BCL Solicitors LLP

Senior Partner: Ian Burton
Number of partners: 12
Number of assistants: 15
Number of other fee-earners: 1

Contacts
Corporate & Financial Crime: Ian Burton, Harry Travers, Richard Sallybanks
Extradition & INTERPOL: Michael Drury, Shaul Brazil
Tax Investigations & Litigation: Harry Travers
Financial Regulatory Enforcement: Richard Sallybanks
Regulatory Investigations, Coroner’s Inquests & Public Inquiries: Richard Reichman
Money Laundering & Proceeds of Crime: John Binns
Compliance & Risk Management: Richard Reichman, John Binns
Data Protection & Information Law: Michael Drury, Julian Hayes
Disciplinary Proceedings: Ian Burton
Serious & General Crime/Motoring: Ellen Peart, Mark Haslam

THE FIRM
BCL Solicitors is a market leading firm specialising in domestic and international corporate and financial crime, extradition, tax investigations and litigation, financial regulatory enforcement, corporate manslaughter and health and safety offences, disciplinary proceedings, data protection and information law, serious and general crime, as well as the associated areas of anti-money laundering and anti-corruption compliance and risk management.

BCL provides discreet, effective and expert advice to senior executives, corporations, public bodies, public figures and high profile/high net worth individuals affected by criminal or regulatory investigations and prosecutions. Its lawyers are drawn from specialist criminal law firms and barristers’ chambers, commercial law firms, prosecuting authorities and the Government Legal Service.

PRINCIPAL AREAS OF WORK
Corporate & Financial Crime:
Advising corporate clients, senior executives, entrepreneurs and HNW individuals across the full range of corporate and financial crime investigations including fraud, false accounting, corruption and sanctions offences, both domestic (SFO, HMRC, FCA and NCA) and multi-jurisdictional. Highly experienced in navigating clients through complex multi-faceted business and reputation-threatening investigations and proceedings, drawing on the experience and knowhow of some of the leading recognised lawyers in this area, and working closely with and project managing teams including other lawyers in the UK and overseas, forensic accountants and reputation management advisors. With an established reputation for achieving results, BCL is an expert in its field, focussed on solving problems and determined to achieve the best possible outcomes for its clients.

Extradition & INTERPOL:
Representing individuals (including members of government, company directors and entrepreneurs) in extradition cases with particular expertise in politically sensitive matters. The firm frequently acts in proceedings involving multiple jurisdictions, asset freezing and Interpol red notices.

Tax Investigations & Litigation:
Representing clients, frequently HNW individuals, in investigations, prosecutions and civil litigation involving HMRC, regularly working alongside eminent tax and accountancy practices. Substantial expertise in litigating allegations of ineffective tax avoidance and tax evasion, negotiating settlements, and monitoring/challenging the use by HMRC of its wide-ranging powers.

Financial Regulatory Enforcement:
Advising on regulatory investigations and proceedings brought by the FCA (including insider dealing, market abuse, market manipulation and individuals’ regulatory approval) and the PRA.

Regulatory Investigations, Coroner’s Inquests & Public Inquiries:
Advising corporate clients, and their boards and directors, in relation to business-critical issues concerning corporate manslaughter, health and safety, fire safety, food safety and hygiene, environmental protection, consumer protection and trading standards. Advising on crisis management, corporate and director liability, conducting corporate internal investigations, managing corporate engagement with regulators, and responding to investigations and prosecutions by the Police, the Health and Safety Executive, the Environment Agency, the Food Standards Agency, local authorities, fire brigades, and others (such as Ofwat and the Office of Rail and Road), as well as in relation to attendance at Coroner’s inquests and public inquiries.

Money Laundering & Proceeds of Crime:
Advising in relation to money laundering and Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA) issues, including restraint, freezing, receivership, confiscation, cash seizure, unexplained wealth and civil recovery (including account freezing and forfeiture orders).

Compliance & Risk Management:
Advising corporate clients, financial institutions, professional service providers and individuals in relation to anti-money laundering compliance, anti-bribery and corruption compliance and the recovery of the proceeds of crime, as well as advising on corporate liability and risk management in the context of the ever-widening range of criminal offences that apply to corporate bodies. Conducting, on behalf of corporate clients, internal reviews and internal investigations concerning such matters.

Data Protection & Information Law:
Providing specialist advice to companies, particularly in the tech and cybersecurity fields, in relation to their obligations under the Investigatory Powers Act 2016, Data Protection Act 2018 and UK GDPR. Particularly known for and experienced in advising in relation to data access demands by intelligence agencies, law enforcement and other public authorities. Also experienced in assisting victims of cyber-attacks, including in relation to breach reporting and law enforcement liaison, with a successful track-record of representing those accused of computer misuse as well as criminal breaches of investigatory powers and data protection legislation.

Disciplinary Proceedings:
Representing individuals facing professional disciplinary action by bodies such as the Bar Council, the Solicitors Regulation Authority, the General Medical Council, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency, and the British Horseracing Authority.

Serious & General Crime/Motoring:
With a long-established reputation as a market leader in the largest and most high-profile serious criminal cases, BCL provide specialist and discreet advice across the whole spectrum, from homicide to road traffic offences, whether in the police station, the Magistrates’ Court or the Crown Court. With many high-profile clients in the fields of business, industry, entertainment, sport and the media, we recognise that discretion and reputation management are crucial.