Criminal Fraud

Our lawyers have acted in some of the largest, most complex and highest-profile serious criminal fraud cases across the UK, including those investigated and prosecuted by the Serious Fraud Office, HM Revenue & Customs, Crown Prosecution Service, Business Innovation & Skills and the police for matters including bribery and corruption, MTIC, high yield investment fraud, asset stripping, creditor fraud, tax fraud and false accounting.

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.

In this section

Business Crime & Compliance

Services and experience

Our services
We have decades of experience and can help with:
24-hour access to our emergency helpline
responding to dawn raids
advising on the legality of warrants, productions orders and other information requests
advising on restraint and other freezing orders
advising on issues of legal professional privilege
advising on self-reporting, including suspicious activity reports and associated internal investigations
attendance at police stations
arrest
interviews under caution or PACE interviews
compelled interviews
being approached as a witness
representation at the Magistrates Court and Crown Court
preparation of cases for trial, including:
instruction of Counsel
review of evidence and unused material
advice on process
advice on abuse of process and other legal arguments
advice on experts required including forensic accountants and IT/computer specialists
advice on confiscation proceedings
advice on appeal.
Our experience
Cases that our lawyers have worked on include:
The recent Serious Fraud Office (SFO) investigation into TATA Speciality steels.
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.
The SFO case arising from the investigation into the Anglo-American Group.
The SFO Miners Compensation Fund investigation.
The SFO case arising from the collapse of the menswear group Ciro Citerrio.
The SFO investigation involving Lord Davenport and Gresham Ltd.
The SFO prosecution of individuals in the Duckers Furniture Ltd asset stripping case.
The SFO prosecution involving the collapse and asset stripping of Uno Shopfitting Ltd, Wavetown Ltd and Abbotts Wholesale (Tobacconists and Confectioners) Ltd.
The SFO prosecution of individuals in the Prudential Commercial case.
Representation of two directors charged with bribery and corruption under the Prevention of Corruption Act 1906 in respect of matters concerning the London Underground.
Representation of 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.
Conspiracy to defraud, Operation Bamburgh 2, property development and mortgage fraud, electronic presentation.
Representation of 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).
Acting for 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.
16 handed MTIC/Contra trading fraud (HM Revenue & Customs).
HMRC prosecution — £8 million fraud on the construction industry scheme, PAYE and NI schemes [Operation Savate].
Prosecution of Managing Partner of firm of solicitors in respect of multimillion-pound theft of office and client funds (CPS Fraud Prosecution).
Operation Wheatsheaf — conspiracy to defraud in the flower importation business.
Representation of two defendants in a £1 million property portfolio fraud prosecution in the North West.
Acting for 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.
Representation of six councillors of Doncaster Metropolitan Borough Council for expenses fraud — part of the ‘Donnygate scandal'.
Obtaining property by deception and arson with intent to endanger life. High performance motor racing vehicles insurance fraud.
VAT evasion in respect of the supply of hot water, steam and ice to NHS Trusts around the country (case collapsed).
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.
Representation of a defendant in a Financial Conduct Authority insider trading criminal investigation. Defendant officer / senior employee of a major retail PLC (FCA Investigation).
Multi-handed conspiracy to defraud prosecution — £4.3 million (CPS Fraud Prosecution — York).
Alleged theft by company directors of European Union grant money (BERR).
Investigation of a Managing Partner of a Solicitors practice in respect of money laundering linked to a cross border police force major crime unit investigation.
Northumbria, solicitor money laundering investigation concerning conveyancing transaction.
Investigation into the Managing partner of a solicitors practice in respect of an allegation of theft — interview and discontinuance (Local Police force)
Confiscation proceedings in respect of an international drugs importation conspiracy (CPS Organised Crime Division).
BTP London underground corruption.
Financial Services Authority investigation into an ‘approved person’ following alleged ‘serial’ mortgage fraud.