Sexual Offences

Clients accused of or connected with sexual offences face unique challenges. The social stigma and publicity surrounding such cases involves dealing with extreme perspectives, heightened emotions and complex, life changing decision making. Our unrivalled experience in dealing with the highest profile and most sensitive cases of this type enables us to provide expert advice and support to both individuals and companies when they need it most. 

We fight our client’s corner in a tenacious yet discreet way. Our priority is always to obtain the best possible outcome whilst limiting any reputational damage.

Whether you are an individual facing an allegation; a victim or witness who would like assistance in navigating the court process; or an organisation that requires advice regarding offences which may have been committed by your employees, Kingsley Napley has an unparalleled team of practitioners who specialise in this area.

Suspects/Defendants

Ranked number 1 in the legal directories for our General Crime practice, we have been involved in the most high profile sexual cases of recent times including several Operation Yewtree investigations and trials (Operation Yewtree is the far reaching police investigation into historic sexual abuse allegations relating to Jimmy Savile and other celebrities). 

Our lawyers specialise in representing those accused of the following allegations:

• Historic sexual abuse
• Child abuse
• Rape and sexual/indecent assault
• Making/possession of indecent images of children
• Publication of private images/movies (so called “Revenge Porn” )
• Malicious communications
• Sexual Offences Prevention Orders (SOPOs), Sexual Risk Orders (SROs), Sexual Harm Prevention Orders (SHPOs) and other issues relating to the Sex Offenders Register.

Our involvement at an early stage in proceedings frequently leads to clients avoiding charge altogether. If matters do progress, we have the resources and contacts necessary to carry out extensive investigations and to ensure that no stone is left unturned in terms of trial preparation. 

Reputation management is also at the heart of what we do and working with our highly regarded team of privacy lawyers we can minimise the impact an allegation of a sexual nature can have on you as an individual or an organisation.  

 

Organisations

If you are a company, organisation or institution dealing with allegations of a sexual nature it is important that you are represented by lawyers who understand the criminal justice system and can guide you through the process, which can appear arcane and complex. Whether you are considering reporting matters to the police, carrying out your own internal inquiries or dealing with an on-going police investigation/inquiry, our full service team can advise on your rights and responsibilities in the areas of Criminal Law, Employment Law, Public law and Reputation Management. 

We provide advice to organisations in the following areas:

• Police Investigations
• Public Inquiries
• Allegations of a sexual nature made by/against employees
• Advice regarding the legality of artistic images
• Remit and enforceability of court orders
• Protection of organisations’ online profile and cyber crime

 

Cases

Kingsley Napley has dealt with the most serious and high profile cases of this type for over 75 years. Our team is recognised for our experience, strategic approach and discretion.  In order to maintain our clients’ confidentiality we do not provide any case details on our website. However, we continue to be involved in the leading cases in this highly specialised area. Read more in our frequently asked questions.

 

What clients and directories have said

KN are, together with a handful of other firms, is considered a market leader in this area of work. Their reputation is well-founded."

Legal 500 UK, 2026

KN provides every type of legal advice to all types of people. They are an absolute diamond of a firm with gifted and talented lawyers."

Legal 500, 2026

The crime team at Kingsley Napley is by far and away the best in the business. Each individual is clever, dedicated, hard-working, and savvy."

Legal 500, 2026

The criminal team provide the very highest standard of care to all clients. Their legal knowhow is second to none, and every member of the team that I have worked with is exceptional. They are exceptionally professional at each and every of the process."

Legal 500 UK, 2025

Kingsley Napley are a Rolls-Royce outfit. Their clients are thoroughly looked after from start to finish, their research is first class and their people carefully chosen. They take time to get to know the lay client, they are realistic in their advice and fight hard."

Legal 500 UK, 2025

They have managed to practice the delivery, of expertise, realism, strategy and compassion/empathy exceptionally well. Often where deep knowledge of the law can lead to a detachment from the individual concerned, this is far from the case here."

Legal 500 UK, 2025

Sandra Paul was exceptional. At my lowest and most vulnerable moment, Sandra was strong, clear and added the reassurance she could. I never doubted her competence or commitment in dealing with my issue."

Legal 500 UK, 2025

They are very good at client care, going above and beyond to make sure everything is thought through. They provide a top class, all-round service to clients."

Chambers UK, 2025

The team at Kingsley Napley are incredibly professional, proficient and supportive throughout."

Chambers UK, 2025 

Kingsley Napley delivered an outstanding level of client service. Their attention, commitment and care was truly inspiring.”

Chambers and Partners UK, 2024

Everything was managed with great efficiency. The team really listened and understood what was most important to us.”

Chambers and Partners UK, 2024

Kingsley Napley are arguably the best firm of criminal solicitors in the country. They have always recruited extremely well, resulting in a team packed with high calibre lawyers who deliver outstanding levels of service and client care. They have first-rate facilities and resources, a very effective team of support staff, and a reputation that immediately secures an attentive response to correspondence in litigation."

