Blackfords LLP

Partner, Solicitor-Advocate. Gary has been described both in the National and International media outlets as a formidable and brilliant lawyer, and is recognised worldwide for providing clear, comprehensive and strategic legal advice to both individuals and organisations. Gary’s specialist and almost unique legal portfolio means that he is often instructed to defend both high net worth and ultra high net worth individuals who are subject to both criminal investigations and multi-jurisdictional legal problems.Gary’s work is purely recommendation referrals often from clients, previous clients and other lawyers. Gary’s client base includes individuals , CEOs, solicitors, barristers, accountants together with public figures including royalty, politicians, celebrities and professional sports persons (football, cricket, rugby and boxing). Gary’s strategic judgement when advising on  written submissions to prevent or stop investigations on both public interest and evidential grounds pre and post charge is second to none. Gary is acknowledged for his expertise in dealing with reputation issues and crisis management of individuals and companies. Gary’s current instructions include advising an individual (UK) in the highest profile US investigation into trafficking young females worldwide,  individuals under investigation for corporate manslaughter and health and safety allegations arising from the police investigation in the Grenfell Inquiry. Gary is  instructed in a number of fraud, money laundering, insider trading and bribery and corruption matters.Gary has also been instructed to defend the largest ever cryptocurrency case in Europe. Gary is one of the leading private crime solicitors and his work apart from above also includes investigations of historical sexual allegations ,art and antiquities investigations and firearm related offences.  

Managing Partner, Solicitor-Advocate. Trevor specialises in regulatory investigations and enquiries, crisis management and reputation protection for ultra high net worth clients, serious fraud, money laundering and high value confiscation and restraint issues and Coroner Inquests. Current instructions include corporate manslaughter and other health and safety matters, electoral law issues, defamation actions, Trading Standard investigations and proceedings, Insider trading, high value white collar fraud, bribery and corruption and high value international civil fraud and asset recovery.

Partner, London office Specialising in white-collar criminal defence, crisis management and the co-head of the firm’s dispute resolution department, Daniel advises company directors and officers and private individuals. He represents those facing serious and often highly sensitive enquiries and investigations. Daniel is regularly instructed to advise and to defend in large and complex cases, which involve allegations of corporate wrongdoing, corruption, bribery, sanctions breaches, corporate and personal tax evasion, VAT and duty evasion and allegations of frauds involving investments, pensions, property, mortgages and insurance, banking and insider dealing, brought by and involving authorities including the Serious Fraud Office, National Crime Agency, HMRC, Financial Conduct Authority, US Department of Justice and Federal Bureau of Investigations, the Office of Public Prosecution (Germany), the Central Bureau of Investigation and Enforcement Directorate (India) and the police. Daniel provides discreet advice and assistance to high profile, high net and very high net worth individuals and to a number of national organisations. Daniel currently acts for a client in what is the highest profile case on the world stage in the last century. Daniel is experienced and adept at dealing with multi-media, multi-disciplinary and multi-jurisdictional working groups. He works with a network of lawyers internationally and is praised for tactical and strategic acumen, clear and comprehensive advice, strong guidance and client support and fearless dogged tenacity. Daniel advises and assists in relation to a range of regulatory matters involving various specialist bodies, which have included the Electoral Commission, the Charity Commission, the Financial Conduct Authority, the England and Wales Cricket Board and National Trading Standards. Daniel is highly experienced at providing effective representation for persons being interviewed by investigative bodies and dealing with the realities and aftermath of raids and search warrants – including judicial challenges to them, as well as legal professional privilege matters. He has brought about high profile stays of prosecution in a number of large cases, for reasons of successful abuse of process arguments and he has brought about a change to the BBC Trust policy and protocol for film crews attending raids, as a result of a successful application for a stay of prosecution for reason of a rare, ‘limb two’, abuse of process argument, resulting from the conduct of the police and the BBC in the course and conduct of a criminal investigation. Daniel acted for the first defendant in what is said to have been the largest and most complex tax fraud case ever prosecuted by HMRC and he continues to represent general counsel from a large mining company which is subject to very long-running SFO multi-jurisdictional investigation. He has acted for senior journalists, politicians, well-known personalities, sportsmen and senior royalty. Daniel deals with proceeds of crime and money laundering matters, including cash detention and forfeiture, account freezing orders, restraint orders, freezing orders and confiscation proceedings.

Partner, Solicitor-Advocate (Higher Court criminal proceedings) Heads up one of the busiest general crime departments in the country.   Diana specialises in serious crime and those matters whereby it is of the utmost importance that the correct outcome be achieved. As a consequence, Diana’s client base consists regularly of professionals. Extensively experienced in matters including: - Murder, manslaughter, serious violence Sexually related matters including historical allegations High value fraud All drugs related matters Robbery, blackmail, kidnapping and misconduct Diana has a niche practice in motoring law and understands that the outcome needs not to impact prejudicially upon a client’s livelihood. A particular expertise in representing young people who find themselves in conflict with the criminal justice system. Diana is fortunate to be in a minority of lawyers who have represented clients before the House of Lords (now the Supreme Court). Notable cases: R v Mills & Poole (House of Lords) 1997.