Business Crime & Serious Fraud
The seemingly oppressive regulation of businesses must be complied with. If not businesses can face investigation and potential criminal prosecution. H.P. Gower Serious Fraud Solicitors can help with the wide range of issues that you may face, including advice and assistance relating to:
- Fraud (including SFO and FSA investigations)
- Asset Forfeiture and Confiscation
- Tax Evasion
- Health and Safety
- Trading Standards
- Medicines Regulation
- and much more
We can help once a regulatory investigation has begun, procedure initiated or just provide general advice and assistance to put your mind at rest. In all of these cases our advice will be thorough and in clear English so that you are left in doubt as to your legal position. Below is a small sample of the cases that we have dealt with in the regulatory law field:
R v W [2007] EWCA Crim 1744 - this case involved an MHRA investigation and prosecution of a client who ran his own alternative health business. This became a reported case in its final appeal.
R v P - this case involved a sole proprietor of a furniture business who voluntarily attended the Islington Council to be interviewed under caution in relation to alleged numerous breaches of the Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations 1988. The defendant was eventually summonsed to Court where we were able to persuade the prosecuting Council to withdraw half of the charges as a consequence of the defendant admitting the others. The Court was persuaded to sentence on the day (despite a custodial sentence being available to the Court as a sentencing option) and to impose a nominal fine in light of all of the circumstances.
Advice: advice was given to the agent of a well-known Jamaican artist whose lyrics included homophobic content prior to the United Kingdom leg of his tour. The musicians planned to travel to the UK to perform in concert and were the subject of high profile demonstrations. His application to enter the UK was under consideration by the then Government.
