Procurement Fraud Investigation Success

Jeffrey Lewis and Siobhain Egan represented an individual who faced a long term and large-scale procurement fraud investigation. The allegations centred on a company that is a household name.

After receiving detailed representations, the Crown discontinued the investigation.

We excel when it comes to ‘nipping investigations in the bud’. Contact enquiries or Jeffrey Lewis, Siobhain Egan.

SFO Investigation Encounters Trouble

The Guardian has published an interesting piece on the SFO investigation into Icelandic Bank. We represent one of those arrested in this enquiry.

Extradition Appeal Success for Lewis Nedas & Co

Another extradition appeal success for Nick Wragg and James Stansfeld of counsel (Great James Street Chambers).

Excellent Sentencing Success for Danny Barnard’s Client

Danny Barnard (who is one of our superb in-house advocates) secured an excellent result for his client at The Central Criminal Court.

Our client had stolen £30,000 of Tiffany jewellery from an unlocked van in Hatton Garden. He had previous convictions for dishonesty, but pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity and as a result of Danny’s keen advocacy skills he was able to persuade the Sentencing Judge to initially defer the sentence and then to impose a two year community penalty.

Our client was delighted.

Yet another Acquittal for Lewis Nedas!

Siobhain Egan acted for a man who was one of three defendants facing trial at Ipswich Crown Court concerning commercial cultivation of cannabis on a very large-scale cannabis farm in Suffolk. Our client raised duress, stating that he had been coerced to become involved because of serious threats to his safety. His two co-defendants, who were represented by other solicitors, pleaded guilty and our client was unanimously acquitted by the jury.

The brilliant Übermeister tactician Barry Gilbert of 2 Bedford Row was trial counsel.

Another Motoring Law Success for Lewis Nedas

Nick Wragg acted for and represented in court a woman who had a serious accident and crashed her car into a lamp post. Police arriving at the scene, believed from her demeanour (allegedly) that she has been driving under the influence of drugs and charged her accordingly. Blood tests indicated that she had low levels of a prescribed medication, and it seems that she had been using this medication for many years. Our client maintained that she had been knocked unconscious by the accident, which explained her reactions when Police found her. As a result of Nick’s diligent and thorough preparation, we were able to serve an expert medical report which concluded that the medication that she had been prescribed would have no effect on her driving ability.

The CPS did not respond to the service of the expert report and failed to comply with CPRS. As a result, they discontinued the prosecution in court. Our client was delighted that justice was achieved for her.

Hilarious Article by Gary Conway Published in The JC

Trainee Solicitor Gary Conway has written an hilarious article for the Jewish Chronicle, which can be viewed online here.

Nicholas Wragg Awarded Higher Rights of Audience

Congratulations to Nicholas Wragg on achieving his Higher Rights of Audience, allowing him to practice advocacy in the higher courts.

Nick will be a additional asset to our excellent in-house advocacy department, led by Jeremy Ornstin.

Another Confiscation Success for Layna Thompson

Layna Thompson represented an individual whose overall benefit figure was reduced by £400,000.00.

The Crown’s application appeared to be a hypothetical calculation of drugs that he may or may not have had in the future, based on a quantity of cutting agent. They also made another hypothetical, highly inflated estimate of our client’s living expenses.

This was an excellent example of Layna’s thorough and tenacious approach.

If you have confiscation proceedings contact enquiries or Layna Thompson.

Another Outstanding Result Achieved by Our Firearms Department

Laura Saunsbury represented a Bedfordshire farmer who faced a charge of unlawfully possessing a quantity of .22 rifle ammunition. The police found the rifle ammunition in his shotgun cabinet when they attended his address for an unrelated matter. Whilst our client had a shotgun certificate, he had never been granted a firearm certificate, which he would have needed to possess this type of ammunition. However, his father had held a firearm certificate for many years and there was a time when they shared the gun cabinet.

A trial took place at Luton Crown Court from 20 to 22 March 2012. During the trial our client and his father both gave evidence that they believed this ammunition must have belonged to the father and dated back to the period over 15 years previously when they shared the gun cabinet. In 1997 our client’s father had his firearm certificate revoked, and they both understandably assumed when the Police seized the father’s rifle they also removed all firearm ammunition from the cabinet.

Our client was very capably represented in court by specialist firearms barrister Nick Doherty, so much so that it took the jury less than an hour to reach a unanimous not guilty verdict. It was clear from the evidence heard during the trial and the directions given by the Judge to the jury that they reached this verdict on the basis they were satisfied our client was unaware there was an airgun pellet tin in his gun cabinet which in fact contained .22 rifle ammunition.

Having been entirely cleared of any wrongdoing, the Judge directed that our client’s privately paid legal costs be repaid from Central Funds.

This client was referred to Laura Saunsbury, our firearms law specialist, by the Country Land & Business Association (CLA), of which she is a business member. We understand our client has written to the CLA following his acquittal, thanking them for the recommendation, and praising in particular Laura’s very thorough and careful preparation of his case.

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