Steve Foster has been a criminal defence practitioner for over 35 years. Alongside Paul Coleman, he was instrumental in creating and developing a highly successful City of London practice for their previous firm.
Over the years, Steve has built an enviable reputation as one of the most sought-after professionals in his field. This has resulted in his direct instruction in some of the most high-profile and notorious cases ever brought before the courts, many of which have attracted international as well as national media attention. He is particularly in demand by clients facing recent and historic allegations of a sexual nature.
Steve has an extensive and loyal client following. His proven track-record of fantastic client care coupled with consistently great results has also led to countless personal recommendations, not only from existing and former clients and their families, but other members of the legal profession.
His list of past and current clients include professional athletes, and those in the world of entertainment.
As well as the Crown Prosecution Service and police forces nationwide, Steve has also gained a reputation for successfully advising those investigated and prosecuted by numerous regulatory bodies, including the Health and Safety Executive, Trading Standards and The Insolvency Service. Leading Kings Counsel have endorsed Steve’s “attention to detail and meticulous manner in which he prepares his cases…”, that he shows “…a passion for his clients that is second to none” and that “nothing is ever too much trouble for him”.
"Steve was so very professional in his handling of my case. He was very reassuring and I felt that he was extremely thorough when going over all of the evidence. He was absolutely amazing and I was so very confident having him represent me in these proceedings. I cannot recommend Steve highly enough!"
– Erhan
Paul Coleman is a solicitor with considerable experience and expertise in all civil, commercial and criminal matters. He is renowned as a lawyer who fights ferociously for his clients. He successfully managed the City of London office of his last firm, creating a varied caseload of clients from a number of sources including City of London institutions.
He previously worked in the field of financial and energy futures, experience which led to his direct instruction as part of the team involved in the successful defence at trial of a broker charged with conspiring to fix LIBOR, a former RBS equities trader charged with conspiracy to defraud the Inland Revenue as well as advising a number of foreign exchange traders under investigation by the FCA and the Department of Justice in the United States.
He has acted for both claimants and defendants in a number of proceedings before the High Court involving multi-million pound claims, as well as advising parties in relation to employment matters, which have involved amongst others a current Premier League football team.
Over the past few years, Paul has emerged as the ‘go-to’ lawyer for proceedings arising from mental health homicides and receives many recommendations from charities to act for bereaved families. He has a special interest in providing support and representation at inquests and pre-inquest hearings and has given talks on these subjects to healthcare professionals and charities amongst others. Paul also has extensive personal injury experience, acting for both claimants and defendants.
"Paul Coleman and the team assisted myself and 2 former colleagues with a long-running dispute with a major UK bank. Not only did we reach resolution quickly and satisfactorily, our costs were kept to minimum and the advice given was both pertinent and effective."
– Gary
Len is a highly experienced Supervising Solicitor with a distinguished background in legal aid work, specialising in Crime and Prison Law. With a deep understanding of the legal aid framework, Len is recognised for his exceptional ability to manage legal aid contracts with precision, ensuring full compliance while maximising operational efficiency.
Len brings extensive experience in Magistrates’ Court advocacy, regularly advising and representing clients across a wide range of criminal matters. His courtroom advocacy is marked by clarity, strategic insight, and a strong commitment to protecting his clients' interests.
He is also a leading expert in police station representation, providing immediate, comprehensive legal advice to individuals under investigation. His work at this critical stage safeguards clients’ rights and ensures fair treatment throughout the criminal justice process.
Len has developed a notable specialism in defending those accused of football-related offences. He is particularly skilled in successfully opposing prosecution applications for Football Banning Orders, earning a reputation as one of the foremost legal professionals in this niche area of law.
Within Foster & Coleman, Len plays a central leadership role, supervising the Prison Law department. He mentors solicitors and paralegals and provides ongoing support to external consultants. His guidance ensures adherence to legal best practices, professional standards, and Legal Aid Agency (LAA) regulations.
He is responsible for overseeing case management processes, ensuring files progress efficiently and are recorded and billed in accordance with stringent compliance standards.
