England - London • Crime, fraud and licensing

BCL Solicitors LLP

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Counting CEOs, politicians, and business leaders among its client base, the ‘incredibly imaginative’ BCL Solicitors LLP team regularly advises on SFO and financial crime investigations. The group routinely acts for individuals across industries ranging from energy to banking, demonstrating in-depth expertise in everything from money laundering, to tax investigations, to Russian sanction issues. Richard Sallybanks leads the business crime and regulation division, deploying a ’global view’ to international fraud and bribery investigations, while Ian Burton has 40 years’ experience handling corruption and extradition matters for domestic and international clients. Harry Travers has an eye for ‘meticulous detail’, regularly assisting individuals involved in contentious tax proceedings and commercial fraud, while Shula de Jersey is an expert on financial crime. Michael Drury is knowledgeable on data and information law issues, and Julian Hayes supports clients in SFO and FCA actions. Shaul Brazil has specialist knowledge in criminal and civil fraud cases, and John Binns specialises in asset forfeiture and complex sanction matters. Anoushka Warlow, Oliver Schneider-Sikorsky and Hannah Raphael are also recommended.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • ‘Michael Drury is simply excellent. A fantastic lawyer, whose judgement is impeccable. Ian Burton is similarly brilliant and brings unrivalled experience to every case.’

  • ‘Harry Travers has the most zealous approach to his client's case I have ever seen. Everything is considered in meticulous detail for the best results. His forte is avoiding the client being charged, or if charged, going to trial, or if tried, being convicted.’

  • ‘Richard Sallybanks and Shula de Jersey are both superb. Richard's ability to see the bigger points in cases and to be pragmatic about the next step is impressive. Shula's client management skills and eye for detail are fantastic.’

  • ‘Stand out people include: Shaul Brazil, Julian Hayes, Shula de Jersey, Richard Sallybanks, Anoushka Warlow.’

  • 'Shula de Jersey is a partner at the very top of her game, she has all the attributes necessary to conduct the biggest and most complex litigation. I have been exceedingly impressed by her handling of an SFO wide-ranging international corruption case which is going to trial. she really is first class.'
  • 'Julian Hayes has been making a huge impression in the field of GDPR data protection, he is becoming the go-to man in that field. An enormous work ethic and attention to detail, coupled with accurate and clear advice.’
  • ‘The team is incredibly imaginative and always in anticipation rather than in mere reaction.’

  • ‘Richard Sallybanks does not leave any detail unclarified; he has a global view of a line of defence.’

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.

Ian Burton

Ian Burton

Hall of fameBCL Solicitors LLP

Ian Burton is a senior partner and founder of BCL Solicitors. Having worked on most of the significant business crime investigations and prosecutions brought by the UK authorities over the last 25 years, he has unrivalled strategic judgement and experience. He is internationally recognised as the pre-eminent adviser in high-profile criminal representation. Ian has a reputation as a masterful problem solver providing discreet, prompt and clear advice to high-profile and high net-worth individuals, CEOs, corporations, heads of government and government bodies on complex and sensitive issues. His cases involve commercial fraud, international financial regulation, money-laundering, corruption, sanctions, price-fixing, extradition, tax and company investigations including acting in two of the largest back duty tax investigations ever conducted by the HMRC. Outside of the traditional areas of practice, Ian often works alongside high profile heads of corporations as a personal adviser; looking after their personal interests away from their obligations as a majority shareholder. His unique skillset and experience provides clients with the strategic oversight they often require, managing complex ligation including commercial and personal disputes, settlement negotiation and international, multi-jurisdictional arbitration. With a career spanning nearly 50 years, Ian has amassed a considerable network of skilled professionals to call upon including overseas lawyers, accountants, tax and media advisers allowing him to bring together the best team required, no matter the crisis or location for the client. “Ian Burton is probably the best white-collar criminal solicitor in London," enthuses a leading barrister adding: "He is the doyen of financial crime." "He's simply fantastic - he has an extraordinary wealth of experience to draw upon and the wisdom of Solomon," says a client. Another client comments: "Ian Burton has a huge and well-deserved reputation as the leading figure for high-profile criminal representation. He is a deep strategic thinker and has an unbelievable depth of experience." A market insider reports that "Over the years Ian has appeared in numerous cases working with high-profile politicians, businessmen and celebrities. He has vast experience and good judgement, he is an extremely safe pair of hands when it comes to managing complex or difficult cases."

Leading individuals

Shaul Brazil

Shaul Brazil

BCL Solicitors LLP

Shaul Brazil is a partner at BCL specialising in business crime and regulatory enforcement. Recommended in Chambers UK and Chambers HNW, he is also ranked as an expert in Who’s Who Legal (Business Crime Defence and Investigations). Shaul specialises in acting for individuals and companies in complex cross-border matters. He has extensive experience advising on multi-jurisdictional corruption and fraud investigations, asset recovery proceedings (in the UK and overseas), and extradition proceedings (in particular, politically motivated requests). He has acted in numerous high-profile investigations and prosecutions brought by the SFO and many other UK and overseas enforcement authorities. Shaul also has broad experience acting in ancillary matters such as judicial review proceedings, FCA investigations and applications to Interpol for the deletion of notices or diffusions. He advises companies in relation to regulatory and criminal law issues such as anti-bribery and corruption and anti-money laundering compliance, data protection and responding to requests for assistance in law enforcement investigations.

Shula de Jersey

Shula de Jersey

BCL Solicitors LLP

She is an expert in all areas of white-collar crime including high profile fraud, money laundering and corruption. She specialises in representing individuals in complex and serious fraud proceedings, health and safety and corporate manslaughter cases and has handled a number of Serious Fraud Office (SFO) investigations. These include Operation Holbein, Langbar, Mabey and Johnson, the Beijing Olympics ticket fraud, Kaupthing, Swift, FOREX and Euribor. She also has experience representing clients in all areas of criminal law including serious crime and she regularly represents clients at police station interviews. Shula has had numerous articles published in The Lawyer, Legal Week, In-House Lawyer and Telegraph Online and has lectured on corporate manslaughter legislation. She is a consultant editor for Lloyds Law Reports: Financial Crime.

Practice head

The lawyer(s) leading their teams.

Richard Sallybanks

Other key lawyers

Ian Burton, Harry Travers, Shula de Jersey, Michael Drury, Julian Hayes, Shaul Brazil, John Binns, Anoushka Warlow, Oliver Schneider-Sikorsky, Hannah Raphael