Ben Rose

Practice Areas

Ben Rose is one of the country’s leading lawyers representing the interests of HNW individuals caught up in serious allegations of financial wrongdoing.

Over the past 25 years Ben has acted for HNW and high-profile individuals, as well as companies in the most complex, sensitive, and potentially consequential criminal and regulatory matters.

An expert strategic litigator, Ben's skills extend beyond criminal law into FRC, FCA, health and safety, extradition, Account Freezing Orders, Unexplained Wealth Orders. He often works closely with foreign lawyers on multi-jurisdictional matters.

Ben is acutely aware of the importance of reputation for his HNW clients and always ensures this is at the heart of his legal strategy.

Ben regularly acts for senior individuals in fraud investigations by law enforcement agencies such as the SFO, NCA and FCA. He has a high success rate in these matters and has frequently persuaded he authorities not to pursue matters beyond the initial investigation stage.

Ben currently represents five LIBOR / EURIBOR clients in their appeals against conviction, a member of one of the country’s wealthiest families who has been charged with a serious criminal offence, an individual in the FCA’ action against Banque Havilland, an HNW who is the subject of a HSE prosecution for a work related death.

Ben has long experience defending against allegations of overseas bribery, particularly in the extractive industries. Clients include senior individuals in the long-running SFO investigation into alleged corruption at the Kazakh mining group ENRC; as well as senior individual in the SFO’s London Mining Plc prosecution.

Many of Ben’s criminal cases straddle jurisdictions. He is expert in setting overall legal strategy and co-ordinating lawyers working across the globe.

Ben is acutely aware of the reputational impact of being involved in any criminal matter. His clients value the way he quickly grasps this aspect of their cases. He has developed strategies to handle the most sensitive matters in a way that avoids negative publicity.

The nature of Ben’s work in this area means many of his clients’ identities are not in the public domain.

Ben also acts for companies facing criminal /regulatory issues. He has defended clients accused of corporate manslaughter and is currently acting for two major companies who are the subject of significant health and safety investigations. He has advised a number of major English and US law firms on their disclosure obligations under the Proceeds of Crime Act.

Ben often acts in the highest profile and significant extradition matters. He successfully prevented the Kyrgyz businessman Maxim Bakiev from being extradited to the US and for a Pakistani business tycoon in his US extradition case, as well as for former Credit Suisse broker Surjan Singh in his US extradition matter.

Hickman & Rose's success is built on an intimate understanding of every aspect of the criminal justice system, from police station to the Supreme Court. Ben draws on this deep well of experience when advising his private clients.

In addition to his financial crime work, Ben provides specialist legal advice to HNW and well-known individuals caught up in the most sensitive ‘general crime’ matters. He has, for example, provided advice in relation to Operation Yewtree and 'Me Too' type sex offence allegations. Many of these cases have been disposed with the minimum - or even no - resulting publicity. His recent clients in this area include one of the best-known performers in the world, and a world-famous musician

Career

LLB (Hons) Warwick University. Admitted 1990. Co-founded Hickman & Rose 1991.

Professional Memberships

Ben has served as co-chairman of the criminal law section of the IBA and is a member of the Law Society’s money laundering panel.

Publications

Ben regularly writes and lectures on criminal law issues. He has lectured to the Judicial Studies Board, the Criminal Cases Review Commission, Transparency International, the Annual Justice Conference and addressed the FT Innovative Lawyers Awards Ceremony. He is regularly sought out by the media for expert opinion on legal matters. He was named the Times’ ‘Lawyer of the Week’ in recognition of his work on miscarriages of justice.

Personal

Outside work Ben is the co-founder of Grit, (www.grit.org.uk), a charity dedicated to improving disadvantaged young people's life chances.