Our specialist white collar crime department relocated in Autumn 2007, from Fleet Street to an attractive Georgian building in Bloomsbury. Specialising in all matters relating to fraud, money laundering and white collar crime we have an experienced team who possess the discretion and sensitivity to put at ease intelligent professional clients and the incisiveness and expertise to give first class advice.

HM Revenue and Customs prosecutions

i) VAT and Duty evasion/Cheats on the Revenue

We have considerable experience in representing defendants in major HM Customs & Excise/HM Revenue & Customs prosecutions. Cases in which we have been involved include the largest VAT tax fraud so far prosecuted in the UK. We have achieved high profile stays of large VAT (Missing Trader Intra Community MTIC ‘Carousel' fraud) and Duty evasion prosecutions (see notable cases) and in general we have had a high level of success in defending such actions.

We have also been involved in Hansard arrangements, risk management issues and advising on production and retention of documentation.

ii) Money laundering

Money laundering proceedings under Part 7 of Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (POCA) and the operation of Sections 327, 328 and 329 of the Act.

We act for clients accused with money laundering offences at all levels, including those facing prosecutions for very large conspiracies to launder. We remain abreast of up to date case law and key decisions and remain in close touch with leading counsel in this field (see also Proceeds of Crime).

iii) Tax offences under ICTA 1988

We continue to act for individuals, including company directors, and companies accused of tax offences under the various tax legislation.

Serious Fraud Office and other large fraud prosecutions

Serious Fraud Office (SFO) Investigations: we advise on all aspects of SFO investigations from the production of documents through to the attendance of interview and Trial.

Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Investigations: advising on compulsory interviews and statutory powers and challenges thereto.

Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) Investigations which often go hand in hand with prosecutions by revenue and Customs.

In addition we advise and represent clients in relation to: Advanced fee fraud; Timeshare fraud

We have defended the largest timeshare fraud (see notable cases); Successfully defended client charged with largest ever attempt to defraud the Bank of England (see notable cases); Mortgage fraud; Benefit fraud;

Identity; and credit card fraud.

We also deal with Civil/Commercial fraud, dawn raids, enterprise act, cartels, price fixing, banking fraud and insider dealing/share ramping

For enquiries relating to the above areas contact Martin Lee or Danny Cundy (Bloomsbury office) on 020 7842 8600