Money Laundering and Confiscation

Members of the team have significant experience in this area and frequently deal with complex confiscation hearings in the Crown Court under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 and the previous applicable legislation. We often provide counsel to conduct an independent review of material seized during searches and to resolve any disputes of legal professional privilege and confidentiality.

We advise corporate clients of their responsibilities under the anti-money laundering regimes established by both the United Kingdom and foreign governments. Rare among other chambers in this field we have significant expertise in low-tax and overseas jurisdictions having advised on the drafting of anti-laundering and terrorist financing codes and guidance notes for the financial authorities in Jersey, the Isle of Man and Mauritius. We were instructed by the Attorney General of Jersey on investigations concerning the activities of the former Mayor of Sao Paulo in Brazil and the associates and relatives of the late General Abacha of Nigeria - both of which involved sums in excess of $250 million. Recently, members were instructed in the first prosecution to be bought under the Proceeds of Crime (Jersey) Law 1999, which concerned the laundering of the multi-million pound proceeds of foreign tax evasion (R v Michel & Gallichan).