Fraud Defence
When faced with allegations of fraud or breach of your corporate duties, your livelihood and reputation are immediately at stake. There can be no compromise in your defence as there will be no compromise in the attack. The opposition often has months to plan their first move and will use tools such as Search Orders and Asset Freezing Orders in an attempt to overwhelm you. Your immediate response is critical and unless properly advised could severely damage your case and assist any parallel criminal or regulatory investigation.
Why we are different
The hallmark of our practice is comprehensive strategic advice to anyone facing a civil claim while being investigated at the same time by prosecution agencies, Inland Revenue, regulators or employers.
Our team has over 25 years combined experience and understands all of the tactics used by claimants. We use this knowledge to predict and counter-attack their every move and ensure that proceedings are conducted on a level playing ground. Our proven litigation techniques will defend your rights while we fight to protect your future.
Services
Our team represents those requiring advice in relation to:
- Civil Injunctions - including freezing orders, search orders and disclosure orders
- Disciplinary investigation/sanctions by the Financial Services Authority
- Investigations by other professional regulators and Government bodies
- Money laundering compliance issues
- Restraint and confiscation proceedings
- Investigations by Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs
- Requests for disclosure by prosecution authorities in the UK and abroad.
Experience
Recently, members of our team have advised the following:
- Advised a company and its directors in proceedings brought by the Hungarian authorities alleging personal liability in respect of the insolvency of the Company’s Hungarian subsidiary. The proceedings were successfully defended.
- Advised in major cases with prosecutors in Italy, Hungary and Germany.
- Acted for a number of individuals seeking the return of money and other valuable property seized by various regulatory or criminal authorities both in the UK and overseas, including Switzerland, Nigeria and Denmark.
- Advising a City of London banker in defending civil proceedings brought by the Bank to recover substantial bonuses paid by the Bank for alleged misconduct, deceit and breach of contract and in the parallel investigation by the Financial Services Authority. The allegations concern the pricing of sophisticated financial products. Individuals under investigation by HMRC in relation to allegations of irregular activities relating to the importation of goods from outside the jurisdiction.
- The managing director of a private company who was subject of a FSA investigation into market abuse. A settlement was negotiated with the FSA through mediation.
- Our members have a wealth of experience in executing and defending Search Orders and have been instructed as Supervising Solicitors.