Fraud, White Collar & Business Crime

If you’re being investigated for fraud, white collar crime, or any other type of business crime, you’re not alone. Investigations into businesses and individuals suspected of serious fraud or tax offences are on the rise, thanks in part to increased regulatory powers and technological advances. Such investigations require extremely careful handling to minimise their impact on both your personal and professional life and reduce the chances of a criminal prosecution.

At DJMS, our specialist solicitors have decades of experience in assisting clients facing fraud, white collar, and business crime investigations of all types and complexities. We match the prosecution’s insight, expertise, and technological capabilities in the area, equipping us with the tools we need to prepare a robust defence and secure the best possible outcome for you.

Fraud, White Collar & Business Crime Solicitors

Our specialist fraud, white collar, and business crime solicitors can assist with a wide range of fraud, white collar, and business crime matters, including:

• Serious fraud
• Insider trading
• Revenue, Tax, VAT, Carousel, Missing Trader Intra Community (MTIC) Fraud
• Bribery or corruption
• Tax evasion
• Money laundering
• Ponzi Schemes
• Boiler Room fraud
• Authorised/Unauthorised Push Payment scams
• Cryptocurrency offences
• Proceeds of Crime offences
• Insider dealing
• Market abuse
• Financial Services & Markets Act (FSMA) offences
• Fraudulent trading
• HMRC tax investigations & prosecutions
• Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) investigations & prosecutions
• Regulatory investigations & prosecutions

Why choose DJMS Solicitors?

The terms ‘fraud’, ‘white collar’ and ‘business crime’ cover a broad spectrum of offences, including tax evasion, money laundering, bribery, corruption and insider trading. There are a range of specialist authorities that investigate and prosecute businesses and individuals suspected of such crimes, including the City of London Police, the Serious Fraud Office (SFO), the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), the National Crime Agency (NCA), HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC), and the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA).

At DJMS, our leading criminal law solicitors are hugely experienced in representing clients in all types of investigations and prosecutions into alleged fraud, white collar, and business crime. In addition to our own in-house expertise and experience, we have longstanding working relationships with some of the UK’s preeminent experts in IT, digital and communications, forensics, tax, and accountancy. Where necessary, we can call on their expertise to assemble the very strongest team to defend the allegations against you, working tirelessly to avoid a criminal conviction or mitigate its impact as far as possible in these often highly complex cases.

How does Fraud, White Collar & Business Crime differ from other crimes?

Fraud, white collar, and business crimes are non-violent crimes that are usually financially motivated. The perpetrators are usually professionals, directors, businesspeople, and individuals in positions of trust.

Unlike some other types of criminal activity, fraud, white collar, and business crime can be difficult to detect, and investigations into such activity can be complex and lengthy involving large volumes of evidence often gathered over a significant period of time. However, the specialist agencies involved in the detection and investigation of these crimes enjoy far-reaching powers and utilise sophisticated techniques to identify potential suspects and investigate suspected criminal activity.

For example, HMRC uses a sophisticated computer system called ‘Connect’ to compare billions of data about an individual against the information provided in their tax return and identify any anomalies. HMRC does not publicise the sources from which it gleans the information it uses for Connect, but they are likely to include the individual’s bank accounts, credit cards, and investment portfolio, as well as social media, platforms like Amazon and Airbnb, and Land Registry records.

What are the defences to Fraud, White Collar & Business Crime?

There are several potential defences to allegations of fraud, white collar, and business crime. Deploying years of experience in dealing with these cases, the specialist DJMS team work closely with our clients and industry experts to build the most robust defence strategy tailored to the alleged offences.

For example, if you are facing insider trading allegations, we may be able to defend those allegations by proving that you believed the information you used to be widely known, you had not expected to make a profit from using the information, or you had intended to buy or sell the shares regardless of the information.

We’ll assess your circumstances when we first meet with you and devise a defence approach that gives you the best possible chance of avoiding prosecution, being acquitted if one goes ahead or mitigating the impact of any prosecution on you and/or your business.

What are the penalties for Fraud, White Collar & Business Crime?

The penalties for fraud, white collar, and business crime vary depending on the offence in question and the severity of your actions.

For example, the penalties for money laundering offences range from a fine to 14 years in prison. In addition, following conviction, a defendant may face confiscation proceedings under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 and be forced to pay an amount equal to the sums derived from their criminality.

Who can be prosecuted for Fraud, White Collar & Business Crime?

Both businesses and individuals can be prosecuted for fraud, white collar, and business crime. In some cases, such as bribery, a company can be held responsible for acts committed by its employees. Furthermore, individuals who simply ‘turn a blind eye’ to another’s criminality can be prosecuted alongside the perpetrator.

I am being investigated for Fraud, White Collar & Business Crime – what should I do?

As soon as you discover that you are being investigated for fraud, white collar, and business crime, you should contact us immediately. The sooner we are on board, the better your chances of successfully avoiding a criminal prosecution.

If you are concerned that you may have committed fraud, white collar, or business crime, even inadvertently, you can significantly improve your position by seeking timely legal advice. Some agencies, like HMRC, appreciate a proactive approach, and can sometimes be persuaded to show leniency to people who adopt one.

Get in Touch with DJMS Solicitors

Our lawyers are available 24 hours a day, providing immediate, first-class legal advice, representation and assistance during criminal proceedings taken against you and/or your business.