England - London • Crime, fraud and licensing

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Fraud: white-collar crime (advice to individuals)

Corker Binning

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Demonstrating ‘good strength in depth’, Corker Binning’s white-collar crime practice is highly recommended for representing HNW individuals and C-Suite executives in high-profile SFO and US DOJ investigations. The team boasts diverse expertise in sectors including renewable energy, banking, and natural resources, advising clients on complex money laundering issues and sanction compliance matters. Former partner David Corker has moved into a consultancy role but has vast experience acting for clients implicated in criminal or regulatory investigations. Peter Binning specialises in handling money laundering and breach of sanctions proceedings. Andrew Smith leads the department, bringing in-depth knowledge of prosecutions brought by the SFO, FCA, and NCA, while the ’experienced and professional’ Jessica Parker , who is now the firm's senior partner, focuses on criminal tax fraud and investigations. Claire Cross routinely covers contentious tax proceedings, and of counsels Maia Cohen-Lask and Nick Barnard represent individual clients across a range of criminal and regulatory affairs. Paul Morris joined the firm as criminal litigation partner from BCL Solicitors LLP in October 2022.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • ‘In this space, Corker Binning spoils you for choice. It has strength in depth, and covers the waterfront of white-collar work.’

  • ‘Corker Binning are deservedly at the very top of the field when it comes to individuals. The consistent quality and depth of experience across the firm is impressive. It will be interesting to see how the new leadership of Andrew Smith and Jessica Parker step up into the giant shoes of David Corker and Peter Binning.’

  • ‘Peter Binning is one of the most charming and effective practitioners in the game. His strategic thinking and instinct is first rate, and he approaches the big judgement calls with composure and remarkable clarity of thought. He never gets distracted by noise and irrelevant detail, and has an extraordinary ability to quickly identify what lies at the very heart of a case and to focus on it with laser precision. Nick Barnard is a real rising star. He is extremely bright and measured, and he has a good strategic mind and excellent judgement. One to watch.’

  • ‘Strong team with good strength in depth.’

  • ‘Jessica Parker - experienced and professional. Peter Binning - proactive, strategic.’

  • ‘Corker Binning a very sophisticated, boutique criminal law practice that provide excellent service across the full spectrum of criminal work. I have typically used them for business crime matters and they are a "go to" firm. I find the firm to be responsive, thoughtful and hard working .’

  • ‘Very strong team of seasoned white-collar lawyers - these guys don't just talk the talk. Key people are: David Corker - outspoken in the market but always carefully listened to; Peter Binning - has been in all the big cases and is very smart; Jessica Parker - now well established as a go to white collar lawyer and is in all the major investigations; Andrew Smith - very cerebral and understated but rated by the city firms for both reasons. A younger generation of new partners making their way up behind them - all very able.’

  • ‘Andrew Smith and Jessica Parker are worthy successors to name partners Peter Binning and David Corker at the firm's helm. Alongside them are regulatory specialist Claire Cross and extradition guru Ed Grange. They are all very collegiate and excellent strategists.’

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Work highlights

  • Acted for Mr Abdulla Mohammed Ali Bin Beyat Alfalasi, an Emirati national in one of the largest money laundering cases prosecuted by the CPS to date.

Lawyers

Hall of Fame

The lawyers at the very top of the profession, widely known and respected by peers and clients for their longstanding involvement in market-leading work.

Peter Binning

Peter Binning

Hall of fameCorker Binning

Peter Binning is a highly respected criminal defence lawyer who specialises in fraud and regulatory litigation, much of it international. He has many years’ experience of investigations and prosecutions relating to fraud, regulatory breaches, corruption, cartels, export control, sanctions and tax evasion acting for Board level executives. Peter’s current and recent work includes all of the SFO banking sector investigations including those relating to LIBOR, EURIBOR and FX, as well as several high profile international corruption cases. He successfully defended the former Chief Executive of Barclays Bank in the SFO’s highest profile corporate prosecution. Financial Conduct Authority matters include insider dealing and market abuse and one of the first FCA high frequency trading cases. Some of the LIBOR and FX related cases have also involved cartel allegations both in the EU and in the USA as well as Brazil.

Leading individuals

Next Generation Partners

Nick Barnard

Nick Barnard

Corker Binning

Nick specialises in advising individual and corporate clients in a range of criminal and regulatory matters. He has been named as a rising star for ‘Fraud: White-Collar Crime’ in the Legal 500 UK 2023 and up and coming for ‘Financial Crime: High Net Worth Individuals’ in Chambers and Partners HNW 2022. The Legal 500 UK 2023 describes him as ‘incredibly bright’. In recent years, Nick has acted in some of the most high-profile and complex investigations into fraud, bribery, tax offences, money laundering and asset forfeiture in the UK and abroad. He is frequently involved in cases conducted by the Serious Fraud Office, the National Crime Agency, the Financial Conduct Authority and HMRC, as well as international investigators, prosecutors and regulators. He has a particular interest in the criminal, asset forfeiture and regulatory aspects of cryptoassets, and has a foundation certification in cryptocurrency investigations. Nick also has expertise in general crime matters, having provided advice from the police station to the Magistrates’ and Crown Courts on offences including murder, rape and grievous bodily harm to VAT fraud, drink-driving, possession of indecent images and misconduct in public office.

Maia Cohen-Lask

Maia Cohen-Lask

Corker Binning

Maia Cohen-Lask specialises in both financial and general crime. Maia has represented clients in some of the largest and most high-profile financial crime cases in recent years. This includes cases being investigated and prosecuted by the SFO, NCA, and FCA, as well as cross-border investigations where clients are being investigated in multiple jurisdictions. Maia also advises clients facing the imposition and enforcement of sanctions. Recent work highlights includes successfully representing a defendant in the SFO’s trial of senior executives from Barclays in relation to its fundraising during the financial crisis, as well as representing individuals in a number of other SFO investigations including LIBOR, Rolls Royce, Glencore, and others. In general crime matters, Maia regularly represents individuals at every stage from their first interview at the police station through to trial. Her experience covers a wide variety of cases including sexual offences, assaults, blackmail, and drug offences. This includes experience of representing high-profile individuals in sensitive cases with significant media interest.

Practice head

The lawyer(s) leading their teams.

Andrew Smith

Other key lawyers

Peter Binning, David Corker, Jessica Parker, Claire Cross, Maia Cohen-Lask, Nick Barnard

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