PCB Byrne

Ben Davies is a commercial litigation partner at PCB Byrne LLP – a specialist disputes firm focused on commercial fraud, asset recovery, white collar crime and regulatory investigations. He works principally on high-value, complex fraud claims in the Commercial Court, which often involve ancillary proceedings in other jurisdictions. Ben is currently acting for one of the main defendants in the US$830 million breach of duty claim brought by Russia's Trust National Bank, which will involve a complex, cross-border asset tracing exercise. Other recent cases of note include acting for a high-profile investor in a US$40 million joint venture dispute and acting for a property investment fund in a £20 million management buyout dispute. Ben also took a lead role in businessman Abdourahman Boreh’s successful defeat of the US$130 million Commercial Court proceedings brought against him by the Republic of Djibouti. He has particular experience in the obtaining, policing and discharging of freezing orders.

Elizabeth Seborg

Elizabeth Seborg is a partner in the commercial litigation department at Byrne and Partners, focusing on high-value and multi-jurisdictional disputes. She acts for both claimants and defendants in commercial litigation and civil fraud matters, with particular expertise in cases that span both civil and criminal proceedings. She advises on interim relief, asset tracing, freezing orders and contempt of court proceedings. Elizabeth also represents clients in civil asset forfeiture proceedings and regulatory investigations.

Emma Brooks

Partner specialising in the defence of corporate fraud, business crime and regulatory work. Emma has acted in various high profile and international investigations brought against individuals by the SFO, CPS and HMRC as well as other regulatory bodies and prosecution agencies. She acted for the directors of Soma Oil and Gas in relation to the much publicised corruption investigation by the SFO. Emma also defended one of the individuals prosecuted by the SFO for LIBOR fixing. She is also known for her skill and expertise in regulatory work, in particular representation of solicitors who face criminal allegations as well as representing those solicitors in regulatory proceedings instigated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority. Emma has also appeared regularly as an advocate defending solicitors in front of the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal. Other regulatory experience includes defending medical professionals in proceedings brought by the General Medical Council and General Dental Council.

Matthew Frankland

Founding partner at Byrne and Partners specialising in the defence of national and international fraud investigations and prosecutions. Matthew acts on behalf of corporate and individual clients with a particular emphasis on avoiding prosecutions wherever possible and challenging the conduct of prosecutors. He has advised at Government level in connection with several matters including a major UN criminal investigation and disputes arising within the Oil Industry. He has conducted many investigations and prosecutions with multi-jurisdictional issues including Greece, Ukraine, Russia, Somalia and the USA causing him to have substantial interaction with the US Department of Justice. He also advises clients in matters arising from all aspects of Criminal Law including corruption, cartel offences, market abuse and city fraud. He consequently advises in large money laundering investigations and prosecutions and, has extensive experience of Crown Court and High Court confiscation, restraint, receivership and forfeiture proceedings. He recently led the defence in two SFO Libor prosecutions obtaining the acquittal of one of the ICAP brokers and recently advised members of the Board of an international oil company, in connection with a corruption investigation by the SFO.

Michael Potts

Michael specialises in the defence of business crime and regulatory investigations and prosecutions. He has acted in numerous high-profile investigations and prosecutions brought against individuals by the SFO, FCA, NCA and other regulatory bodies and prosecution agencies. Many of Michael's cases have an international dimension involving overseas authorities such as the US DOJ, SEC or CFTC and other prosecution agencies and regulators from other jurisdictions. He also advises both individuals and corporates who have to deal with international mutual legal assistance requests. In addition and as a member of the Law Society’s Money Laundering Task Force he advises companies and professional firms on their anti-money-laundering compliance. He is a solicitor-advocate (Higher Courts Criminal and Civil Proceedings).

Nicola Boulton

One of the founding partners and the senior partner of Byrne and Partners. Nicola is a commercial litigator with expertise in City fraud, financial services, trust disputes and complex fraud and asset tracing matters. Nicola's practice focuses on multi jurisdiction litigation, often involving CIS and African parties and off-shore jurisdictions. She acts for high net worth individuals, legal and financial services professionals, corporates and hedge funds. She has extensive expertise and experience of interlocutory injunctive measures, particularly Freezing Orders and all issues relating to money laundering. Current cases include Tatneft-v-Bogolyubov and others, NTB Bank-v-Yurov and a high value BVI case involving Kazakhstan and complex trust issues, as well as a very substantial UK based fraud matter. Nicola is a Solicitor-Advocate (Higher Courts Criminal and Civil Proceedings). Before Byrne and Partners Nicola worked at Dechert, the FSA and Clyde & Co.

Sara Teasdale

Sara Teasdale has consistently been involved in some of the most high profile and complex white-collar crime and contentious regulatory cases. She has extensive experience of criminal and regulatory investigations and prosecutions brought by the SFO; FCA; CMA; MHRA; DOJ and the CFTC. Sara acts primarily for senior, often high-profile individuals and corporate clients. Sara also advises individuals in relation to internal investigations. Sara's notable cases include acting for a corporation in Operation Holbein (SFO investigation into alleged criminal cartel activity in the pharmaceutical industry) and acting for individuals in a number of SFO corruption cases including BAE systems corruption investigation into South African arms deals and more recently Sweett Group plc. Sara also acted for a UK based property developer charged with bribery relating to property dealings with the government ministers in the Turks & Caicos Islands ("TCI"). Sara's other main practice area is acting for individuals in the financial sector being investigated by the FCA. Sara acted for the former finance Director of the main trading arm of Cattles PLC in the high profile "Cattles" FCA case and also acted in the parallel FRC (formerly the AADB) regulatory/disciplinary proceedings. Sara also represented a number of traders at a range of different banks in LIBOR-related investigations brought by SFO, FCA, DOJ and CFTC.

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