Need our assistance?
Use our quick form below and a member of our Fraud Investigation team will give you a call.
Alternatively please contact...
- Paul Ford
0151 608 9078
pford@kirwanssolicitors.co.uk
- David Kirwan
0151 677 3433
dkirwan@kirwanssolicitors.co.uk
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private > Fraud Investigation
The department, headed by Partner Paul Ford, represents and defends companies and individuals being investigated or prosecuted by regulatory authorities.
The scope of work undertaken covers corporate manslaughter, involuntary manslaughter, health and safety, fraud, copyright piracy/trademark counterfeiting, trading standards, environmental health and food safety.
The Fraud Investigation department handles many high profile multi-million pound cases. We work in the interest of our clients in close partnership with accountants and insolvency practitioners and other advisers in the corporate and forensic field.
The team operates a 24-hour emergency callout service, staffed each night by members of the department. The number to call is 07770 864 037 .
In addition, the Firm presents at seminars and can provide in-house workshops for clients on regulatory issues including the preparation of statutory defences, risk avoidance and how to approach criminal investigations. The work covers a mix of contentious (mainly for corporates under investigation, and occassionally for the regulators) and non-contentious work (providing advice to clients on legislative changes and ensuring they are compliant with the regulations thus keeping exposure of risk to a minimum).
We can also provide clients with technical assistance in the development of know-how/standard documents/internal compliance documentation as well as internal and external publications specifically relating to health and safety.
Prosecution by the Authorities
Our dedicated team has experience of dealing with private prosecutions of any nature and we have a thorough knowledge of cases involving the Department of Trade & Industry, HM Customs & Excise, Inland Revenue, Health & Safety Executive and Trading Standards.
Our department handles high profile criminal cases involving prosecutions by:
- Department of Trade and Industry
- business trading issues
- breach of contracts/agreements
- breach of regulations
- HM Customs & Excise
- drugs and tobacco smuggling and trafficking
- non declaration of imported goods
- Health & Safety Executive
- haulage contractor obligations
- Trading Standards
- piracy
- licenses to trade
- licenses to sell liquor and tobacco
- Benefits Fraud
Free advice and assistance is available for clients caught up in allegations of benefits fraud. We can be available to accompany you to the Benefits Agency to provide advice and guidance, and will represent you through to court if necessary.
Intellectual Property
In conjunction with our Intellectual Property expertise offered on the civil side, with civil remedies, we also have experience of dealing with criminal issues in relation to copyright piracy and trademark infringement.
Anti-competitive behaviour
Displaying anti-competitive behaviour is a criminal offence. If an agreement restricts competition to an appreciable extent, then it is prohibited under competition law. Such activities include:
- Direct or indirect price fixing
- Limiting or controlling production
- Market or customer sharing
Other agreements may also be prohibited if, in the individual circumstances of the case, the agreement has an appreciable effect on competition.
