Senior Lawyer , Crime
Sandra Riordan
“Sandra Riordan goes above and beyond most solicitors in her dedicated commitment to her client and meticulous preparation, all carried out with great charm and limitless patience.” ~ Henry Blaxland K.C.
“It is an absolute pleasure working with Sandra. She is warm, professional and incredibly hardworking. Sandra Riordan fights for each of her young, vulnerable clients as if they were her own child. She is dedicated, always on top of all the evidence and gives excellent advice. Her clients trust her and she secures the best possible outcomes in her cases.” ~ Elena Papamichael, Barrister
“For more than 20 years Sandra Riordan has been instructing me to provide psychiatric reports on some of her clients. She is extremely diligent, hard-working and well prepared. She is also compassionate and has a good understanding of the potential role of mental illness in some cases”. ~ Dr Frank Farnham, Consultant Psychiatrist
Sandra stands as a cornerstone of our crime department, bringing over three decades of unparalleled expertise since qualifying as a Fellow of the Institute of Legal Executives in 1994, with a specialisation in Criminal Defence work.
As a Duty Solicitor, Sandra excels in Magistrates’ Court Advocacy and Police Station Representation, managing an extensive caseload that spans the entire spectrum of criminal proceedings—from initial police investigations to the complexities of the Crown Court and Court of Appeal. Her leadership is pivotal; she not only oversees the work of other fee earners but also ensures the highest standards of legal representation within our firm.
An exceptionally organised and highly motivated criminal advocate, Sandra's experience is vast and varied. She adeptly handles cases from summary offences to serious indictable only offences, no case is too big or too small for Sandra’s dedicated approach. Sandra continuously showcases her ability to navigate the most challenging legal landscapes, through high-stake cases such as conspiracy to supply Class A drugs, modern slavery, firearm offences and murder. She is well versed in representing clients who are alleged to be involved in gang related crime.
In a recent case where Sandra represented a 16-year-old initially charged with murder, her client was acquitted following a lengthy trial in which her two co-defendants were convicted of murder. This is one of many examples of Sandra’s unique talent for representing youths and vulnerable clients suffering with mental health and learning difficulties. Her compassionate communication style allows her to effectively convey their positions to the courts, ensuring that their voices are not only heard but understood.
Her profound experience and unwavering commitment to her clients make Sandra an invaluable asset to our criminal defence team. She is dedicated to providing personalised advice, support, and representation throughout the legal process, ensuring that each client's individual needs are met with precision and care. This meticulous attention to detail not only fosters client loyalty but also leads to numerous referrals, solidifying her reputation as a trusted advocate in the field.
Client Testimonials
Sandra Riordan does it again. I care for a chap with a mental age of 11. He is 55, with lots of issues, including mental health issues.He was charged with assault of public service worker.She got the charge reduced to Criminal Damage.He was facing prison but is not in prison because of her representation. Best Solicitor in town. ~ Mike Forde
“Sandra Riordan is the absolute best of the best!! Sandra was the duty solicitor when my son was arrested for serious firearm offences and I will admit, I was nervous at first. We couldn’t have asked for better representation. From day one, Sandra worked hard for my son and always kept me informed”. ~ Anonymous
Sandra has an immense capacity to absorb the case notes, the pre-sentence report and our narratives, whilst also being a fantastic listener, making our daughter feel understood and getting her to grasp the situation she was in. Sandra was both professional and warm, offering sound personal and legal advice to our daughter. Sandra managed to represent the complex medical and emotional traumas in our daughter’s story in a lucid and compelling way, contextualizing the situation for the magistrate. The outcome was the best possible one whilst enabling justice to be done, so our daughter could appreciate the seriousness of her actions. I cannot commend Sandra Riordan enough, both myself and my husband and indeed our daughter, were very fortunate that she was the duty solicitor handing our daughter’s case. We all owe her a huge debt of gratitude for her wisdom and expertise. ~ Valerie Hey
I just wanted to say a big thank you for all your help and support throughout my hell for the past year. It is now at an end thanks to all your hard work, perseverance and belief in me. ~ Anonymous
Miss Sandra is best solicitor I have ever had. ~ Anonymous