Role at Major Family Law
Charles is a Consultant Solicitor working in Crime and Military Law, specialising in road traffic offences / defences and DVLA disputes. He provides initial advice to clients, police station representation and advocacy at court.
Email Charlie
Expertise
Charles has worked as a Criminal Defence Practitioner within specialist criminal law practices throughout the North East for the last 17 years, providing clients with advice and assistance on court procedures, likely timescales and possible defences. Where there is an acceptance of guilt he will work with the individual to prepare a full mitigation in order to ensure the best possible outcome in all of the circumstances of each particular case. If he believes a defendant has been treated unfairly he will always look to appeal the findings, sentence or both.
With regards to road traffic offences, Charles knows only too well how potentially devastating the loss of one’s licence can be to both the individual and their family given the far reaching consequences of penalty points, driving bans and disqualification on conviction. He has a proven track record of defending numerous individuals in both the Magistrates and Crown Courts.
As a ex officer, Royal Engineers, Charles has sat as a member and represented soldiers at Court Martial both in the UK and Germany and has conducted summary hearings at unit level. Despite having been out of uniform for over twelve years he is a member of the North of England RFCA and keeps as up to date as he can with military matters.
The Legal 500
In the latest edition of the Legal 500 Charlie is listed as having an impressive record where he has defended a multitude of clients across his career with great success. He has an exceptional ability to achieve the right outcome in urgent and exacting circumstances.
Charlie Waddell – Legal500 Profile
Outside of work
Charles lives on a farm with pygmy goats, chickens, tortoises, cats, dogs and three children, all of which keep him busy when not at work. He is a keen cyclist and enjoys cycling around the shire, next to where he lives. He has interests in a number of holiday cottages situated in rural Northumberland and he plays an active part during the summer months with their lettings and changeovers. He enjoys meeting holiday-makers from all over the UK as well as visitors from as far-a-field as Australia.
Charles qualified in September 2006.