I've been convicted of a crime but I should not have been convicted or the sentence was unduly harsh ==================================================================================================== If you have been unfairly convicted of a crime or the sentence was unduly harsh, Vardags' top criminal defence team can help you protect yourself. Our innovative approach to the law, and our determination to change the status quo where necessary, has helped us achieve landmark results at the Court of Appeal and Supreme Court. Alongside your criminal appeal, we will help you manage the fallout from a conviction on your life and livelihood. As top lawyers for high net worth and high income individuals, we will work with our Reputation & Privacy and Employment teams to help you to defend your reputation and your career. ### 24 Hour Emergency Legal Representation If you need a lawyer immediately because a person has been taken into custody or involved in an incident, Vardags can provide emergency legal cover at any time. "The criminal team at Vardags go the extra mile to ensure clients' needs are met." ![Legal 500](https://vardags.com/images/logo/legal-500.png) "Excellent criminal department and criminal lawyer... I would use this firm for ANY matter in future. Complete confidence in receiving the best care."Julie Carter (client) "Leading, Magic Circle law firm."Mr Justice Coleridge FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS -------------------------- Whether someone pleaded guilty or was found guilty after trial there is a route to appeal the sentencing decision usually in situations where they can be shown to be wrong in law or wrong in principle or where it was simply excessive. The regime for appealing a sentencing decision is different depending on whether the original decision was made in the Magistrates' Court or Crown Court and there are different implications which may flow from the two separate procedures. Vardags experience of challenging the legal status quo and taking cases to the highest courts means that we are well-placed to fight your appeal. We will leave no stone unturned and can often find innovative ways to put your case. [FIND OUT MORE](https://vardags.com/faq/criminal-defence/appeal-sentence-extended "What if I appeal and my sentence gets extended?") [MORE FAQS](https://vardags.com/faq/criminal-defence) OUR Criminal Defence TEAM ------------------------- [### Lucy Winter](https://vardags.com/solicitors/london/lucy-winter "Lucy Winter") [Criminal Defence Consultant](https://vardags.com/solicitors/london/lucy-winter "Lucy Winter") [### Lucy Winter Criminal Defence Consultant](https://vardags.com/solicitors/london/lucy-winter "Lucy Winter") [Meet the rest of the team](https://vardags.com/team/criminal-defence) Is Vardags Right For You? ------------------------- We offer a free consultation to qualifying individuals. Please call our confidential enquiry line on **020 7404 9390**. Lines are staffed 24 hours. When you contact us a member of our client relations team will take the full details of your situation, assess whether we can assist you, and if so, determine the best team for your case. Media Highlights ---------------- [Time Ayesha Vardag features in Time Magazine](http://time.com/5037316/britain-divorce-london-capital-ayesha-vardag/ "Ayesha Vardag features in Time Magazine") [BBC News David Lister discusses 'Brangelina' divorce on BBC News](https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7279887504982302720 "David Lister discusses 'Brangelina' divorce on BBC News") [The Telegraph 'Homemaker' ex-wife of Laura Ashley boss earns mammoth divorce payout](http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/04/06/homemaker-ex-wife-laura-ashley-boss-wins-third-200m-income-payout/ "'Homemaker' ex-wife of Laura Ashley boss earns mammoth divorce payout") [The Telegraph Caroline Korah discusses parental child abduction with The Telegraph](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/global-health/climate-and-people/brexit-stopped-us-getting-our-abducted-children-back/ "Caroline Korah discusses parental child abduction with The Telegraph") [The Times Hidden assets and fluctuating fortunes - how crypto clouds divorce](https://www.thetimes.com/article/12c7dc62-6d9f-4c75-9314-b17a9d4fc98f?shareToken=3393e3e3e8101b72a28c6d95a1c641fe "Hidden assets and fluctuating fortunes - how crypto clouds divorce") OUR FULL RANGE OF SERVICES -------------------------- Vardags is one of the UK's leading divorce law firms. We specialise in complex, high net worth and international cases. The Legal 500 has said of Vardags: "The team is noted for its sheer intellect" [Find out more](https://vardags.com/services/divorce "Divorce") Vardags is among the leading family law firms in the UK. Our solicitors specialise in complex cases for high net worth individuals, including international child relocation, child abduction, and prenuptial agreements. The Legal 500 has said that "clients feel in totally safe hands" with Vardags' Children & Family lawyers. [Find out more](https://vardags.com/services/children-and-family "Children & Family") Our reputation and privacy team, headed by top media lawyer Alex McCready, works in and out of the public eye on cases involving defamation, privacy and reputation management. We provide expert advice and representation across the full range of reputation and privacy related matters, including crisis management, emergency injunctions and actions against online and new media. [Find out more](https://vardags.com/services/reputation-privacy "Reputation & Privacy") Vardags is a leading UK law firm with expertise in complex disputes relating to a range of corporate law matters. Our team has a wealth of expertise to help clients with their legal needs. [Find out more](https://vardags.com/services/corporate "Corporate") Vardags is a successful and rapidly-growing law firm with an outstanding reputation for winning cases. [Find out more](https://vardags.com/services/criminal-defence "Criminal Defence") Vardags is a top law firm with a trailblazing fertility and surrogacy department. We have had success with some of the most groundbreaking cases of the last decade in the High Court, Court of Appeal, and Supreme Court, with rulings that have changed the law. Vardags remains at the cutting edge of fertility law, pushing for further improvement of the outdated legislation in place in Britain. [Find out more](https://vardags.com/services/fertility-surrogacy "Fertility & Surrogacy") Vardags' civil litigation team is renowned for its nous and its consistent ability to deliver results. [Find out more](https://vardags.com/services/commercial-civil-litigation "Commercial & Civil Litigation") Vardags' wills and trusts team has the specific expertise to cater to the wills and trusts needs of high-net-worth and high-profile individuals. Richard Todd QC, Leading Counsel for Yasmin Prest said of Vardags: "a note to acknowledge your firm's pivotal role in achieving such an outstanding result in the recent Supreme Court case of Petrodel v Prest". [Find out more](https://vardags.com/services/wills-trusts "Wills, Trusts and Probate") Vardags is a leading family law firm with specialist expertise in assisting clients who are experiencing domestic abuse. We appreciate that those in abusive relationships may face difficulties contacting us. We can provide additional discretion, such as arranging alternative meeting places and talking via our WhatsApp service. [Find out more](https://vardags.com/services/domestic-abuse "Domestic Abuse Lawyers") [Find out more](https://vardags.com/services/sje-and-shadow-experts "Single Joint Experts & Shadow Experts")