Our team

Director / Solicitor

Emeka Onuma

Email: eo@winchesterlaw.co.uk

Emeka Onuma, founder and Director of Winchester Law Solicitors, brings over 25 years experience in dealing with criminal defence at the highest level. Emeka is responsible for the smooth running of the firm and heads the Police Station, Magistates' Court and Private Client Crime departments.

Emeka is a specialist in serious crime, notably Murder, complex fraud, serious sexual offences and organised drug offences. Emeka possesses an impressive ability to analyse evidence, identify flaws, and uncover crucial undisclosed information. This has contributed to his remarkable success rate at trial. Emeka's meticulous selection of specialist Barristers and KCs ensures you receive representation of the highest standard. 

He is a police station and court duty solicitor and has been conducting these duties for over 20 years. Given his  vast experience he has  trained new lawyers in the full preparation of cases and advocacy.

Emeka has a reputation for providing a fierce defence while offering a supportive approach. His enthusiasm has helped build a large and impressive client following.  As Director, he is driven by the belief that a robust defence and a fair chance are universal rights. His unwavering dedication to keeping clients informed, confident, and secure has firmly established his reputation as a formidable and respected criminal law figure.

Notable Cases

R v H and others: Instructed to represent a youth in relation to an allegation of murder, involving multiple defendants, cited by Gloucester police as their largest and most complex murder investigation undertaken for many years.

R v O and others: 9 month trial involving allegations of kidnapping and section 18 GBH. An unusual case where the defendant was both suspect and victim.

R v D: 15 year old boy charged with the murder of another youth along with four co-defendants. Client found not guilty

 Solicitor

Clive Francis

Clive is a highly experienced Criminal Duty  Solicitor dedicated to providing immediate and robust representation during the most critical stages of a criminal case. 

He has over 10 years experience preparing cases involving serious and complex matters, including Assault, Drug Offences, Sexual Offences, and Public Order Offences. He regularly attends police stations and Magistrates' courts across London.

Clive has a calm and stategic approach. He ensures that every client understands their rights, the evidence against them, and the options available, allowing them to make informed decisions at critical moments.

He is driven by the principle that effective criminal defence starts the moment the police investigation begins. This unwavering commitment embodies our firm's ethos: Always Serving You.

Consultant Solicitor

Christiana persaud

Christiana is a Consultant Duty Solicitor with Higher Rights of Audience (crime), within the Criminal Law Department Winchester Law

Christiana has over 25 years significant experience in criminal representation including litigation and advocacy. Christiana heads the Crown Court department.

Christiana develops comprehensive and meticulous defence strategies for all Crown Court trials, from initial plea hearings through to sentencing. She manages a  caseload of serious offences, including Murder, Manslaughter, large-scale Fraud, Complex Drug Conspiracies, and Serious Sexual Offences. Navigating complex legal frameworks, including disclosure, PII (Public Interest Immunity), and abuse of process arguments.

Christiana is highly regarded by clients as not only approachable, but and for her forensic attention to detail and calm, authoritative presence. She understands that successful defence requires more than just court appearances; it demands early, strategic intervention and meticulous preparation. 

Consultant Solicitor

Sonal Rabadia-Coll

Sonal is a highly committed and active accredited Criminal Duty Solicitor at Winchester Law, dedicated to serving clients during the crucial initial and intermediate stages of the criminal justice process. Operating within a demanding, high-volume environment. She is renowned for swift deployment and practical, effective advocacy.

Sonal has over 10 years' experience in Criminal Litigation and advocacy.

Her primary focus is on providing expert advice and representation where it matters most: at the police station and in the Magistrates' Court. Clients value Sonal for her direct communication and ability to explain complex legal options clearly. She moves quickly and effectively to secure the best immediate outcome for clients. 

Sonal is a fluent speaker in both Hindi and Gujarati, allowing her to effectively assist clients in these communities with their queries concerning their criminal cases. 

Consultant Solicitor Advocate

Marina Williamson

Marina is a Solicitor Advocate and is able to represent our clients at Police Stations, Magistrates Courts and before the Crown Court.

