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Founded in 2017 by three former Bindmans solicitors, Commons is based in Lambeth, south London. It is the first not-for-profit specialist criminal defence law firm and is committed to social justice.
The firm is representing the brothers Robert and Lee Firkins, who have had their convictions for murder referred to the Court of Appeal by the Criminal Cases Review Commission. They are serving life sentences after being found guilty of killing Graham and Carol Fisher at their Cornwall petrol station in 2003. The nature of the referral is subject to reporting restrictions, but the partner Rhona Friedman took the lead in analysing tens of thousands of pages of material, instructing a forensic pathologist to report on fresh evidence and assessing the sufficiency of disclosure. She also co-wrote the successful submissions that persuaded the commission to seek new and compelling expert evidence regarding the key witness in this case, which led to the case being referred.
The firm continues to act for Major Charles Ingram, a contestant on the quiz show Who Wants to be a Millionaire?, and his wife, Diana, who were convicted in 2003 over allegations that they cheated their way to the top prize. The couple have maintained their innocence. Friedman continues to marshal expert evidence to challenge the convictions for conspiracy to cheat and has identified arguments regarding the provenance of the audio evidence and expert analysis of trial exhibits.
She also acts for a well-known social media influencer who is under investigation for promoting unregulated financial advice on a social media platform. The criminal investigation is part of a crackdown by the Financial Conduct Authority on so-called “fin-fluencers” directing advertising to large social media audiences.
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★ Commended for crime
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