Our Legal Team in Bromley

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.

Tom is a solicitor who has been with Foster & Coleman for 3 years. Having achieved a first-class undergraduate degree, he graduated with commendations on both the Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL) and Legal Practice Course (LPC) at the University of Law, London Moorgate.

Since joining the firm following the conclusion of his LPC, Tom has worked closely with both Paul and Steve across the full array of services provided by Foster & Coleman. This has ranged from proceedings in the Family and Criminal Courts, to complex financial and contractual issues, all the way to proceedings under the Human Rights Act.

Tom is diligent and attentive in all his dealings with clients. In particular, this has included working with vulnerable clients, including victims of domestic violence and claimants in clinical negligence claims that have suffered life altering injuries. Tom is able to sympathise with clients and offer clear, pragmatic advice in the most difficult circumstances.

The experience gained and work undertaken at Foster & Coleman was an important foundation for Tom to complete his legal education, resulting in his passing of the Solicitor Qualifying Examinations in November 2023.

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.