Beltrami and Company was founded by Joseph Beltrami in 1958. Throughout an illustrious career, Beltrami appeared for the defence in over 500 murder trials and a number of high-profile cases involving, for example, Johnny Ramensky, Jimmy Boyle, and Arthur Thompson, whom he managed to acquit of various criminal charges on many occasions throughout the 1980s. Such successful defences led to the coining of the phrase "get me Beltrami" as a plea for legal assistance and representation in desperate circumstances amongst Glaswegians during the time.
Two of Beltrami’s cases led to the only Royal Pardons granted in Scotland in the 20th century; namely that of Patrick Meehan, falsely accused of murder of a pensioner during a break-in at a house in Ayr, and Maurice Swanson, wrongly convicted for a bank robbery. Further, Beltrami defended successfully in 12 capital murder cases. As the Herald put it, “Beltrami 12, Hangman 0”.
In 1993, Beltrami became the first Solicitor-Advocate to plead in the Court of Criminal Appeal.
Defined by peers as an “institution, not only in Glasgow, but in Scotland”, Joseph Beltrami has long been regarded as Scotland’s best known criminal defence lawyer and has been awarded an honorary life membership of the Law Society of Scotland, the highest honour the Law Society can bestow upon a Scottish solicitor.
CRIMINAL DEFENCE
Our criminal defence lawyers and solicitors are recognised as Scotland's best criminal lawyers in the preparation, presentation and conduct of criminal defence cases.
If you have been charged with a crime, or think you are going to be, contact our top rated criminal defence lawyers today.
Our criminal defence lawyers & solicitors, based in Glasgow, advise and represent clients in Sheriff Courts and the High throughout Scotland. From Aberdeen to Orkney, from Edinburgh to Elgin, Stranraer to Wick, our solicitors can and will act on your behalf. We can advise you on funding and are registered to provide legal aid.
Our criminal defence services include:
We advise on:
Beltrami & Company are an award-winning firm of specialist criminal law practitioners. The firm has been highly regarded amongst its peers for six decades providing a professional, dedicated and astute range of legal services across Scotland and beyond.
The firm boasts a wealth of legal knowledge and expertise, particularly in the field of criminal law, employing creative legal thinkers to interpret the law and provide imaginative legal problem solving techniques.
Having acted in more than 150,000 cases in 60 years in every court in Scotland, the firm boasts a wealth of legal knowledge and expertise, particularly in the field of criminal law, employing creative legal thinkers to interpret the law and provide imaginative legal problem solving techniques.
Our team is led by Gary McAteer. Comprising 4 Solicitor Advocates, 1 Queens Counsel and 9 Solicitors along with qualified support staff, we boast unrivalled criminal defence expertise.
We are ranked number one by a variety of different peer-reviewed organisations. We are in the top tier in the prestigious Chambers directory. Chambers describes us a ‘highly regarded’ criminal law practice with ‘deep roots’ in the Glasgow criminal defence community. They also note our expertise in handling murder/homicide cases, defending violent crime and our expertise in the growing and fast-moving field of sectarian crime.
The Legal 500 place us in their top tier for crime, fraud and licensing law and note that we enjoy “An unrivalled reputation in Glasgow”.
We are the criminal lawyers other lawyers recommend. No matter how serious an offence you have been charged with, Beltrami and company have the skills and expertise to defend you.
Beltrami and Company offer a high quality service to all clients, whether the case is legal aided or privately funded. Clients can be assured of complete confidentiality and discretion.
Beltrami & Company are conveniently based near Glasgow city centre but operate throughout Scotland. The firm offers a 24-hour, 365-day a year service for clients in police custody. Any calls to our offices out with normal business hours can be dealt with by an experienced solicitor. Contact us today to find out more.
Families go through different stages – not all good, but sometimes unavoidable.
Those involved sometimes need to make big decisions when they could not feel less equipped to do so.
That is why good family law advice is so important.
Beltrami & Co have a team of family lawyers who between them have encountered the full range of difficult family law situations, so can give advice and guidance to clients. These areas include:
Contractual terms will be agreed with you at the outset and will depend on the value and complexity of the case. For the types of cases above, we are unable to offer legal aid, but we can take on cases funded through insurance.
Please also view our A-Z of Family Law terms.
For a limited number of cases, we are able to obtain legal aid funding in the following areas:
We need to meet with you first to see if you qualify
Please contact these services for advice about emotional support:
Beltrami & Company are conveniently based near Glasgow city centre but operate throughout Scotland. Any calls to our offices out with normal business hours can be dealt with by an experienced solicitor.
Employment Law Solicitors Glasgow
Our Glasgow solicitors have extensive experience advising companies and individuals on all aspects of employment law. If you need any help in relation to employment law contact us today.
Whether you are any employee or an employer, our Glasgow based employment lawyers can help you. Some of the subjects we routinely advise on include:
Our renowned Glasgow employment lawyers are only a phone call away. We will be able to help you with all aspects of employment law in professional, approachable and affordable way.
Speak to one of our solicitors today for employment law advice because in this area in particular obtaining quick and relevant advice is critical to you chances of success.
