John Davies has defended clients across magistrates’ courts, crown courts and appeal chambers for more than two decades. Now he’s bringing that experience to Olliers Solicitors, the Manchester-based criminal defence firm that’s just sealed a record-breaking year.
The move strengthens Olliers’ business crime and regulatory team at a moment when corporate investigations and financial crime cases are multiplying across the UK.
Davies arrives from MSB Solicitors, where he built his practice around serious crime and regulatory matters. Before that, he held senior positions at Irwin Mitchell, Rradar and Cartwright King Solicitors—a career arc that’s positioned him as a specialist in the kind of cases that unfold over months, involve multiple agencies, and demand strategic thinking before charges are even filed.
His remit at Olliers will span serious violence and organised crime through to fraud, bribery, tax investigations and regulatory enforcement proceedings. But it’s the pre-charge engagement work—intervening before prosecutors make charging decisions—that reveals where the firm sees opportunity. Davies will advise both individuals and corporates facing allegations, working to shape investigations before they escalate.
Matthew Claughton, managing director of Olliers, was direct about why the hire mattered. “John is an exceptional addition to the team. He brings significant expertise in business crime, fraud and regulatory investigations, which complements our growing financial crime practice and broadens the support we can offer both individual and corporate clients,” he said.
The timing isn’t accidental. Olliers employs 29 criminal defence lawyers across its Manchester headquarters and London presence. The firm was named Crime Team of the Year and Boutique Law Firm of the Year at the 2026 Modern Law Awards, secured a Times Best Law Firm 2026 designation, and won Crime Team of the Year at the Manchester Legal Awards 2025—an accolade it’s claimed eight times since 2011.
That recognition matters in a competitive legal market where top-tier criminal work increasingly involves financial sophistication and regulatory crossover. Olliers ranks highly in both the Legal 500 2026 and Chambers Guide 2026, positioning it to attract the kind of high-stakes work that requires both courtroom advocacy and investigative nous.
“Our clients need solicitors who can combine technical excellence with strategic foresight from the earliest stage of an investigation,” Claughton added. “John’s experience will be invaluable in continuing to strengthen our position as one of the country’s leading criminal defence firms.”
For Davies, the appeal was clear. “Olliers’ reputation for excellence in criminal defence, particularly its proactive approach to pre-charge engagement and complex serious crime cases, is second to none. This is an exciting opportunity, and I am looking forward to joining such a highly regarded team where I will be able to draw upon my experience to support clients through some of the most challenging periods of their lives.”
That phrase—”the most challenging periods of their lives”—captures what’s at stake in the work. Criminal investigations upend careers, reputations and families, often before any formal charges materialise. Davies’ experience spans cases where strategic decisions made in the first weeks can determine outcomes months later.
The appointment reflects broader trends in white-collar and regulatory defence, where early intervention and corporate advisory work increasingly blend with traditional criminal advocacy. As enforcement agencies expand their remit and regulatory boundaries blur, firms that can navigate both worlds hold an advantage.
What’s less certain is how quickly Davies will expand Olliers’ corporate client base. The firm has built its name defending individuals, but business crime investigations increasingly target companies themselves—exposing them to deferred prosecution agreements, compliance orders and reputational damage that extends beyond any individual defendant.
For now, the focus remains on integration. Davies joins a team that’s won recognition precisely because it doesn’t wait for prosecutors to set the terms of engagement. Whether that proactive approach translates into measurable outcomes for new clients will become clear as his caseload develops over the coming months.
