Financial Investigations

Our team of criminal defence specialists have a wealth of experience representing individuals at police interviews across the UK in all areas of financial crime.

We engage in proactive pre-charge representation with the investigating body, assisting clients prior to interview and throughout the entirety of the investigation to bring matters to an early and favourable conclusion.

If you are under investigation or invited to attend a voluntary interview under caution, it is imperative that you obtain your right to independent legal advice at the earliest opportunity. The interview is a critical point of any criminal case and will determine if, and how, your matter proceeds along the criminal track. Instructing a strong defence team from the outset is crucial to ensure that your legal position is robustly protected at all times.

Representation at interview is limited under Legal Aid is limited, with a fixed fee only covering work conducted in the police station. For most suspects in the system, this means meeting their representative for the first time on the day of the scheduled interview and receiving little to no contact thereafter until a charging decision has been made. Pre-charge engagement under Legal Aid is also restrictive and does not apply until after the first interview under caution.

We only accept pre-charge advice and representation instructions on a private basis which enables us to act without restriction and provide you with all the professional advice, legal representation and emotional support you need, from the outset of a criminal investigation through to its conclusion.

Facing a criminal allegation, irrespective of the seriousness, can have a profound impact upon your wellbeing, career, family and everyday life. We will represent you ethically, non-judgementally and act for you with total privacy and sensitivity, whilst supporting you throughout the investigation.

How we can help

Our private pre-charge advice and representation includes, but is not limited to:

Assuming all direct communication with the relevant authorities and facilitating communication to protect your wellbeing
Securing a suitable date/time/location, to the satisfaction of all parties, for the interview under caution to take place
Obtaining detailed pre-interview disclosure from the police so you can properly understand the evidence and case against you
Thorough preparation of your case and detailed advice in advance of the interview under caution so that you feel fully prepared and supported
Identifying early lines of inquiry for pre-charge engagement to expedite the process
Attending the police station to represent you for the interview under caution to ensure that your basic and legal rights are protected throughout, including any further interviews
Entering into formal pre-charge engagement with the police and proactively defending you thereafter, for example, identifying important lines of enquiry, gathering, preserving and reviewing evidence, speaking with witnesses, obtaining third party material and instructing defence experts on your behalf
Submitting robust pre-charge written defence representations against charge to be carefully considered by police or CPS
Regular contact and support throughout your case, including face to face and video conferences, at your convenience

We can help at any stage of the police investigation; whether you are currently under investigation following arrest and interview, have been invited to a voluntary interview by police or are awaiting a charging decision.

For more information on any of the above click here, or if you have been requested to attend an interview or have notification of court proceedings, please contact us today.

We can provide urgent advice and support in respect of dawn raids, arrests, and investigations.

The first few hours of an investigation can be critical and your responses at that time could impact upon how the investigation proceeds and whether charges ultimately follow.

We have expertise in dawn raid procedures and will advise you and protect your interests.

We can communicate with the investigating team as to:

The legal basis for the search
Intention to arrest and/or conduct interviews
Approach to enabling access to company data post seizure
Ensuring the protection of legally privileged material
Advising you or colleagues prior to and at any interviews
Post search, seizure and interview engagement
Advising on any Restraint or Freezing Orders imposed
Overseeing digital investigations with specialist IT support
Advice on next steps for the company

CMA Investigations

The FCA has wide-ranging powers to investigate, take enforcement action or bring criminal prosecutions.

Individuals and companies may be investigated for potential criminal offences including insider dealing, money laundering, market abuse, misleading statements, or for regulatory breaches of the FCA’s regime.

As a specialist criminal defence firm, we never lose sight of the primary concern of most of our clients: the threat of criminal prosecution.

We will advise you/your company as to how to respond to the investigation enquiries, interviews under caution, requests for information. Where appropriate we will negotiate with the FCA investigators with conduct.

We work with expert and experienced forensic accountants, computer specialists and barristers to provide the support and advice required at any stage.

HMRC and Tax fraud includes evasion, where an individual or company avoids their tax liability by deliberately failing to declare their income, or by falsifying expenses. It also includes smuggling goods that are liable to excise duty, customs duty or VAT. Tax theft can arise when a person claims amounts that are not due.

We have acted in a range of tax fraud cases including a multi-million-pound film tax relief conspiracy prosecution brought by HMRC and numerous cases of Fraudulent Evasion of VAT, Stamp Duty relief, MTIC Fraud, Carousel Fraud, Cheating the Public Revenue, Fraudulent Conduct to obtain Tax Credits, and Fraudulent Evasion of Duty/Evasion of Excise Duty.

SFO Investigations

Trading Standards Investigations

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