The ‘highly experienced and agile’ team at City-based boutique Bivonas Law LLP provides ’practically oriented and bespoke advice’ to individuals facing regulatory scrutiny in relation to fraud and market abuse infractions, among others. The firm is noted for its flexibility and ability to pivot between disciplines, ensuring that clients are able to receive a one-stop-shop service on both civil and criminal matters. Leveraging ‘tremendous analytical and strategic acumen’, managing partner Cindy Dorrington is adept at dealing with FCA investigations, including in relation to insider dealing, and is noted for her ability to ’help clients to avoid difficulties at an early stage’. Roland Ellis is a ‘very versatile’ litigator, who handles both FCA investigations as well as broader commercial litigation within the industry.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • 'It is a small, highly experienced and agile team. Each of their partners brings years of experience, common sense and versatility.'
  • 'I appreciate the approach tailored to clients' needs and case-specific advice.'
  • 'The most unique selling point is that, for a small boutique firm, they can still provide support, advice, practical and tactical excellence whilst easily pivoting between multiple disciplines, making them a one-stop-shop, able to bring to bear a holistic market awareness to any matter across a very wide spectrum, including contentious financial services.'
  • 'Cindy Dorrington is an excellent white-collar crime and financial services lawyer. She is particularly tactically astute and has excellent experience in dealing with the FCA. She has a fundamental understanding in what matters to them and how to best advance her clients\' interests by understanding which arguments will find favour with the FCA in seeking resolution and which won't.'
  • 'Cindy Dorrington brings years of experience across a host of white collar and financial services and has tremendous analytical and strategic acumen that can often help clients to avoid difficulties at an early stage.'
  • 'Roland Ellis is a very versatile lawyer, who stands out for experience and versatility in cross-over fields from white collar, tax, corporate disputes, civil litigation and financial services.'
  • 'Bivonas Law is a highly professional and multi-competent law firm, with a strong international presence. They are a well-rounded firm with specialisations in criminal law, civil law and litigation activities. They have the ability to both prosecute and defend in these areas. The majority of their engagements are by word-of-mouth as opposed to direct marketing and based on their professional reputation.'
  • 'Practically oriented and very well experienced.'

Work highlights

  • Representing an individual being investigated by the FCA and the SFO for fraud and mis-selling mini-bonds to the value of approximately £250m to retail investors.
  • Representing an individual in the FCA’s investigation into banks, brokers and pensions funds involved in Cum-Ex trading, where European countries have lost billions in tax reclaims.
  • Representing a defendant in one of the few insider dealing cases being prosecuted by the FCA.

Lawyers

Leading partners
The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.

Practice head

The lawyer(s) leading their teams.

Cindy Dorrington, Roland Ellis

Other key lawyers

Antony Brown, John Bechelet