, Solicitor – 100% score
We very much look forward to seeing you on the day!
