Manchester-headquartered criminal defence firm Olliers Solicitors has appointed three solicitors as it grows its specialist team: Anna Ford as senior associate, and Justyna Blazewicz and Olivia Saul as associates.
Ford joins from Shearman Bowen & Co in London, where she worked on matters including the first prosecution for breach of the Russia (Sanctions) Regulations. She has 14 years’ experience in serious and complex crime, including 10 years post-qualification, speaks fluent Russian and will take on pre-charge and post-charge work. She is ranked as an Associate to Watch in Chambers and Partners 2027.
Blazewicz joins from a Manchester firm where she spent almost seven years as an assistant solicitor. She qualified in 2017, previously worked across criminal, family and immigration law at IMD Solicitors, and will go through the firm’s internal pre-charge accreditation programme.
Saul joins from the Crown Prosecution Service, where she trained and qualified and was a senior Crown prosecutor in its Magistrates Review Team. She completed a secondment with Olliers during her training contract and will handle police station, pre-charge, magistrates’ court and Crown Court work.
“Early, strategic advice is central to how we work and these appointments give us more people to deliver it for clients at every stage,” said Ruth Peters, business development director.
Olliers has 29 criminal defence lawyers and is headquartered in Manchester with a presence in London. It is led by managing director Matthew Claughton, commercial director Stacey Mabrouk and Peters.
More appointments are in our people section.