Christopher Lacey is a Senior Associate Solicitor, and the Team Leader of the Magistrates Courts team at our busy office in Cardiff.
He is qualified as a Police Station Representative, Police and Court Duty Solicitor and has Higher Rights of Audience. Chris joined Reeds having previously been a Partner at CJCH solicitors where he again had overall responsibility for the department.
Additionally, he is an External Adjudicator for Cardiff University Legal Dept. His route to Law was through CPE and LPC, qualifying in 1997. Prior to that he acquired a 1st Class Joint Honours Degree in History and Politics from Swansea University.
His years of experience mean that Chris now manages a large and varied caseload, and routinely personally undertakes the teams more complex cases; whilst using his experience and judgement to allocate work to his team so as to best utilise their own skills and approaches to the issues in clients’ cases. Chris is not only adept and confident in dealing with cases within the Magistrates Court; but regularly appears in the Youth Court where he uses his knowledge and clear communication skills to help young and vulnerable clients facing criminal charges.
It is unsurprising that Chris has a natural rapport with clients, with whom he takes pride in building and maintaining long standing professional relationships with, based on his approachable and down to earth attitude, underpinned by the trust and confidence that his client’s have in him. His sound judgement enables him to quickly assess the most advantageous tactical approach to each case so as to maximise the likelihood of a favourable outcome for each and every client.
Chris has dealt with numerous serious allegations in the Police Station including Murder, Attempt Murder, Conspiracy, Terrorism, Rape, Drug Supply, Fraud, Aggravated Burglary, Violent Disorder, Overlaying a Child, Concealing the Birth (and death) of a Child and a host of other alleged offences. He also has an expanding Private Client practice representing privately-funding clients both at the police station and in Court to trial.
He also specialises in Motoring allegations including Drink/Drug driving, Due Care and Dangerous Driving, Speeding offences and Failing to Provide allegations.
As well as Motoring Law, Chris also specialises in arguing ‘exceptional hardship’ cases for client’s facing penalty point (or ‘totting-up’) driving disqualification with a 100% success rate on these since joining Reeds in 2017.
He began his career in law with CPE and LPC, qualifying in 1997. Prior to this, he achieved a First Class Joint Honours Degree in History and Politics from Swansea University.
In accordance with the Solicitors’ Regulatory Transparency Rules for motoring offences we confirm that Christopher Lacey charges Level A hourly rates.
Recent and notable cases
Chris had conduct from the police station as duty solicitor, and throughout, of the representation of a Special Organised Crime Agency officer investigated and later charged, with rape. Post charge, Chris was able to persuade the Court to make an ‘anonymity order’ ensuring that unusually, his client should remain unnamed in the media and anonymous throughout the proceedings. The case was ultimately dismissed at the Crown Court.
Chris represented and conducted throughout a case of a private-school teacher accused of assault, ABH within a domestic context, as well as criminal damage and dangerous driving; a case which attracted notable media attention. The client was subsequently further charged with witness intimidation following a further alleged incident the day before the original trial was due to commence. This client was found not guilty of all charges following trial in the Crown Court.
Chris represented a young vulnerable mother at the Police Station, accused of overlaying her infant child whilst intoxicated, resulting in the tragic death of her child. This case involved delicate and sympathetic representation of the young mother who was obviously distraught whilst detained at the police station. No charges were brought.
Chris represented a client in the police station accused of ‘home-grown’ Terrorism offences resulting in charge and appearance at Westminster Magistrates Court then Winchester Crown Court.
Chris represented a young private-paying client in Magistrates Court trial charged with Driving without Due Care and Attention after collision with a cyclist resulting in injuries to the cyclist, including a broken leg. Court was persuaded that Chris’ client was not at fault and found her not guilty after trial.
Chris represented a private-paying client appearing before Llanelli Magistrates Court for a speeding offence involving a speed of 104mph. They were facing a disqualification from driving, which is the entry-point for that speed. Disqualification would have resulted in his client’s inability to work severely impacting his business. Chris was able to persuade the Court to impose penalty points rather than a disqualification thus retaining his client’s driving licence.
Chris represented a private-paying client at Swansea Magistrates Court for four separate speeding offences, all accruing three points each. The client already had nine points on his licence. The client was facing a ‘totting-up’ disqualification, which would result in huge impact upon his self-employed business being able to function and therefore would impact his family’s financial position. The accumulation of 21 points on licence was unavoidable but Chris successfully argued ‘exceptional hardship’ meaning that the client was able to retain their licence and avoid that impact.
Chris represented a private-paying client who transferred to Reeds from another practice, post-plea, for the purposes of Chris preparing for and representing her at sentence at Merthyr Tydfil Magistrates Court in respect of S4 Harassment in respect of a previous partner. The starting point sentence was imprisonment due to the aggravating features in the case but the Court was persuaded to impose a Community Order.
Chris Lacey represented a private-paying client who transferred to Reeds from another firm for Chris to deal with the Court proceedings, in respect of assault and criminal damage in a domestic situation. The aggravating features in the case meant that client was facing a custodial sentence. During the proceedings, successful representations were made in respect of bail conditions. And at sentence Chris’ client received a Suspended Sentence, despite the fact that the sentencing Bench called this a ‘very challenging and complicated case’.
Chris Lacey represented a client arrested for concealing the birth and death of a child at Bridgend Police station over four days, including representation at two separate hearings during the investigation period (for extension of police time) to ensure continuity for his client. A difficult and lengthy case that involved a degree of sensitivity in respect of the issues involved. Representation continued following charge on a private-fee paying basis