Serious Fraud Solicitors Manchester: SFO Defence Lawyers

Our team of Serious Fraud Solicitors has successfully represented and advised clients in serious High Value Fraud cases since 1998.

If you or your business is facing allegations of serious fraud, it is essential that you contact a legal advisor before you make any important decisions.

Allegations of this nature can be extremely damaging to a company or individual so immediate specialist advice is vital in order to protect your rights, your business and your reputation.

Our Serious Fraud Solicitors know how to use their wealth of experience to gain the best possible result for you. We will deal with the authorities on your behalf and advise you on how to face the investigation if you have been accused of committing a fraud offence - such as during interviews under caution.

If you have been accused of Serious High Value Fraud and need specialist advice from qualified Serious Fraud Solicitors with a proven track record, call Draycott Browne today.  ​​​​We’ve been successfully defending clients in fraud cases for over 20 years.

What is serious high value fraud?

Fraud is the act of deception for financial or personal gain. For high value cases, that personal gain must represent a substantial amount. This type of criminal offence is typically at the expense of another individual, business or organisation.

Crimes considered Serious High Value Fraud include the following:

Bribery and corruption

Engaging in bribery and corruption involves any action with the intention of influencing the behaviour of another party or gaining an unfair advantage through illegal or unlawful means. This can manifest in various forms, such as offering bribes, extorting money, or engaging in fraudulent activities. Such behaviour not only undermines trust and fairness but can also have serious legal and ethical implications.

Corporate fraud

Corporate fraud refers to illegal activities committed by a corporation or business entity with the intention of deliberately misrepresenting the company’s financial position or activities. Examples of corporate fraud include tax fraud, asset stripping and fraudulent trading. It can also include the corporation’s failure to prevent the facilitation of overseas tax evasion, where the company may be involved in actions that aid or abet individuals or entities in evading taxes overseas. These activities can have serious legal and financial implications for the corporation and its stakeholders.

Investment fraud

Investment fraud involves deceiving investors in order to persuade them to part with their money or savings. This fraudulent activity can take various forms such as pyramid schemes, boiler room operations, advance fee payments and other deceptive tactics. These fraudulent schemes often rely on false or misleading information to lure investors into making financial commitments and then exploit their trust for illicit gains. Investment fraud can have severe financial consequences for victims and is a serious concern within the financial industry.

Mortgage fraud

Mortgage fraud occurs when individuals or entities deceive or misrepresent information during the mortgage lending process to obtain a loan or influence the terms of a loan. This can involve various parties such as borrowers, mortgage brokers, appraisers and lenders. This can include providing false income information, inflating property appraisals and misrepresenting occupancy status. Mortgage fraud not only harms lenders and investors but also affects the stability of the housing market. It can result in financial losses, legal repercussions and damage to the overall integrity of the lending industry.

Money laundering

Money laundering is a process used by criminal organisations to conceal the illicit origins of their funds and make them appear as if they come from a legitimate source. It involves a series of transactions with the aim of disguising the illegal proceeds to avoid detection by law enforcement and regulatory authorities. By successfully laundering money, criminal organisations are able to integrate their illicit gains into the legitimate economy, making it challenging for authorities to uncover and disrupt their illegal operations.

High value fraud is committed though one of three deception methods:

• Providing false information
• A failure to disclose information
• An abuse of power

​​​Convictions for these crimes carry long custodial sentences and may also lead to a confiscation order under the Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA). This is done to recover the cash and assets gained through the criminal activity in question.

High value fraud cases are often high profile due to both the seriousness of the crime and the amount of money involved in the case. Our Serious Fraud Solicitors have first-hand experience of dealing with high-profile cases of public interest and will work tirelessly and discreetly to protect your rights during this time.

If you are facing allegations of fraud, contact our fraud investigations solicitors now for expert legal advice tailored to your personal circumstances.

What is a white collar crime?

White collar crime is the term used to describe non-violent acts of serious financial crimes and business crimes. This includes fraud, bribery, insider trading, tax evasion and money laundering committed by individuals, corporations and financial institutions.

At Draycott Browne, we have a specialist team of highly regarded Serious Fraud Solicitors who work closely with forensic accountants, barristers and other experts to mount a thorough and effective defence on behalf of our clients.

What happens in an SFO investigation?

If you are under investigation or are currently facing charges of fraud, your case will be dealt with by the Serious Fraud Office (SFO), an independent government agency that works closely with the police. They investigate and prosecute serious or complex fraud, bribery and corruption.

An SFO investigation will look for any incriminating evidence that will support their case against you, and use any evidence found to prosecute you. Where necessary, forensic accountants, data analysts and IT specialists will investigate financial discrepancies and inaccuracies to identify fraudulent activity, financial misrepresentation or misconduct.

The Serious Fraud Office (SFO) may investigate if there are reasonable grounds to suspect:

• conspiracy to defraud
• theft from a company
• fraudulent trading
• bribery and corruption
• tax evasion

Under the powers of The Proceeds of Crime Act, the SFO may also pursue individuals who have financially benefited from criminal activity.

