Belmores Solicitors is regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA). The SRA Transparency Rules require that we publish price and service information for summary motoring offences dealt with at a single hearing.
Summary motoring offences can only be dealt with by a Magistrates’ Court. Certain cases may be dealt with through the Single Justice Procedure but if disqualification is being considered or if you plead not guilty a Magistrates’ Court will be required to hear your case. Summary motoring offences include speeding, drink and drug driving, no insurance, failing to provide driver details (S172), driving without due care and attention, using a mobile phone whilst driving and failing to provide a specimen. Legal Aid is not generally available for these types of cases.
Our directors Simon Nicholls and Dave Foulkes personally deal with the vast majority of our motoring cases. At times Alistair Taunton, a solicitor, may assist and our Caseworkers John Stigwood, Dave Bell and Laurie Cleland may help to take instructions and prepare the case for Court.
All employees of Belmores are supervised by Simon Nicholls and Dave Foulkes. Specifically Simon supervises all motoring cases.
Belmores holds Lexcel accreditation which is the Law Society’s Quality Mark awarded to organisations demonstrating excellence in legal practice. The Directors Simon Nicholls and Dave Foulkes are Solicitors. Simon qualified in 1979 and Dave in 1990. Both Simon and Dave specialise in Magistrates’ Court work although as Higher Rights Advocates they may also appear in the Crown Court and Court of Appeal. Simon worked in two large Norwich firms of solicitors specialising in criminal work before setting up his own practice Nicholls and Co. which merged with Belmores in 1999. Dave joined Belmores in 1991 and like Simon he has specialised in criminal defence work throughout his career. SolicitorAlistair Taunton qualified in 1979 and appears in the Magistrates Court daily representing clients facing a range of criminal charges. Caseworkers John Stigwood, Dave Bell and Laurie Cleland have a wealth of experience between them seeing clients, taking instructions, advising and preparing cases for Court.
As solicitors specialising in criminal defence and road traffic cases we have considerable expertise, dealing with a wide range of cases on a daily basis. We cover Courts throughout East Anglia but nationally as well. Motorists come to us because of our proven success in helping to keep them on the road. Simon Nicholls is well-known locally through his appearances on television and radio. In practice as a solicitor since 1980 he is the ‘go to’ name, regularly dealing with high profile cases. He counts actors, footballers and celebrities among his clients. He is renowned for his unique style of advocacy and has an enviable track record in ‘exceptional hardship’ cases. Dave Foulkes is recognised for his meticulous preparation and attention to detail. He is a popular advocate who always demonstrates great determination to ensure that his clients achieve the desired result. To quote the Legal 500 ‘Simon and Dave are trusted to get results’. Have a look at our reviews on Google Review – they are 100% independent and speak for themselves.
Our hourly rates, which are reviewed each year in June, are set out below. We work in six minute units and routine letters out and telephone calls made and received are charged as one unit each.
Generally our fees for dealing with a summary motoring case to include representation at a single hearing at Norwich Magistrates Court will range from £295.00 to £1180. VAT of 20% is payable on top. For cases requiring representation at Magistrates Courts in Great Yarmouth, Kings Lynn or Ipswich our fees will range from £442.50 to £1475. VAT of 20% is payable on top. In addition we charge expenses of travel such as mileage at 45 pence per mile and car parking which are both subject to VAT at 20%. Alternatively we may charge for travel by train. VAT is not payable on train fares. We also deal with cases throughout England and Wales and we are happy to travel to ‘away’ courts. For cases requiring representation at a Magistrates Court outside Norfolk or Suffolk our fees will range from £1180 to £2950. VAT of 20% is payable on top as well as travel expenses set out above and VAT as appropriate. If an overnight stay is required we will also charge for the cost of accommodation reasonably incurred. The increased level of fees reflects the extra travel time involved. The range of fees set out above is on the assumption of a guilty plea but will include putting forward an exceptional hardship argument if this is required.
The fee is calculated on the basis of the time expected to be taken for taking instructions, advising, preparation and attendance at Court including travel and waiting time and letters and telephone calls.
Call us now:
Dave Foulkes – 07887930442
Simon Nicholls – 07889379233