Tom Allen KC

Practice Areas

Tom Allen focuses on commercial and business crime alongside financial regulation. He represents corporate entities and individuals, in respect of both domestic and international matters involving allegations of fraud, bribery, corruption, and money laundering.

Bribery and Corruption

Recent instructions include multiple SFO investigations into cross-jurisdictional bribery and corruption offences.

• Currently acting in SFO vs Cook - listed as one of The Lawyer's Top 20 Cases of 2023

• Represented David Lufkin, global head of sales at Petrofac, in connection with bribery allegations relating to the obtaining of contracts worth $8bn and the payment of bribes of over $80m across three jurisdictions.

• Defended English QC in Trinidad, charged with entering a corrupt agreement with a former Attorney General.

• Successfully defended the CEO of Guralp Systems Ltd in respect of bribery allegations relating to business in South Korea.

• Advising directors about allegations of corruption in connection with numerous SFO investigations, including Rolls Royce PLC.

Fraud

• Successfully defended trader alleged to have defrauded Otkritie Bank of $150m.

• Successfully defended the CEO of an international mining company in SFO proceedings relating to s.2 powers.

• Advising directors in connection with fraud allegations by SFO relating to Serco, Barclays and G4S.

Tax

• Advising Premier League football club in connection with an ongoing HMRC investigation into payment of VAT.

• Instructed to defend in film financing fraud.

Regulatory Matters

• Recently instructed in Guernsey FSC hearings into a series of collapsed cross-border investment funds.

• Acted in multiple FRC cases, including acting against PwC (auditors for JP Morgan) for failure to notice the non-segregation of up to $23bn of client funds over a period of seven years.

Disciplinary and Sports

• Instructed in proceedings brought by British Rowing (Olympic selection) and British Fencing (allegations of racism).

• Acted in disciplinary proceedings relating to barristers, accountants, solicitors, architects, and surveyors.