Fraud

Our barristers have an enormously wide range of experience acting for the prosecution and defending on behalf of both individuals and companies accused of, or being investigated for, fraud.

Our many successes have been recognised with a number of awards and the fact that many of our barristers are ranked in the top tiers of the legal directories. Chambers has been ranked in the top tier for fraud in the Legal Directories for more than twenty years and has been voted “set of the year” on a number of occasions.

We provide clear and practical advice from the very earliest stages of an investigation and representation before the courts at any subsequent trial and ensure that our clients receive detailed advice as regards:

• The powers of the particular investigating body;
• The likely steps to be taken by the prosecuting body, including civil and criminal restraint proceedings;
• Appropriate strategies to be adopted by the client when faced with such an investigation; and
• Representation in all courts should the matter proceed to trial.

We also assist and advise in internal investigations carried out by Companies who face either an allegation that staff have committed fraud, or where a company has been the victim of fraud.

Our aim is to provide a service that best meets the need of the client, as we recognise the particular strains and pressures created by a criminal investigation at each stage counsel instructed will be available to consider appropriate applications and to advise on developments in the case.

Members of chambers are frequently instructed prior to charge to advise during the investigatory stages on such matters as:

• The seizure of privileged material;
• The legality of search warrants;
• The approach to be taken upon receipt of orders issued under section 2 of the Criminal Justice Act 1987;
• The impact of the proceedings on a business and how best to manage media interest and possible harm to the economic interests of a business, and
• The tactics to be deployed pre-charge including the best approach to voluntary interviews, mandatory interviews and interviews under caution.

Members have advised Ministers, Law Officers, ACPO and Chief Constables in the UK as well as heads of State and Law Officers of sovereign nations around the world.

Members of chambers have been instructed in most of the leading fraud trials of the past twenty years including, Maxwell, B.C.C.I., Brent Walker, Wickes Plc, Jubilee Line, The Arrows, Allied Resources, W.S.T.C, Bute mining, Alpine Double Glazing, Resort Hotels, Richmond Oil and Gas, The Cheney Pension Fund, R v Asil Nadir, B.A.E., Innospec, J.J.B., the LIBOR investigations, the first ever Bribery Act prosecution (all SFO prosecutions and investigations) as well as prosecutions brought by HMRC, the FSA and BERR (formerly the DTI).

Members of chambers have acted and advised in fraud matters throughout the UK, Europe and all over the world. Members frequently work as part of a multi-national team with lawyers from outside the UK, particularly where there are investigations that cover a number of jurisdictions.