Len has primary responsibility for the daily oversight of Foster & Coleman’s Crime and Prison Law legal aid contracts. He ensures strict compliance with all LAA requirements, including performance targets, billing processes, and quality assurance audits.
His ability to navigate the complexities of the legal aid system has been critical to the firm’s continued success and reputation in this sector.
Outside of his practice, Len serves as a Trustee of the Hundred Families Charity, an organisation providing support and advocacy for families bereaved by mental health-related homicides across the UK. Through his work with Foster & Coleman, the charity has successfully represented families at inquests and pursued claims against NHS Trusts, securing justice and accountability.
Foster & Coleman’s Claims Department is led by Rosa Zaffuto, a highly experienced barrister with almost 25 years’ experience at the Bar.
Called to the Bar in 2001, Rosa has extensive experience across fraud, financial crime, commercial disputes, financial services, professional negligence, Chancery and complex civil litigation.
Over the course of her career, Rosa has represented a diverse range of clients, from individuals and high-profile clients to businesses and organisations, dealing with matters ranging from complex financial and commercial disputes to fraud and other contentious issues while appearing in the court of first instance right through to the Supreme Court, Rosa is dedicated to using the law to champion her clients’ rights and fight injustices.
Rosa is recognised for her proactive and strategic approach, with a particular focus on early intervention, negotiation and dispute resolution. She seeks to resolve matters efficiently and proportionately where possible, while providing experienced advocacy and representation where litigation is required.
Her breadth of experience enables Rosa to provide clients with informed, strategic advice in complex and high-value disputes, drawing on almost a quarter of a century of experience at the Bar.
Archie Gale is a Trainee Solicitor at Foster & Coleman, having dedicated himself to a career in law from the age of 16. His early commitment to the legal profession has been reflected throughout his academic and professional journey, combining outstanding academic achievement with practical experience across a range of legal disciplines.
Archie achieved an A* in A-Level Law before graduating with First Class Honours from university. During his legal career, he has gained experience in prison law, youth crime, and adult criminal defence, developing a broad understanding of the criminal justice system and the challenges faced by clients at every stage of proceedings.
As a Police Station Accredited Representative, Archie is qualified to advise and assist clients during police interviews and investigations, ensuring they receive clear, practical legal advice from the outset of a case. He is committed to providing professional, approachable, and client-focused representation, recognising the importance of effective support during what can often be a stressful and uncertain time.
Alongside his legal work, Archie has supported the charitable organisation Hundred Families, contributing his time to assist families affected by serious mental illness. This experience has strengthened his understanding of the wider issues that can impact individuals and families, reinforcing his compassionate and client-centred approach to legal practice.
Archie continues to build his expertise across all areas of criminal defence and is committed to delivering high-quality legal representation while progressing through his training with Foster & Coleman.
Danny Taylor is the founder of Legal Pathways Advisory Ltd. and works in partnership with Foster & Coleman Solicitors, providing lived-experience support to prisoners and their families.
While serving a prison sentence, Danny achieved a First-Class Honours Law Degree, giving him a unique combination of academic knowledge and first-hand understanding of the prison system. Since his release, he has become a paralegal and he has dedicated his career to improving access to justice by helping individuals navigate complex prison law matters, including parole hearings, categorisation reviews, licence issues and prison complaints.
Danny understands the challenges prisoners face because he has experienced them himself. He helps clients organise their case, identify the key issues and work effectively with their solicitor, ensuring representations are clear, well-structured and supported by the right information. His role complements legal advice, enabling solicitors to present the strongest possible case.
Working in partnership with Foster & Coleman Solicitors, Danny bridges the gap between lived experience and legal expertise. This collaborative approach helps clients feel heard, prepared and supported throughout what can often be one of the most important stages of their sentence.
"Legal Pathways, and especially Danny, have been amazing in helping my son with several prison law matters. Danny was thorough, precise and really knows his field. He gave us clear advice and genuine support when we needed it most. We're so grateful and would recommend Legal Pathways and Danny to anyone, 100%."
Whatever legal problem you are facing, Foster & Coleman are here to help.