Under section 2 of the Criminal Justice Act, the SFO has unique powers and a unique approach to intelligence gathering regarding major fraud investigations. They have the ability to compel any company or individual to hand over any information or documentation that it believes are relevant to their investigation. This includes material held abroad if there is a sufficient connection to the UK.

The SFO will assess the potential or actual harm to the public, the reputation and integrity of the UK as a financial centre and the UK's economy and prosperity. They will also consider the potential financial loss, whether the case is in the public interest and if the case involves a new type of fraud.

Until your home or business is raided by the SFO, it is unlikely that you will be aware that you are being investigated by the SFO. By the time you find out, the SFO will have already applied for search warrants and restraint orders or asset freezing orders.

For this reason, you will need the advice of a highly skilled team of SFO Lawyers with the experience and expertise of dealing with the SFO to achieve the best possible conclusion to the investigation.

We can assist at all stages of SFO investigations and prosecutions.

Our SFO Lawyers provide specialist advice and representation on all areas of serious fraud, business crime, regulatory law, money laundering and serious financial crime matters. With extensive experience in all areas of white collar crime, and reputation as one of the UK’s leading criminal defence law firms, you can rely on us with confidence in your time of need.

What are the penalties for serious high value fraud?

The consequences for committing serious fraud can be severe and depend on the specific circumstances of the case, such as the scale of the fraud and the level of planning involved.

If someone is found guilty of serious fraud, they could face lengthy prison sentences of up to 10 years. In cases involving large-scale public revenue fraud, the sentences could potentially lead to life imprisonment. In addition to imprisonment, offenders may also be subject to unlimited fines, reflecting the seriousness and financial impact of the fraud.

Under the Proceeds of Crime Act, the court may initiate proceedings to recover assets obtained through fraudulent activities, regardless of whether those assets are directly linked to the crime.

In reaching a decision, the court will take into account the financial harm and impact on the victim, as well as any other factors beyond financial loss. For instance, if money has been obtained fraudulently to fund large-scale organised crime that victimises vulnerable people, such as through the supply of drugs or human trafficking.

High Value Fraud is a serious crime with significant repercussions for those involved. It is imperative to reach out to our Serious Fraud Solicitors at Draycott Browne. With our extensive expertise in criminal law, we will craft a robust defence aimed at minimising penalties.

How can our serious fraud solicitors help?

Specialist knowledge and expertise in serious high value fraud is essential when seeking someone to act on your behalf in these cases. Our Serious Fraud Solicitors can guarantee you have a highly skilled and experienced team who will liaise with the SFO and the authorities on your behalf. We have 20 years experience of dealing with key enforcement agencies such as:

• HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC)
• The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP)
• The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA)
• The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS)
• The Serious Fraud Office (SFO)

We will also deal with any complexities, robustly challenging any evidence made against you. We have a formidable reputation right across the industry for defending cases of serious high value fraud. Our fraud solicitors defend clients with tenacity and attention to detail, which helps us provide you with the best and most effective defence available.

If you must go to court, we will provide you with the first class, quality representation that you and your business deserve. Feel reassured knowing you have the best possible legal team behind you.​​​​​​

The importance of self reporting in serious fraud investigations

When wrongdoings are discovered within a business, the decision may be taken to self-report the violations of the law to the authorities. There are several reasons to be some including avoiding prosecution, receiving more lenient treatment and for reputational reasons.

The advent of deferred prosecution agreements (DPAs) in the UK may have led to a change in the way companies deal with criminal investigations, as corporations can avoid a conviction by cooperating fully.

Although by no means limited to this area, self-reporting is most commonly associated with offences under the Bribery Act 2010.

The act of self-reporting may be taken into consideration when the SFO determines whether or not to prosecute. However, they must be satisfied that the report is a genuine attempt by the corporate management team to address the issue when the offence is brought to their attention.

This includes the remedial actions taken and compensation for victims.

Self-reporting is a decision that should be taken extremely seriously and with the advice of an experienced fraud investigation lawyer.

24 hour availability

Arrests are rarely anticipated, which is why we are available around the clock, seven days a week, 365 days of the year, to assist you at the police station, whenever you need us.

Legal aid

Legal fees can be an unexpected cost that you may struggle to afford, but legal aid can relieve financial stress during your case, leaving you to focus on what matters. Our solicitors can advise you on your eligibility and will guide you through the process of applying for legal aid, giving you the best chance of a successful application.

Private funding

At Draycott Browne, we have long supported and will continue to support those of our clients who choose to fund their cases with Legal Aid. However, it is important to realise that Legal Aid funding places significant limitations on the level of support we are able to provide.

By choosing to fund the legal services you require, you are guaranteeing the highest level of advice and representation from our top-class solicitors. Private funding allows us to allocate additional resources within our team to work more creatively and extensively on your case.

With private funding, we can deliver the best possible service, drawing on the full extent of our experienced team, ensuring that no stone is left unturned in building a detailed legal defence.

If you’re facing serious fraud charges, we strongly advise you to consider a privately funded route. This will ensure that you are receiving the best representation for your case, greatly enhancing your chances of a successful outcome.​​​​​​