Business Details
50+ Years
experience
Emergency
services
Trusted Criminal & Family Law Solicitors in Blackpool
Pond Marsh Solicitors have been providing specialist legal services in Blackpool since 1974, focusing exclusively on Criminal and Family Law. Our firm, led by partners Hugh Pond and Howard Marsh, combines over 90 years of combined experience to deliver high-quality legal representation. We are approved by the Legal Aid Agency, offering accessible advice for eligible clients while maintaining rigorous standards of client care. Our Criminal Department operates 24/7, ensuring immediate support for police station attendances and court proceedings. The Family Department specialises in complex care proceedings, adoption, and relationship breakdowns, prioritising amicable resolutions where possible. We maintain transparent pricing structures and fixed fees for specific services, with costs ranging from 300 for straightforward motoring offences to 2,200 for complex trials.Our commitment to equality and diversity ensures all clients receive impartial, respectful treatment regardless of background. The firm's policies align with the Equality Act 2010, and we actively promote diversity within our team and client interactions. With dedicated departments for both practice areas, we provide focused expertise without diluting our specialisms. Our team includes Higher Court Advocates and members of specialist legal panels, ensuring comprehensive case handling. We maintain strict confidentiality while offering clear, jargon-free legal guidance tailored to individual circumstances.
Services
Criminal Law
Family Law
Legal Aid
Motoring Offences
Care Proceedings
Details
- Year established: 1974
Highlights and features
- We offer over 40 years of specialist experience in Criminal and Family Law
- Our team includes Higher Court Advocates and Children's Panel members
- We provide 24/7 emergency legal representation for police station attendances
- Our transparent pricing structure includes fixed fees for specific services
- We maintain Legal Aid Agency approval for accessible legal support
Associations and certifications
- Legal Aid Agency
Services
Criminal Law
We specialise in serious criminal cases including murder, drug trafficking, and sexual offences. Our Higher Court Advocates provide 24/7 representation at police stations and courts. With decades of experience, we offer strategic defence planning and expert court preparation, instructing specialist barristers when required. Our Legal Aid Agency approval ensures accessible justice for eligible clients.
Family Law
Our Family Department handles complex care proceedings, adoption, and relationship breakdowns. We prioritise amicable resolutions while providing robust court representation when necessary. Services include child arrangements, financial settlements, and domestic violence cases. Howard Marsh, a Children's Panel member, leads our team with over 40 years' experience in family law matters.
Legal Aid
We offer Legal Aid for eligible clients in criminal cases and family matters involving social services. Our team assesses eligibility during initial consultations, requiring income proof for applicants. Public funding covers most Magistrates Court cases, with discounted appointments available for non-eligible clients. We ensure transparent cost discussions before accepting instructions.
Motoring Offences
We represent clients facing motoring charges including speeding, drink-driving, and driving bans. Services cover police station attendances, Magistrates Court hearings, and Crown Court appeals. Our transparent pricing starts at 300 for guilty pleas, with fixed fees available for specific offences. We provide cost estimates before case commencement.
Care Proceedings
Our specialist family lawyers represent parents, guardians, and children in local authority care cases. We handle emergency protection orders, adoption proceedings, and contact disputes. The team includes solicitors with over 15 years' experience in public law children's cases, ensuring comprehensive legal support throughout the process.
People
Hugh Pond
Head of Criminal Department
Admitted as a solicitor in 1970, Hugh specialises in serious criminal defence work. He is a Higher Court Advocate and 24 Hour Duty Solicitor with extensive experience in murder and drug trafficking cases. He leads our criminal team with over 50 years' legal practice.
Howard Marsh
Head of Family Department
Admitted in 1980, Howard specialises in family law with focus on public law children's cases. As Children's Panel member, he handles complex care proceedings and adoption matters. He has over 40 years' experience in family law and leads our specialist family team.
Questions
What areas of law do you specialise in?
We specialise exclusively in Criminal Law and Family Law, with dedicated departments for each practice area since 1974.
Can I get Legal Aid for my case?
We offer Legal Aid for eligible clients in criminal matters and family cases involving social services. Eligibility is assessed during initial consultations with income verification.
Do you offer emergency legal support?
Yes, our Criminal Department provides 24/7 representation for police station attendances and urgent court matters across Blackpool and Lancashire.
What are your office hours?
Our office is open Monday to Friday 9:00am to 5:00pm. Criminal emergency services operate outside these hours with immediate response capability.
How do you handle family law disputes?
We prioritise amicable resolutions through mediation where possible, but provide robust court representation when necessary for child arrangements and financial settlements.
What are your motoring offence costs?
Costs start at £300 for straightforward guilty pleas, up to £2,200 for complex trials. We provide detailed cost estimates before accepting your instructions.
