Business Crime Lawyers, Corporate Criminal Lawyers & Business Crime Defence
Our team of Business Crime Solicitors consists of highly skilled professionals who specialise in providing expert advice and legal representation to both individuals and businesses confronting a diverse range of serious charges.
When faced with allegations of criminal activity and undergoing criminal investigations, the potential impact on a company or individual can be substantial. Our experienced Business Crime Solicitors are well-versed in the complexities of business crime cases and understand the urgency of seeking legal counsel promptly to mount a swift and effective response to the accusations, thereby maximising the likelihood of a favourable outcome. We are fully prepared to take on your case at any stage.
If you or your business are currently grappling with charges related to business crime, we encourage you to reach out to Business Crime Solicitors today for immediate guidance and support.
How can our business crime solicitors help you?
If you or your business is facing investigation for a business crime, our Business Crime Solicitors are here to help. We will provide you with advice and representation through every step of the following proceedings:
- Police station attendance
- Interviews with authorities
- Investigation processes
- Preparing your case for trial
- Trial
From the moment you instruct us, we will work with you to assess and review your business operations. We will not only defend you against current investigations, but also to protect you against further allegations. We will help you to understand your professional and personal rights, while also working to protect your business and reputation.
By thoroughly examining your current business model, we will help you to navigate current employment laws and regulations. We can highlight areas of concern and understand what is expected of your business. You will be able to avoid the risk of accusations and potential prosecution in the future.
The sooner you contact our Business Crime Solicitors, the sooner we can begin to act on your behalf, which will put you in the strongest position possible. Do not delay. The moment you have been informed that you or your business is under investigation for a crime, you should seek legal advice as soon as possible.
Specialist expertise in defending all types of business crime offences.
Our Expert Business Crime Solicitors
What is business crime?
Business crime is also known as 'white collar crime' and encompasses a broad range of nonviolent offences typically committed in commercial situations for financial gain.
Unlike traditional street crimes, business crimes are characterised by deceit, concealment and a breach of trust. They often involve complex schemes and can be difficult to detect and prosecute due to their sophisticated nature.
Business crimes can be committed by individuals, groups or corporations and may involve various illegal activities such as fraud, embezzlement, money laundering, insider trading and more.
These crimes can lead to significant financial losses, damage to a company's reputation, and severe legal penalties, including imprisonment, fines and disqualification from holding certain positions.
What are the different types of business crime?
Business crime encompasses a diverse range of illegal activities that can affect both individuals and companies. Understanding the different types of business crimes is crucial for ensuring compliance with the law and for taking preventive measures to safeguard your business.
These crimes often involve deceit, fraud, or breach of trust and can have severe legal, financial, and reputational consequences. Examples of business crimes are:
- Bribery
- Computer and Internet crimes
- Corporate Manslaughter
- Credit card fraud
- Embezzlement
- Extortion
- False accounting
- Financial crimes
- Forgery
- Identity theft
- Insurance fraud
- Insider trading
- Investment fraud
- Missing Trader Intra-Community (‘MTIC’) and carousel fraud
- Money laundering
- Operating without a licence
- Pension fraud
- Mortgage fraud
- Tax and VAT fraud
The collaborative efforts of specialised government departments enhanced regulatory powers and technological developments have collectively led to a more effective and proactive approach to addressing business-related crimes.
Our business crime expertise
We handle allegations of financial crime and health and safety breaches through trading standards prosecutions. We pride ourselves on successfully representing clients in a wide variety of business crime cases, specialising in the following areas:
Bribery and corruption involve the offering, receiving, or soliciting of something of value to influence the actions of an official or other person in a position of authority. This can occur in both public and private sectors and can severely impact the integrity of businesses and public institutions.
Our Business Crime Lawyers at Draycott Browne have extensive experience in handling bribery and corruption cases, providing robust defence strategies to protect your interests and mitigate the consequences of these serious allegations.
Corporate fraud involves deceptive practices carried out by individuals or companies to gain an unfair or illegal financial advantage. This may include activities such as misrepresentation, failure to disclose information or misuse of a position of trust. Corporate fraud is often intricate, involving complex financial transactions and multiple parties.
Our Business Crime Solicitors specialise in addressing serious high-value fraud, benefit fraud, and tax evasion. We use our in-depth knowledge and experience to navigate the complexities of corporate fraud cases, ensuring you receive the best possible defence.
When a fatal accident occurs at work, charges of corporate manslaughter can be brought, with investigations carried out by the police and the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). You will need the best professionals working on your behalf to navigate this difficult and complex situation. We understand the profound implications of corporate manslaughter charges for both the organisation and the individuals involved.
Our highly skilled team of Business Crime Solicitors offers the specialist advice, guidance and legal expertise needed to navigate this complex and sensitive area of law. We provide robust defence strategies, support during corporate manslaughter investigations and representation throughout any resulting court proceedings. Our goal is to protect your interests and mitigate the impact of these serious allegations on your business and personal life.
False accounting involves the intentional manipulation of a company's financial records to present a false picture of its financial state. This can include inflating revenue, hiding expenses or falsifying documents to deceive stakeholders such as investors, regulators, and auditors. False accounting is a serious offence under the Fraud Act 2006, and those found guilty can face significant penalties, including imprisonment and fines.
Our team of Business Crime Lawyers are adept at handling false accounting cases, providing expert legal advice and representation to defend against these allegations and protect your business's reputation.
