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Overview

Business Crime

Business Crime

As a business, you know only too well the seemingly challenging and complex nature of regulations and company related legislation. The onus is continuously upon you to ensure compliance, so that investigation and prosecution are avoided, particularly with the increasingly aggressive approach adopted by regulatory bodies.

Financial penalties for regulatory breaches and business-related crime are significant, as is the potential for reputational damage. There is a growing focus on corporate and environmental responsibility, and regulatory powers have scaled upwards for some years now, and there is no sign of this changing in the immediate future.

At Freemans Solicitors, we have an acclaimed team of business crime lawyers. We will provide robust, proactive advice to businesses and individuals across the spectrum of regulatory and corporate risk. Our core focus rests on protecting our clients by advising them on how to avoid regulatory investigations and prosecutions and, crucially, we are also able to offer an enviable level of skill in achieving exceptional outcomes where investigations and prosecutions are already underway.

Our Business Crime Services

Our highly talented business crimes defence team is made up of outstanding litigators and advocates and are a wise choice if your business would like advice on compliance, or is facing an investigation or a prosecution.

In December 2017, Freemans Solicitors was awarded the title of business crime Law Firm of the Year in the Lawyer Monthly Legal Awards. We have also been recommended in the leading legal directories of quality lawyers. We will provide first-class help across a comprehensive variety of issues.

Police station representation and advice

Discretion and reputation management is key in a business crime investigation, where you have been invited for an interview/arrested. That is what you can expect from your business crime lawyer at Freemans. Our clients can draw maximum advantage from outstanding and highly personalised legal guidance and representation, with the intention of placing them in the best position going forward. We provide expert advice in relation to investigations conducted by the police and other investigatory agencies.

Business and Financial Crime

A business crime lawyer at Freemans Solicitors, can offer representation against the full range of financial crime offences, including allegations of corporate fraud, bribery and corruption, insider dealing and market abuse, tax fraud, money laundering and financial record keeping offences. The investigation that you are facing may have been started by one of a number of investigatory bodies, depending on the nature of the allegation. These include the Serious Fraud Office, (SFO), the police, Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC), The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and the Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA). The SFO are able to prosecute as well as investigate. Cases investigated by the police and HMRC are usually prosecuted by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) The FCA is also able to prosecute, and will generally do so when the allegations that it is investigating relate to, for example, market manipulation and insider dealing.

If facing an investigation or prosecution we would strongly encourage early engagement with a business crime lawyer.

Proceeds of Crime

A financial crime lawyer at Freemans will represent corporate entities and individuals who are facing legal action under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002. We have an in-depth understanding and experience of how the consequences of such action can play out and therefore focus our guidance on challenging the actions of prosecutors, subjecting them to rigorous analysis and putting them to proof on their allegations. We have an excellent record in securing extremely good results for our clients in this area.

Health and Safety and Trading Standards Prosecutions

If you are facing an investigation or prosecution by the Health and Safety Executive or your local Trading Standards, your defence will be significantly galvanised by engaging the exceptional expertise of the regulatory crime lawyers at Freemans Solicitors.

Motoring Offences

Motoring offence prosecutions have the potential to lead to real adverse practical consequences, even more so when there is a business related connection. We understand that your key objectives will always be to keep your licence, avoid prosecution and, as a commercial enterprise, protect your reputation. Our business crime lawyers offer outstanding diagnostic expertise and exceptional skill in advancing technicalities and/or mitigating circumstances with a view to achieving the best possible outcome.

HMO and Other Housing Act Prosecutions

As a landlord or agent, you will be more than aware of the complexities of Housing Act and HMO law. Compliance is an ever-challenging undertaking. Working alongside knowledgeable legal experts with an in-depth comprehension of this area of regulation will immediately act to reduce your risk and protect your livelihood. If you are facing an investigation, our regulatory crime lawyers will offer you strength in representation, using their expertise to help you defend charges and achieve the outcome you need.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is ‘white collar crime’?

