Areas we defend.

Defence areas

1. 01

   Murder & culpable homicide

   Allegations of murder and culpable homicide are the most serious matters in Scottish criminal law, prosecuted exclusively in the High Court of Justiciary. The stakes are as high as they can be. Mandatory life sentences apply to murder convictions, and the quality of your legal representation from the very first moment matters enormously.

   Michael Chapman, as a qualified Solicitor Advocate, has the rights of audience to represent clients at High Court level without the need for a separate advocate. He brings extensive experience in the most serious cases, including instructed appearances for clients represented by other firms. Every such case receives direct, personal involvement from the outset: at the police station, through judicial examination, into full trial preparation and court.

   If you or a family member has been arrested or is under investigation for a serious allegation, do not answer questions without a solicitor present. Call us immediately.
2. 02

   Sexual offences

   Sexual offence allegations require a defence solicitor with exceptional sensitivity, rigour, and experience. These cases are tried in the High Court or Sheriff Court depending on the nature of the charges, often involve complex evidential issues, and carry severe consequences, including mandatory sex offender registration, if conviction results.

   At Chapman Solicitors, sexual offence cases are handled with absolute discretion and full commitment to testing the prosecution case thoroughly. We scrutinise every element of the Crown's evidence, advise carefully on the use of special measures and complainant evidence rules under the Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act, and ensure that your defence is prepared to the highest possible standard before trial.

   All enquiries about sexual offence allegations are treated in the strictest confidence.
3. 03

   Drugs & firearms

   Drug offences in Scotland range from simple possession at summary level to large scale supply and serious organised crime prosecuted on solemn procedure. Firearms offences similarly carry significant minimum sentences. In both areas, the distinction between supply and possession with intent to supply, or between lawful possession and an offence, often comes down to contested factual and legal arguments that require careful preparation.

   We have experience across the full range of drugs and firearms cases, from challenging the circumstances of a search or seizure to defending complex trials involving allegations of serious organised criminality. Where forensic or expert evidence is relevant, we ensure it is properly scrutinised and, where appropriate, instructed on your behalf.

4. 04

   Assault & breach of the peace

   Assault and breach of the peace charges appear across both summary and solemn proceedings in Scotland, from minor incidents dealt with in the Sheriff Court to serious assault and aggravated charges prosecuted by indictment. The same offence label can carry very different consequences depending on the circumstances alleged, and the difference between a conviction and an acquittal often hinges on a thorough challenge to the evidence.

   We advise clients on self defence, provocation, credibility, and witness reliability, as well as on the specifics of what the Crown must prove. Where charges involve alleged aggravations such as racial motivation, domestic context, or use of a weapon, we ensure those elements are specifically addressed in the defence preparation.

5. 05

   Fraud & embezzlement

   Financial crime cases are among the most document intensive in criminal law. Fraud and embezzlement charges can involve thousands of pages of financial records, digital evidence, and complex chains of transaction that require painstaking analysis to defend effectively. These cases often proceed by indictment and frequently involve multiple accused, making coordination and preparation particularly important.

   At Chapman Solicitors, we approach financial crime cases methodically, working through the prosecution's evidence with the same attention to detail we apply to every case. Where forensic accountancy or digital forensics expertise is needed, we work with appropriate specialists to ensure that every element of the Crown's case is properly examined before trial.

6. 06

   Road traffic offences

   Road traffic offences, including drink driving, drug driving, dangerous driving, and careless driving, can have serious consequences beyond a fine, including licence disqualification, penalty points that trigger mandatory totting up bans, and, in serious cases, custodial sentences. For many clients, losing their licence means losing their livelihood, making the quality of their defence particularly important.

   We represent clients at every stage of road traffic proceedings, from challenging the reliability of breath, blood, or urine evidence to arguing exceptional hardship in totting up cases. We are experienced in the procedures that govern road traffic prosecutions and know where the Crown's case can legitimately be challenged, from the circumstances of the stop to the handling of samples and the calibration of equipment.

   If you have been charged with a road traffic offence and are concerned about your licence, contact us as early as possible. The earlier we are instructed, the more options are available.