Marina has extensive experience of dealing with all aspects of general and serious crime and has defended clients in a number of different cases including rape, GBH, class A drugs, firearms, child cruelty, riot, robbery, fraud, kidnap, arson, benefit fraud, and confiscation. Several of her cases have been reported on by the tabloid press. She has carved out a reputation for excellent client rapport and was featured in the Sunday Telegraph as one of the UK's 'Top Rated' Solicitors in April 2015 and 2016. She has also had several criminal law articles published in the Voice Newspaper.

Marina has undertaken volunteer pro-bono work with the Enfield Evening Advice Service, providing members of the public with free independent legal advice and assistance.

She is a highly committed and passionate practitioner with a strong, loyal following and always dedicated and compassionate towards her clients' circumstances.

Consultant Solicitor

George Osuala

George is the Supervising Solicitor for the Prison Law Department at Winchester Law, dedicated to ensuring the rights and sentence progression of clients incarcerated across the UK. He brings over 10 years significant experience.

With deep, focused expertise in the regulatory framework of the Prison Service, he plays a critical role in both complex casework and leading the firm's specialist Prison Law team. 

He  manages a significant caseload focused on high-stakes, time-sensitive matters that determine a client's release date and future conditions. His core expertise includes:

• Parole Board Hearings: Providing robust representation and meticulous preparation for clients serving indeterminate and long determinate sentences.

• Recalls and Licence Conditions: Challenging unlawful recalls to custody and advising on complex licence conditions and curfew variations.

• Adjudications and Appeals: Successfully defending clients in disciplinary proceedings to prevent unnecessary addition of days to their sentence.

• Category Reviews & Transfers: Strategically challenging decisions regarding security categorization (e.g., progression to open prison) and securing necessary prison transfers.

George also assists prisoners in Appeal and Review matters and on many occasions, have successfully appealed their convictions and/or sentences at the Court of Appeal which led to their early release from custody. 

George consistently advocates for fair treatment and effective rehabilitation, embodying our firm's deep commitment to justice for all clients. This dedication ensures every client receives the expert attention they deserve, fulfilling our firm's promise: Always Serving You.

Consultant Solicitor

Joanne Grisenthwaite

Joanne Grisenthwaite is a highly respected Consultant Solicitor specialising exclusively in Prison Law, bringing over 10 years of focused experience to her clients. Operating as a consultant, Joanne offers flexible and expert legal counsel, allowing her to dedicate herself fully to the intricate details of sentence progression and client rights.

Having practiced Prison Law for over a decade, Joanne has developed a comprehensive command of the procedural and statutory framework governing the prison estate. Her expertise covers the entire spectrum of high-stakes matters critical to an offender's path to release:

• Parole Board Advocacy: Providing meticulous representation and strategic preparation for clients serving indeterminate and long determinate sentences.

• Challenging Recalls: Successfully challenging the lawfulness of recall to custody and advocating for swift re-release on licence.

• Adjudication and Rights: Defending clients in complex disciplinary hearings (Adjudications) and utilizing Judicial Review to challenge unlawful decisions concerning security categorisation, transfers, and denial of rehabilitative opportunities.

• Sentence Progression: Advising on sentence calculation, Home Detention Curfew (HDC) eligibility, and appropriate security category reviews.

Joanne is known for her proactive, hands-on approach and her commitment to securing the fairest possible outcome for her clients. She provides clear, realistic advice, empowering clients and their families to navigate the often confusing and difficult prison system with confidence.

Paralegal

Natasha Richards-Clarke

Natasha Richards-Clarke is a highly valued Crime Paralegal at Winchester Law, providing essential support across the firm's busy Criminal Defence and Magistrates' Court departments. She is a core component of the defence team, ensuring meticulous organisation and preparation for every stage of a client's legal journey.

Natasha's work focuses on the preparatory and logistical aspects of criminal defence, which are critical to a case's success. 

Natasha is often the first person to assist clients and is committed to providing a supportive, professional, and reassuring presence during challenging times.