Legal 500 UK, 2024

The team around Sandra Paul, Matt Hardcastle and Maeve Keenan is highly professional, and every client should honour their honesty, professionalism and profound in-depth analysis of all options. Their thoughts do not only include the easy and obvious ones, but they are mind-blowing brilliant. Working with and being represented by them is the best decision."

Legal 500 UK, 2024

The team is incredibly diligent and insightful. Their skill in dealing with our particular situation was impressive."

The Legal 500, 2024

The practice has a wider range of support and skill sets available and is very adaptable as the nature of an engagement changes. They are able to field a multidisciplinary team to ensure they deploy the right strength and depth of expertise as an engagement requires.'

Legal 500 UK

A clearly symbiotic team who worked in harness together. It always felt like the correctly experienced person was dealing with the appropriate issue.'

Legal 500 UK

I think the best thing I can say 'They gave me my life back again."

Legal 500 UK, 2023

The best crime team in London as far as I am concerned." 

Legal 500 UK, 2023

It's a top-notch team that deals with the most difficult cases and always finds a way of running them effectively."

Chambers UK, 2022

The KN team are one of the best known, oldest and highly regarded teams in this area of work. They get first rate work and deliver excellent results."

Legal 500 UK, 2021

Highly collaborative and team based in everything they do. Friendly and down to earth while also being world class. Uniquely able to bring together the brightest and the best but without being pompous or superior in their attitude. Great listeners, hard workers and tactically the best in the business."

Legal 500 UK, 2021

KN are exceptional in almost all categories! They are streaks ahead of everyone else and provide a very high level of service. If I were in trouble that’s where I would go.  I like the fact they are genuinely committed to providing excellence even on less lucrative cases or on cases of less seriousness. They completely get how serious every case is for a client . They unfailing do the very best for their clients."

Legal 500 UK, 2021

A dynamic team that shows good attention to detail."

Chambers UK, 2021

The general crime department is the best I have ever worked with. They are unsurpassed in the way they work as a team on their cases - it's a very well-drilled, slick operation."

Chambers UK, 2020 - A Client's Guide to the UK Legal Profession

They are able to draw on expertise across the firm to provide a seamless service - if you are facing criminal allegations they can also handle the media, as well as any employment issues or regulatory proceedings that may arise."

Chambers UK, 2020 - A Client's Guide to the UK Legal Profession

Kingsley Napley has real strength and expertise at all levels of the crime group. The team is hard-working, focused on getting results and yet maintains the human touch."

Legal 500 UK, 2020

The ‘first-rate’ team at Kingsley Napley LLP is ‘efficient, strategic, committed and able to handle the most complex of criminal cases as well as more general crime cases’. It advises corporations and individuals on sexual offences, violent crimes, drug offences, firearms offences, extradition and high-profile matters with an international element."

Legal 500 UK, 2019

They very much embrace the need to look at the whole situation; they look at the media exposure - for people in the public eye and for a particular type of high net worth individual, that's very important and I've seen them handle that side of things very well. They're one of those few firms that would give clients a genuine round-the-clock service, seven days a week."

Chambers UK, High Net Worth Guide 2018

They pick up some fantastic work, they have some fantastic clients and they have a skill of trying to get rid of matters before they go too far."

Chambers UK, High Net Worth Guide 2018

They stand out because of their ability to stop a case before it gets started. Their commitment, preparation and tenacity set them apart. They are a strong firm."

Chambers UK 2018, A Client's Guide to the UK Legal Profession

Their reputation as being the pre-eminent solicitors in this market is deserved. They are justifiably instructed in infamous, heavyweight cases and I can't imagine that anyone is ever dissatisfied with the service they receive."

Chambers UK, 2017

The crime team is first-rate. They are dedicated, hard-working and tireless in their preparation of cases."

Chambers UK, 2017

First-class firm in terms of client care, as well as its thorough and meticulous approach to case preparation, both at pre-charge stage and at trial."

Legal 500 UK, 2017

They are determined to do the best for their clients at all times and leave absolutely no stone unturned. It is a brilliant defence firm."

Chambers UK, A Client's Guide to the UK Legal Profession

 

Further information

For more information and if you have a concern regarding a sexual offence allegation, please contact our team in confidence. Please also review the Frequently Asked Questions on Sexual Offences which can be found here and on the right hand side of this webpage.

We also have a cross-disciplinary team advising on sexual misconduct allegations in the workplace, including members of our employment, regulatory and media & reputation teams. Our unrivalled experience in dealing with some of the highest profile and most sensitive cases involving sexual allegations in the workplace enables us to provide expert advice and support when clients need it most.

We are ranked in Band 1 for General Crime by both Chambers and Partners, and Legal 500.

 

 

CONtact our team in confidence