    White collar crime refers to criminal conduct related to illegal acts of deceit and concealment with a view to obtaining services, property or money, or to secure commercial or professional advantage. White collar crimes are non-violent and committed within the work environment.

  • What is ‘vicarious liability’?

    This is something that can catch out even the most vigilant business owner. It refers to situations where someone is held to account for the negligence or actions of someone else. Employers can be held vicariously liable for crimes committed by staff in the workplace, but only if it can be proved that there is a sufficiently close connection between an employee’s wrongdoing and the employment to the point where it is reasonable to hold the employer liable.

  • Who at the company is at risk of prosecution following a business-related crime?

    While this depends upon the specific legislation that applies to the prosecution, and the circumstances of the offence or regulatory breach itself, in general, it is the directors of a company and other senior managers and officers who may be prosecuted as individuals.

  • What is a ‘Deferred Prosecution Agreement’?

    Deferred prosecution agreements (DPAs) have been in operation since 2014 courtesy of the Crime and Courts Act 2013. Their objective is to encourage openness and self-reporting following corporate criminal activity. A DPA makes it possible for the Crown Prosecution Service or the Serious Fraud Office to defer a corporate prosecution providing the entity being prosecuted agrees to comply with certain conditions, such as a financial penalty. The organisation will still be charged with a criminal offence, however, providing a judge decides that the terms of the DPA are ‘fair, reasonable and proportionate’, the proceedings are suspended, only recommencing if there is a breach of the terms.

Freemans Solicitors: Business Crime Law Firm of the Year

The Lawyer Monthly Legal Awards recognises the achievements of legal specialists who have demonstrated a proven track record in delivering results for their clients. In December 2017, Freemans Solicitors was awarded the prestigious title of Business Crime Law Firm of the Year in recognition of its work in this area of law.

For anyone seeking a serious fraud solicitor in London a financial crime solicitor, or regulatory crime lawyer, Freemans make an astute choice.

Strategic; highly dedicated to the welfare of its clients and recognised as a leading criminal law practice by the leading legal directories its business crime lawyers offer outstanding quality of advice and excellent representation to provide the reassurance you need

To discuss your case in confidence, please contact our business and regulatory crime team directly on 020 7935 3522 or crimelawyers@freemans.net, always remembering that early advice can be crucial in securing the best possible outcome. In an emergency we can be contacted 24/7 on 07973 259 382

Team

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Michael Field
 Partner/Barrister
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Kishoree Kotecha-Pau
 Partner
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Peter Bedingfield
 Partner / Solicitor Advocate
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Leo Martin
 Partner
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Deborah Hogg
 Associate Solicitor
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Karol Hart
 Solicitor Advocate
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Julian Hunt
 Barrister
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Helen Newnham
 Solicitor Advocate
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Oliver Prewer
 Paralegal
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Lucy Reynolds
 Trainee Solicitor
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Nipa Paul
 Paralegal
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Harvey Fox
 Police Station Advice Coordinator
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Simon Shoreman
 Police Station Advisor
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What they say about us

