Criminal investigations

We act for corporates and for senior executives facing criminal investigation and prosecution and we have defended clients in some of the most notable and high-profile prosecutions in the UK and overseas.

We understand that reputation management is key for our clients and we ensure that our approach and response is sensitive to this objective.

Our expertise includes defending allegations of fraud, money laundering, breaches of the Money Laundering Regulations, bribery and corruption, insider dealing, market manipulation and sanctions compliance.

In our experience, the lines between criminal, regulatory and civil proceedings are becoming increasingly blurred, particularly in the UK where regulatory authorities such as the FCA are now more comfortable utilising the criminal powers at their disposal and often work in tandem with the SFO or the US Department of Justice.

With our experienced team of leading practitioners that combines different legal disciplines and experience, we offer our clients a bespoke defence team covering all aspects of such criminal investigations and proceedings.

Criminal investigations experience

• Acted for senior executives in relation to the SFO and FRC investigations into Serco.

• Acted for a senior individual in relation to the SFO investigations into Rolls Royce Plc.

• Acted a senior individual in relation to the SFO investigations into Unaoil.

• Acted for individuals in relation to the investigations and proceedings bought against Barclays Bank Plc and others relating to the 2008 capital raisings from the Qatar Investment Authority.

• Defended a senior director of Alstom in relation to the largest ever prosecution for bribery bought by the SFO in the transportation industry. The senior director was acquitted of all charges.

• Acted for a senior individual in relation to a FCA investigation into alleged criminal breaches of the Money Laundering Regulations.

• Acted for a senior individual in relation to the SFO investigations into ENRC.