Financial crime, investigations and litigation

Our team advises both individual and corporate clients in relation to investigations and prosecutions into financial or business related crime. The consequences of being the subject of an investigation into an alleged financial crime can be severe, wide-ranging and immediate. Prosecuting agencies deploying ever expanding investigator powers may carry out raids and arrests, or obtain draconian court orders with little or no warning.

We can advise from the very outset of an investigation, from the initial search and seizure, arrests and interviews, and throughout any subsequent Court Proceedings. We also advise in relation to ancillary proceedings, and in particular Restraint Orders, World-Wide Freezing Orders, Account Freezing Orders and Production Orders.

We defend individuals, such as company directors and other professionals such as solicitors and accountants.  We also defend and advise corporate clients. We have defended in cases involving:

• VAT frauds
• Mortgage frauds
• Tax evasion
• Fraudulent trading
• MTIC (missing intra-community fraud)/carousel frauds
• Insurance fraud
• Crypto-currency related investigations
• Large scale money laundering investigations
• Bribery and Corruption
• Large scale confiscation proceedings

We have defended in cases brought by all the prime investigatory bodies, including:

• The Serious Fraud Office
• The Financial Conduct Authority
• His Majesty’s Customs and Revenue Economic Crime Unit
• National Crime Agency
• Crown Prosecution Service, Serious Economic, Organised Crime and International Directorate
• Department for Trade and Industry (now Department for Business and Trade)
• Office of Fair Trading
• Department for Work and Pensions and other Government departments
  

We advise at all stages of the process, from the initial seizure of material and interview under caution, through to trial. We also advise in relation to ancillary proceedings, in particular Restraint Orders and Account and World-wide Freezing Orders, which we appreciate can have a devastating impact on individuals and families if they are not responded to and challenged where possible. We advise individual who are the subject of notices issued by the Serious Fraud Office under s2 Criminal Justice Act 1987.

We also advise clients regarding compliance with anti-money laundering and other financial sector regulations. 

We have a team of dedicated and experienced lawyers in this field. We ensure that every client’s case is handled by an appropriately experienced solicitor. If a number of lawyers are required to work on a case in a team, we nonetheless ensure that our client still maintains access to and contact with the lead lawyer in the case throughout. Our clients are not part of a “conveyor belt” and we appreciate that communication with the leading lawyers in the case is key.

We ensure that clear, practical and strategic advice is given at the outset. We scrutinise evidence so that “no stone is left unturned” and defend each of our clients’ interests forensically and fearlessly. 

Recent notable work:

• Representing an individual in a prosecution for alleged multi-million pound fraud by abuse of position
• Representing an individual in an investigation for alleged multi-million pound crypto-currency related offences
• Representing high net worth individuals in relation to Account Freezing Orders
• Advising individuals in relation the application of Money Laundering Terrorist Financing and Transfer of Funds Regulations 2017 to their business activities
• Representing  an individual in relation to an investigation into alleged multi-million cross-border tax evasion and associated civil proceedings
• Representing a company in relation to cross-border asset realisation and recovery following misappropriation by one of its employees of over £100 million
• Advising a group of companies under investigation by the Secretary of State for Business and Trade under the Companies Act
• Advising the CEO of a foreign-based company in relation to allegations of multi-million pound fraud, and associated Mutual Legal Assistance issues
• Representing an individual prosecuted by HMRC for alleged multi-million pound fraud by abuse of position involving alleged misappropriation of stamp duty arising from property transactions
• Advising a company property regarding money laundering compliance

We are able to offer competitive hourly rates and overall fees, without compromising the quality of our representation. At the outset of your case we will explain the funding options with you with a view to putting into place a funding package that is affordable and manageable.