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The ‘exceptional’ Freemans Solicitors fields litigation and advocacy teams which work together to represent clients in cases concerning serious fraud, violence and sexual offences. ‘Top quality advocate’ Michael Field, who has more than 25 years’ experience, and established the firm’s crime department, co-leads the team with ‘simply superb’ Kishoree Kotecha-Pau. Higher court advocate Peter Bedingfield is experienced in all areas of criminal law, and works with vulnerable clients such as young people and those suffering from serious mental illness. Leo Martin, who joined from Hodge Jones & Allen in April 2021, specialises in pre-charge advice, aiding clients in avoiding potential criminal prosecution. (2023 Edition of The Legal 500 – Crime, Tier 3)
The team is very cohesive and well organised with polite and helpful staff. (2023 Edition of The Legal 500)
They are the best law firm in the country. Have used them on many occasions and they are exceptionally professional, organized, clear and concise, value for money, dedicated and their staff have amazing knowledge of the law process. (2023 Edition of The Legal 500)
Freemans are an exceptional firm as their solicitors genuinely care about their clients and represent them to the highest levels. They have a very skilled and experienced team who represent their clients extremely well. (2023 Edition of The Legal 500)
The lawyers at Freemans are hardworking, they have backbone and they know their stuff. The firm provides a well rounded service where you know the solicitors have proper support from a capable and efficient back office team. (2023 Edition of The Legal 500)
Extremely strong and well – resourced team capable of litigating large scale criminal cases. (2023 Edition of The Legal 500)
The hard work they put in to achieving the best results always pays off and this is in part because they understand how to resource and manage cases properly and match the best people to the case and the client. (2023 Edition of The Legal 500)
Peter Bedingfield is an exceptional solicitor, from the outset he was very patient, explained everything in meticulous so easy to comprehend method, took my calls at inconvenient times, provided clear advise and followed through with calls and emails. I was lucky to have such a solicitor.
Fantastic solicitors. They really came up trumps for me. During the trial, they really gave a lot of knowledge and support. I had a good outcome from the case and continue to work in the job I love, all thanks to them. Freemans are really good firm full of hard workers and caring solicitors, and I really would recommend them to anyone who finds themselves under arrest/due to face criminal proceedings.
Please accept my sincere appreciation for all your excellent services and highly professional support that tremendously helped to show my innocence. I am immensely grateful to everybody that contributed to this positive outcome.
I would like to express how deeply grateful we are to the Freemans solicitors team, everyone from beginning to end was extremely helpful and thorough throughout my case. They did not leave a stone un-turned. They stayed in close contact and kept me completely up to date with what's was going on without delay. I received complete support from beginning to end. I would greatly recommend Freemans solicitors to you and have done to various other people who have also received there outstanding help from a great team.
Freemans are staffed by very professional people, considerate, helpful, keep their promises, truly go the extra mile to deliver the very best service possible. Their only consideration seems to be delivering the best service to the client. Absolutely awesome. A pleasure to have known this firm. Whilst I don't know every law firm in the country, the service I received from this firm was absolutely perfect and without a flaw, I don't believe there is a firm out there that can beat this one. During a most difficult period of my life ever. Freemans looked after me like no-one else could ever do. If there is a firm that deserves the highest 5 stars then it is Freemans. In fact 5* is too little for service I received from Freemans Solicitors.
I have yet to hear of trials that resulted in guilty verdicts. Brilliant team. On the ball. Would never recommend clients in the south east to go anywhere else. It's Freeman's all the way.
I cannot think of another firm that is so highly regarded by all those that have instructed them, feedback is literally 100% positive. Freemans should be your first port of call.
The firm is well organised and very responsive to clients' needs. It has good facilities and very supportive staff; you are made to feel very welcome.
I had a difficult case, with multiple parties involved and to add to this I was in the US West coast throughout the whole ordeal. I had the pleasure of Barrister Michael Field handling my case, who was diligent, thorough and extremely accommodating of my time zone circumstances. The preparation for the case was a breeze, with Michael taking care of all nuances and building a strong case. Luckily for me the case was dropped before the hearing with no follow up afterwards. I believe the other party did not want to proceed because of Michael's expert handling of my defense and the strength of the case he had built. I would highly recommend Freeman's Solicitors. There is no one else I will go to for legal work ever again!
This firm is absolutely excellent and they have recruited some of the best people to work for them. They are all amazing, helpful, kind, considerate, committed and extremely knowledgeable about their work.
Freemans Solicitors goes ‘well beyond what is expected in terms of client care and preparation’, and the team’s ‘steely determination obtains the best possible results’. ‘The crime team provides a "good, personalised service.
Exceptional. At a very trying time of our lives, we were recommended Freemans solicitors. We are very grateful for that recommendation - the outcome of the proceedings we were to be entangled with were beyond our best hopes and far beyond our realistic expectations. The team at Freemans were helpful, proactive and were able to put us in contact with equally formidable contacts that we needed in connected professions. Highly recommended.
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Crime Emergency? Call: 07973 259 382

If you need help with an interview, whether by the police or another investigating agency,
please call our emergency number, our line is open 24 hours a day.

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