Practice area · Criminal law
Criminal defence.
From arrest to judgment.
We conduct the defence at every stage of the proceedings - from the first police actions, through the investigation and the trial, to post-sentencing matters. We also represent victims of crime.
§01Types of case
The cases in which we act for the defence
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Offences against life and health
From affray and assault to the most serious charges. Establishing how the incident unfolded and what part each person played is often decisive.
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Offences against property
Theft, robbery, misappropriation, fraud and criminal damage - including in multi-strand proceedings.
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Drug offences
Possession, supply, trafficking and cultivation. This is one of the most common areas of our practice.
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Road traffic offences
Driving under the influence, accidents and collisions, driving bans.
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Threats, insult, stalking
Cases in which the evidence is often correspondence and recordings - and where context decides how the act is classified.
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White-collar crime
Liability of board members, fraudulent obtaining of money, fiscal criminal cases.
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Pre-trial detention
Interlocutory appeals, applications to lift detention or replace it with non-custodial measures.
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Representing victims
Reporting offences, acting as a subsidiary prosecutor, applications for compensation for the damage caused.
Law as at: September 2026. This content is general information and does not constitute legal advice - assessing a particular case always requires reviewing the documents.
§02How proceedings unfold
The stages of a criminal case
Each stage offers different room for action. Below is what usually happens, in order - and what a defence lawyer can do at each point.
| Stage | What happens | The defence lawyer's role |
|---|---|---|
| Arrest | The police make an arrest and conduct questioning. A search is possible. | Contact with the detained person, presence during procedural steps, appeal against the arrest |
| Charges are brought | The prosecutor formulates the charge and questions the person as a suspect. | Advice on what statement to give, applications for evidence |
| Preventive measures | The court hears the application for pre-trial detention. | Attending the hearing, appealing, applying for a non-custodial measure |
| Investigation or inquiry | Gathering evidence, expert reports, questioning of witnesses. | Access to the case file, applications for evidence, attending procedural steps |
| The indictment | The case goes to court. | Analysing the charges, applying for discontinuation or for conviction without a trial |
| Court proceedings | Hearings, examinations, evidence. | Defending in court, questioning witnesses, the closing speech |
| Judgment and appeal | The court gives judgment; an appeal is available. | Assessing the merits of an appeal, drafting and arguing it |
| Post-sentencing proceedings | Enforcement of the sentence. | Electronic monitoring, deferral, a break in the sentence, conditional early release |
The order of these stages varies - some cases end at the pre-trial stage, while others reach court only after years.
§03The right to a defence
Silence is not an admission
A suspect has the right to refuse to give a statement and to decline to answer questions. That is neither an admission of guilt nor an aggravating circumstance - and it is often the best decision until you know what the evidence contains.
A first statement is very hard to correct later. Changing your account usually weakens your credibility, which is why it is worth speaking to a defence lawyer before anything is entered into the record.
The right to a defence lawyer applies from the moment of arrest. You simply need to say clearly that you wish to exercise it - and give the firm's details.
§04Lines of defence
What the defence rests on
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Analysis of the evidence
We establish what the file actually shows, and what is merely the prosecution's hypothesis.
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Lawfulness of procedural steps
A search, an arrest, an identification parade - procedural failings can undermine evidence.
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Applications for evidence
Witnesses, expert reports, recordings and documents that the investigation overlooked.
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Legal classification
What is often in dispute is not “whether” but “how” - and the classification determines the sentence you face.
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Sentencing
Where responsibility is not in dispute, we work on reducing the consequences.
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Preventive measures
Appeals against detention and applications to replace it with bail or police supervision.
§05An urgent situation
Under arrest - what to do and what not to do
Worth doing
- Say clearly that you want to contact an advocate.
- Note the date, time and place of the arrest.
- Read the official record before signing it and raise any objections.
- Notify someone close to you who can contact the firm.
Better left until later
- Giving a lengthy statement before speaking to a defence lawyer.
- Signing documents whose contents you do not understand.
- Agreeing an account with other people.
- Discussing the case by telephone or messaging apps.
§06How we work together
How we run a criminal case
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Urgent contact
We establish what stage the case is at and whether immediate action is needed.
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Access to the file
We review the evidence and the basis for the charges.
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The line of defence
We choose an approach and discuss the prospects and risks with the client.
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Applications and submissions
We file applications for evidence and interlocutory appeals.
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Defence in court
We represent you at hearings and, after judgment, assess the prospects of an appeal.
§07Questions and answers
Questions about criminal cases
Cannot find your question here? Call us on +48 883 406 792 or write to us using the contact form.
No. A suspect and an accused person have the right to refuse to give a statement and to decline to answer particular questions, without giving a reason. That refusal cannot be treated as evidence of guilt. It is often the sensible course until you know what the evidence contains.
Ideally before the first questioning. The statement you give at the outset sets the framework for the whole case and is very hard to correct later without damaging your credibility.
In terms of duties, nothing - the difference lies in how they are appointed and paid. A court-appointed lawyer is assigned by the court to a person who shows they cannot afford to instruct one privately. A privately instructed lawyer is chosen and paid by the client.
Yes. The proceedings may be discontinued, conditionally discontinued, or the person may be convicted without a trial on an application agreed with the prosecutor. Whether any of these is available depends on the charge and the circumstances.
It depends on the type of procedure - some tests may be carried out even without consent. It is worth asking on what legal basis, and having the course of the procedure noted in the official record.
Yes. We draft reports of offences, act as subsidiary prosecutors and file applications for compensation for the damage caused.
The first step
Let us talk about your situation
You do not need your documents in order, and you do not need to know the law. Just tell us what is happening - we will plan the way forward together.
§08Contact
Book a legal consultation