Beltrami and Co Solicitors has many years of representing and protecting the interests of small business owners and shareholders. Our lawyers understand the pressures small businesses face in trading in a tough economic environment, whilst at the same time having to navigate the difficult and increasingly complex terrain of company and commercial law.
In this highly regulated and often burdensome regulatory environment, Beltrami and Co Solicitors can help you make sense of the legal requirement and jargon associated with running a small business.
Beltrami and Co Solicitors can help you with incorporation and Companies House registration.
We can advise young entrepreneurs or people who want to become self-employed and fulfil their dream of starting up a business as to what the right company formation is for you, and what suits your business needs best. For instance, we can advise on whether your company should be:
Registered by shares, registered by guarantee or registered with limited or unlimited liability, or alternatively whether it would be best to acquire an ‘off the shelf company.’ We can also advise you about the registration requirements of Companies House.
We can help you understand the principle of separate legal personality and what this means for you and your business, when contracting with other entities, taking on other directors or shareholders, and importantly when things go wrong. For instance, in relation to Proceeds of Crime legislation, contractual/tax disputes, vicarious liability or employment matters.
Beltrami and Co Solicitors can help you with your company’s constitution and articles of association.
We can advise you on your company’s constitution and articles of association. We can advise on matters relating to the contractual effect of the articles, the alteration of the articles, class rights and shareholder agreements, amongst other things. We can help you draft your company’s constitution in a way which best suits you and your business needs.
Beltrami and Co Solicitors can help you with small business funding.
We understand that in this tough economic climate funding for businesses, essential for business growth, is more and more difficult. We can advise you on fixed charges, floating charges, registration charges and debentures.
Beltrami and Co Solicitors can help you with Director’s duties.
We can advise you on the role of a Director, corporate governance and director’s duties. For instance, appointment and termination of directors, contracts of service.
The law relating to directing duties is complex and is governed by the Companies Act 2006. We can advise you on many of the issues facing directors, but here are some of the most important duties;
We can advise you of the penalties and repercussions associated with breaches of director’s duties and also how to stop any breach from happening in the first place.
Beltrami and Co Solicitors can help you with company failure and liquidation.
No small business owner ever wants to end up in this situation, but if it does happen: Beltrami and Co Solicitors can help you. We can advise you on the legal framework such as navigating the Insolvency Act 1986, and Insolvency Act 2000 as well as the Enterprise Act 2002. We can advise you on the best way of ‘winding up’ your business, whether it should be members voluntary or creditors voluntary winding up, and what a compulsory winding up means for you and your business. For instance the process for liquidation and the appointment of a liquidator.
We can advise you on ‘rescue procedures’ such as taking the business into administration or pre-pack administration. We can advise you on the appointment of a receiver or on the orderly dissolution of your company.
Beltrami & Co solicitors can advise on many aspects of company law which apply to your business. Please contact us today using our online enquiry form.
If you need advice raising or defending a court action in Scotland, Beltrami & Company can help. When all of your other options have been exhausted, it may be necessary to take court action to settle a dispute.
All of our lawyers are empathetic and understanding, and we can help guide you through every step in a straightforward manner. We know that the prospect of raising or defending a court action may seem daunting, but our solicitors are here to support you through this complex legal process.
We are a highly respected, reputable and well-established law firm, and strive to put your mind at ease. To discuss your specific case, get in touch with us today by calling 0141 465 5366. Alternatively, you can complete our online enquiry form, and a member of our team will be in touch to arrange an appointment.
Beltrami & Company has a team of experienced civil litigation lawyers, and we routinely help clients across Scotland with all matters related to court actions. If you need to raise a court action in the Scottish courts, you need a team of expert litigation solicitors to ensure the best possible chance of a successful outcome.
Navigating the process of raising a Court Action can seem challenging, but when you work with Beltrami & Company, you can be confident that your case is in the very best hands. We can help you with raising actions for:
Our solicitors will guide you through the legal proceedings from start to finish. We will discuss your case with you and gather evidence to build your claim. We will then obtain and complete all of the necessary forms and advise and act for you throughout the proceedings.
If you have been served court papers, or it has been intimated that another party wishes to bring a Court action against you, we can help. You must seek the advice of an experienced lawyer at an early stage so that we can help build the best possible defence strategy for your case.
When you contact Beltrami & Company, we will carefully assess your situation to build and prepare a practical and strategic defence for you. Certain types of cases also carry with them the possibility of reputational damage, for example, commercial matters that the media may have an interest in, or personal injury cases involving companies and defamation cases. We can help control the media storm that surrounds such cases, protecting not only your financial position but your reputation too.
We have excellent experience in defending a broad variety of civil claims, and we are highly recognised for our tenacious and thorough approach to both civil and criminal defence.
Beltrami & Company offers a high-quality civil litigation service. We understand the sensitive nature of many of our cases, but our clients can rest assured of complete confidentiality and discretion. Beltrami & Company operates throughout Scotland, with offices in Glasgow city centre. Call us today on 0141 465 5366 or complete our online enquiry form, and we will get back to you.
