Fraud Solicitors

“Experts in Serious and Complex Fraud and all aspects of Business Regulation”

Fraud is a serious crime carrying a penalty of up to 10 years’ imprisonment, while false accounting has a penalty up to seven years. If you are under investigation for fraud or false accounting, or have been charged with any type of fraud offence, it is essential to seek specialist legal advice and representation at the earliest opportunity.

MPR Solicitors has a wealth of in-depth experience in defending fraud cases.  We are a niche practice, dealing almost exclusively in fraud, white-collar crime and criminal defence.

To contact our fraud solicitors in London regarding a charge of fraud or false accounting, please call us on 020 3824 8080 to make an appointment at our London office.

As a team, we are dedicated to providing partner-led, quality, professional service.  If you have been accused of fraud, your professional reputation; career and freedom may be at stake.  You can trust us to provide expert advice and robust representation while supporting you and your family throughout investigation and any trial.

Our practise focuses on our core areas of law, so clients who instruct us can be confident of our in-depth knowledge and experience in our areas of expertise.  We are proficient, not only in domestic fraud law but in acting for clients who have been accused of cross-jurisdictional offences.

If you have been accused of fraud, it is crucial that you take the charge seriously and instruct quality, experienced fraud solicitors to advise and represent you. Our early involvement at the investigation stage will ensure that you receive the right advice at the police station during any interviews.

We will work with you to avoid you being charged with a fraud offence, but where that is not possible, we will work with you to prepare your case at trial. Unlike many law firms, our team includes both solicitors and barristers, giving us the specialist skills and expertise to effectively represent you at all levels of fraud proceedings.

Whether you are under investigation for fraud or have been charged with a fraud offence, our fraud lawyers in London will work with you to mount a positive and pro-active defence to protect you and your company.

What is corporate fraud?

Fraud can be defined as acting dishonestly or employing trickery to gain an advantage. In most cases of fraud, this advantage constitutes a financial gain. Corporate fraud refers to fraud committed by a company or by an individual working for a company.

The Fraud Act 2006 governs the offence of fraud in the United Kingdom.

Dishonesty is required for fraud to have occurred, but crucially, it is not necessary for the accused to have gained an advantage because of their actions.

What are the different types of fraud?

There are several types of corporate fraud, including:

Conspiracy to defraud – often more serious Fraud Cases are charged under this category. Clients will often panic at the mere word of “conspiracy.”  However, conspiracy is not necessarily something to worry about and is sometimes easier to defend as there are several pitfalls for this type of prosecution.  Our expert fraud lawyers will be able to reassure you.

False accounting – defined under the Theft Act 1968, section 17, false accounting is the intentional fabricating or altering or submitting false, inaccurate, or deceptive accounting records.  Following the 2008 financial crash, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) and Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) do not hesitate to prosecute for this offence, making it one of their top priorities.

Boiler Room fraud – Boiler rooms are fraudulent stockbroking companies (commonly based in Spain) that cold-call potential investors with the intention of pressuring them into buying worthless shares or shares at a vastly inflated price.  The FCA and Serious Fraud Office (SFO) are keen to prosecute those conducting Boiler Room fraud, which is often complex and of high value.

Mortgage fraud – mortgage fraud is often committed by making false representations.  For example, an individual or a company will provide a lending institution with false facts to obtain a larger loan than they would otherwise be entitled to.  Mortgage fraud is most prevalent in the buy-to-let market.

MTIC/VAT fraud – charges for VAT fraud can be brought under the Fraud Act 2006 and Section 72 of Value Added Tax Act 1974.  VAT fraud is often cross-jurisdictional, and an investigation by HMRC or the SFO can cause serious disruption and reputational damage to a business.

Because we concentrate on fraud and white-collar crime cases, we have a deep understanding of these and other types of corporate fraud.  Many of our clients are SMEs and individuals; however, we also act for multi-nationals and high-net-worth families who have set up entities and trusts to manage their wealth.

Representation for fraud investigations

Most clients who find themselves accused of fraud, find investigation agencies intimidating and often suffer stress and anxiety during the investigative process.

By instructing our corporate fraud team, you can have confidence that we have worked alongside HMRC, the SFO, the Insolvency Service criminal enforcement team and the FCA for close to twenty years. 

We know what they are looking for and the methods they employ when conducting an investigation.  Your solicitor will provide you with practical advice on how to answer any questions and provide strong representation when required to protect your best interests.

Legal advice for self-reporting fraud

If you believe fraudulent activity may have taken place within your business, self-reporting to the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) can help you to avoid prosecution or limit the penalties during any subsequent proceedings.

However, there are various issues to consider before self-reporting fraud, including how substantial the evidence is of fraud, the likely outcome of self-reporting and what action you have taken or should take to proactively limit the damage caused by the fraud.

Our fraud solicitors can advise you on your legal options and responsibilities, including the likely legal consequences of self-reporting fraud. Where appropriate, we can help you to navigate the fraud self-reporting process, giving you the best chance of avoiding prosecution or securing the minimal possible legal penalties where prosecution is unavoidable.

Our corporate fraud defence expertise

Our fraud defence team includes both solicitors and barristers with many years of specialist experience advising and representing companies and individuals facing investigation and prosecution for corporate fraud.

We have represented a wide range of corporate clients, including in relation to multi-million pound fraud cases for large multi-national businesses. We have experience with complex fraud cases that cross various jurisdictions and involving multiple charges.

Our defence lawyers are accredited by the Law Society for Criminal Litigation in recognition of the high standard of our legal practice in this specialist area.

We have also achieved the Law Society’s Lexcel accreditation for the quality of our practice management and client care.

MPR Solicitors is independently regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA), offering confidence that we meet the highest legal and professional standards.

Contact our fraud lawyers in London now

If you have been accused of fraud, you can trust our specialist fraud solicitors to provide exceptional legal advice and a solid defence, helping you to secure the best available outcome.

To contact our London fraud solicitors in complete confidence, please call 020 3824 8080 or fill in our contact form to get in touch.