Criminal Fraud

We'll be by your side to guide you through each step of the criminal process.

In this section

We've worked on some of the largest, most complex and highest-profile serious criminal fraud cases across the UK concerning bribery and corruption, MTIC, high yield investment fraud, asset stripping, creditor fraud, tax fraud and false accounting.

These cases have been investigated and prosecuted by the Serious Fraud Office, HM Revenue & Customs, Crown Prosecution Service, Business Innovation & Skills and the police.

We recognise the importance of receiving the right advice at the right time. You can rest assured that we will be by your side to guide you through each step of the criminal process. We will ensure that no stone is left unturned in your defence and you are fully prepared for every turn that a matter may take — whether that be challenging law enforcement by way of judicial review or preparing your matter for trial.

Meet the team

24 hour emergency hotline

Our legal team can advise you on:

the legality of warrants, productions orders and other information requests
restraint and other freezing orders
issues of legal professional privilege
self-reporting, including suspicious activity reports and associated internal investigations

Police matters, handled.

We can support with:

attendance at police stations
arrest
interviews under caution or PACE interviews
compelled interviews
responding to dawn raids.
being approached as a witness
require representation at the Magistrates Court and Crown Court.

Prepare your case for trial

Our legal experts can help you with instruction of Counsel and reviewing evidence and unused material. We can also offer advice on:

process
abuse of process and other legal arguments
experts required including forensic accountants and IT/computer specialists
confiscation proceedings
appeal.

Our Serious Fraud Office cases

Prosecutions

The first SFO prosecution of individuals following the second-ever deferred prosecution agreement in relation to allegations of bribery involving Sarclad Ltd including the judicial review of the SFO.
Prudential Commercial case.
Duckers Furniture Ltd asset stripping case.
Collapse and asset stripping of Uno Shopfitting Ltd, Wavetown Ltd and Abbotts Wholesale (Tobacconists and Confectioners) Ltd.
Collapse of the menswear group Ciro Citerrio.

Investigations

Lord Davenport and Gresham Ltd.
TATA Speciality steels.
Anglo-American Group.
Miners Compensation Fund.

Conspiracy to defraud cases

Operation Wheatsheaf — conspiracy to defraud in the flower importation business.
Obtaining property by deception and arson with intent to endanger life. High performance motor racing vehicles insurance fraud.
Operation Bamburgh 2 — property development and mortgage fraud, electronic presentation.
Conspiracy to defraud and two counts of misusing the telecommunications system. Misuse of premium rate telephone service set up through the defendant’s company and hacking through a BT Automated switchboard.
Multi-handed conspiracy to defraud prosecution — £4.3 million (CPS Fraud Prosecution — York).

Manchester office, a figure walks into a meeting room

We can represent you

Our experience includes representing:

two directors charged with bribery and corruption under the Prevention of Corruption Act 1906 in respect of matters concerning the London Underground
an ex-FSA (as it was then) approved director of branded mortgage lender in a £250 million mortgage, re-sale, re-mortgage and property investment schemes
a defendant in an £8 million high yield investment fraud involving acquisition of land, commercial and residential property and fraudulent bank lending (CPS Fraud Prosecution — London)
a director of a non-status commercial lending company in a multi-jurisdictional (Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus) advance fee fraud prosecuted by the Special Case Work team of the CPS
two defendants in a £1 million property portfolio fraud prosecution in the North West
six councillors of Doncaster Metropolitan Borough Council for expenses fraud — part of the ‘Donnygate scandal'.
a defendant in a Financial Conduct Authority insider trading criminal investigation. Defendant officer / senior employee of a major retail PLC (FCA Investigation)
the director of a number of companies in a £1.8 million DTI fraudulent trading allegation in which the directors of the relevant companies are alleged to have phoenixed.