Money laundering is the process of concealing the origins of illegally obtained money, typically by means of transfers involving foreign banks or legitimate businesses. The Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 outlines the legal framework for tackling money laundering in the UK, with severe penalties for those found guilty, including imprisonment and significant fines. Money laundering can have far-reaching consequences, affecting individuals, businesses and financial institutions.
Our experienced legal team Business Crime Lawyers fully understands the complexities involved in money laundering cases. We provide comprehensive legal support, from initial investigations to court representation, offering professional guidance and robust defence strategies to protect your interests and ensure the best possible outcome.
The Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (POCA) is intended to prevent money laundering and ensure that criminals do not profit from their illegal activities. Authorities have the power to seize assets that are suspected to have been obtained through criminal behaviour, even if the individual has not been convicted of a crime, under the POCA. We have extensive experience in dealing with POCA cases, providing comprehensive legal support to challenge asset seizures and protect your interests.
Company directors can face prosecution for a range of offences, including fraudulent trading and failing to fulfil their fiduciary duties. Such prosecutions can result in severe penalties, including disqualification from acting as a director, fines and imprisonment.
At Draycott Browne, we understand the significant impact that director prosecutions can have on individuals and their businesses. Our experienced Business Crime Solicitors offer expert legal advice and representation to defend against these charges, aiming to minimise the repercussions and protect your professional future.
Regulatory crime encompasses violations of laws and regulations that govern business practices, such as health and safety regulations, environmental laws and trading standards. Regulatory offences can lead to substantial fines, business disruption and reputational damage.
We have a wealth of experience in dealing with regulatory crime cases, working closely with enforcement agencies and regulators to provide robust defence strategies. We aim to resolve regulatory issues swiftly and effectively, ensuring compliance with the law and safeguarding your business's operations and reputation.
Liverpool's Longest Fraud Trial
26 October 2018
In the longest fraud trial Liverpool's Crown Court has seen, Rob Mann of Draycott Browne conducted the successful representation of former Conservative councillor David Richard Barton. A not guilty verdict was returned after 137 days of trial allowing David to finally put his life back on track.
Specialist Business Crime Solicitors
- 24/7 Availability
- Proven Success in High Profile Cases
- Non-Judgemental Representation Tailored to Your Situation
Protect your future with trusted, expert legal defence—contact Draycott Browne’s Corporate Crime Lawyers today.
Who conducts business crime investigations?
Different agencies may conduct investigations depending on the type of fraud or business crime alleged. It is not uncommon for multiple agencies to work on a case at the same time, or for additional agencies to be involved in multi-jurisdictional investigations, including:
- The Serious Fraud Office
- The Department for Business, Innovation & Skills
- Trading Standards
- The Office of Fair Trading
- The Crown Prosecution Service
- The Financial Conduct Authority
- HM Revenue and Customs
We have over 20 year’s experience in dealing with key enforcement agencies. Our Business Crime Solicitors communicate with local authorities and enforcement agencies on your behalf. We will keep you up to date on your case and reduce stress during what can be a complex process.
Business crime legislations
The Companies Act 2006
The Companies Act 2006 is the main piece of legislation governing company law in the UK. It contains over 1,300 sections covering the lawful act of doing business and there is a surprisingly large number of criminal offences set out in the Act. The majority of these can be committed not only by the company itself but also by its directors and officers.
However, only a very small number of offences committed under the Act result in any action being taken, let alone prosecution.
More serious offences including those related to convening the rules against fraudulent trading could face a fine and up to ten years in jail on conviction in the Crown Court.
A conviction for any offence under the Act is also likely to lead to disqualification proceedings. The director may be deemed to be ‘unfit’ to act as a company director.
The Bribery Act 2010 (Bribery Act)
The penalties for committing a crime under The Bribery Act 2010 are a maximum of 10 years’ in prison, an unlimited fine and the potential for the confiscation of property. A prosecution for bribery and corruption crimes is also likely to result in the disqualification of directors under the Company Directors Disqualification Act.
The main body responsible for enforcing the Bribery Act is the Serious Fraud Office (SFO).
What is the company director's disqualification act?
The Company Directors Disqualification Act 1986 sets out the procedures for company directors to be disqualified in certain cases.
The effect of the order is to prevent people convicted of business crime from being involved in running another business during the period of the disqualification.
A company director would be disqualified if, for example, the person is convicted of an offence in connection with illegal business practices. Or if, while the company is winding up, it appears the person has been guilty of an offence for which they are liable.
The maximum period for the disqualification order is 15 years.
Related Areas
Contact our Business Crime Solicitors
Our Business Crime Lawyers, White Collar Solicitors and Corporate Crime Lawyers are part of the wider team of nationally recognised Criminal Defence Lawyers. Contact our Business Crime Solicitors today by calling the number at the top of this. If you would like us to contact you, simply fill in our online enquiry form and a member of the team will be in touch as soon as possible.
As a leading Criminal Law firm, we regularly act for corporate and high-profile clients and directors in London and throughout the North West, including Manchester and Liverpool. When in need of expert legal representation and following allegations of white collar crime and regulatory investigations, expert legal representation is vital. By entrusting your case to us, you can be assured that you will be working with a highly skilled and experienced team. Our Business Crime Solicitors have a thorough and comprehensive knowledge of the law.
Our legal team is available 7 days a week. If you or your business need expert legal representation, call Draycott Browne today, or complete our contact form. When your business faces the stiffest challenge, you cannot afford to settle for anything less than Draycott Browne. Call our business crime team.