Responsive advice for investigations, dawn raids and prosecutions
Our business crime lawyers represent companies and senior executives who are facing investigation or prosecution for financial crimes. Our lawyers do more than simply react to investigations. We can also help you design and implement the compliance and training needed to conduct your business safely.
We have highly experienced practitioners in all the major areas in which the criminal law can impact upon the world of business. Combined with our knowledge of the industries that may be in the eye of the investigation storm, our expertise allows us to engage with the authorities to optimal effect on behalf of our clients.
- Our business crime specialisms
We have significant expertise in advising both corporate and individual clients across a range of key areas, including:
- financial crime, regulation and fraud
- bribery and corruption
- cartel and competition offences
- cyber crime
- crisis management
- extradition
- sanctions offences
- tax and revenue offences
- director disqualification
- health and safety
- environmental law
- How we can help you
We can respond and support you at all stages of an investigation, including:
- design and implement business crime compliance policies and training
- responding to investigations
- liaising with the police and law enforcement agencies to minimise the impact of investigations
- negotiating successful outcomes with prosecuting authorities
- defending you at trial
Osborne Clarke is my “go to firm”, and they well deserve to be. Their team works seamlessly as a whole: a true pleasure to work with them.
Complete support for dawn raids
Dawn raids and other searches occur without warning and place considerable pressure on a business. They may take place at multiple locations at the same time, and can also be carried out at residential homes of relevant staff. Individuals may also face arrest and interrogation as part of the process.
Although corporate dawn raids have historically been infrequent, they are becoming more common. We have significant experience in responding to dawn raids and investigations conducted by enforcement agencies and can assist you in all aspects of the process.
- Dawn raids: how we can help you
Pre-planning
- Identifying and working with appropriate internal and external team members
- Providing comprehensive dawn raid training
- Preparing a response tool kit for key personnel
Responding to a raid/search
- Considering, advising upon and if necessary challenging the extent of the investigators authority.
- Negotiating with investigators to agree a methodology and minimise business disruption
- Instructing IT forensic experts to ensure that any electronic data is safely imaged.
- Shadowing investigators during the search.
- Advising in relation to any questions investigators may want to ask staff.
- Dealing with issues relating to privileged or confidential material.
- Drafting relevant internal and external communications.
- Reassuring staff
After the search
- Debriefing with management and in -house legal teams.
- Making representations to the investigation team relating the legality of the search and/or the right to review data.
- Assisting with any relevant regulatory or other reporting obligations.
- Advising on a any necessary PR.
Our business crime lawyers
Our lawyers work together across each of our core sectors, giving us a detailed understanding of the unique challenges faced by our clients. Combining with other lawyers across our regulatory group, we can rapidly deploy partner-led teams from a number of UK and European offices.
We are routinely instructed in complex and high profile matters brought by the principal UK and international enforcement agencies, including the Serious Fraud Office, Financial Conduct Authority, HM Revenue & Customs, Police, Competition and Markets Authority and the US Department of Justice and Securities and Exchange Commission.
Experience
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