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Janes Solicitors is a niche firm specialising in fraud, tax, bribery and corruption, and serious crime. Janes is also very experienced in proceeds of crime matters including confiscation, freezing orders and civil recovery proceedings. The firm demonstrates fearless commitment to the cause of its clients and prides itself on its professional esteem and standards. The firm: Janes Solicitors was founded more than 30 years ago and from its inception has had a strong and renowned presence in the field of serious fraud and crime. It has successfully defended many SFO and HMRC cases. The firm has consolidated itself at the forefront of the field, with success built on the solid foundation of a team of skilled litigators with a wealth of experience. Current instructions include the SFO Rolls Royce inquiry, Operation Amazon, HMRC inquiry into alleged breach of UN Sanctions Order against Iran, investigation into MLRO banking of just short of a billion pounds and inquiry by HMRC in respect of loans from Middle East to UK. Janes Solicitors is accustomed to high-profile cases and has conducted many renowned cases – including, to name but a few, Peter Foster (‘Cheriegate’), the Jubilee Line fraud case, Fergal Lynch (the race fixing trial), the London Metal Exchange fraud trial (Anand Jain), the Grillo sisters (the Nigella Lawson and Charles Saatchi case) and the Libor broker case (R v Goodman). In each matter a specialised team has been put together, tailor made to the particular case. - Types of work undertaken Serious fraud: Janes Solicitors has extensive experience in this highly skilled and demanding field, and has the technical expertise and ability to deploy appropriate resources to such cases. It has been instructed in some of the largest and most high-profile matters in recent years and continues to be sought after by clients involved in serious and complex cases. The firm has successfully defended two major SFO prosecutions – the TAF fraud trial and Libor broker trial. HM Revenue and Customs: the firm is regularly instructed in particularly complex and large- scale cases concerning the highly regulated area of VAT and excise duties before the VAT and Duties Tribunal and associated tribunals. It also provides representation in civil investigations by HMRC in relation to both VAT and personal and corporate tax affairs. The firm has been instructed for over eight years in the Operation Amazon case, the largest direct taxation prosecution of its type. Janes Solicitors also successfully represents in film scheme cases such as Operation Crystallite and Operation Lunar. Bribery and corruption: Janes Solicitors is experienced in this field dating back to the Jubilee Line case and currently instructed by nine current or previous executives of Rolls Royce in respect of the SFO inquiry. Serious crime: Janes Solicitors has great experience in cases of serious crime. Led by Robert Berg there is a devoted team of the most able and knowledgeable practitioners. The firm continues to act for clients accused of all manner of serious crime including murder, robbery, drug offences and trafficking, and allegations of sexual assault. Money laundering and POCA: the firm has particular expertise in matters relating to confiscation proceedings, cash seizure/forfeiture, restraint orders, property freezing orders and civil recovery orders under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002. Janes Solicitors has succeeded in recovering substantial sums of money on behalf of clients whose assets have been seized in cash forfeiture cases. Regulatory proceedings: the firm offers advice and representation in regulatory proceedings, for example concerning the Financial Services Authority, HM Customs and Revenue and the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills. The firm offers more specialist advice to clients who are subject to the provisions of the Money Laundering Regulations, or who require representation in connection with proceedings before professional disciplinary bodies. Extradition: Janes Solicitors has built up considerable experience in representing clients who are subject to extradition proceedings. The firm has established close connections with foreign lawyers and legal experts to ensure that it is able to call upon a wide body of expertise in many foreign jurisdictions. Privy Council: Janes Solicitors is one of the few firms authorised to handle cases before the Privy Council. ### Staffing Figures - 6 Number of UK partners

Office locations

London

London

Janes Solicitors Cording House 34-35, St James's Street London SW1A 4HD

Practice areas

Serious FraudTaxVAT And ExciseBribery And CorruptionSerious CrimeProceeds Of CrimeMoney LaunderingAsset RecoveryRegulatory Investigations

Lawyers in this office

Alex Chapman photo

Alex Chapman

Crime

Alex Mincoff photo

Alex Mincoff

Catriona Virden photo

Catriona Virden

David Janes photo

David Janes

Senior Partner of Janes Solicitors. David is exceptionally highly regarded in the profession and one of the leading and most experienced criminal lawyers. He is considered to be ‘a brilliant tactician’ and has been involved in a number of the highest profile cases and leading authorities. David is continuously highly ranked in Chambers & Partners and the Legal 500. David has an unrivalled reputation in the field of serious and complex fraud and cases involving direct and indirect taxation. He has successfully represented clients in the most complex and difficult of cases many of which have attracted national media interest – such as his client’s acquittal in the Libor case. He also specialises in defending allegations of bribery and corruption, alleged corporate offences, and all aspects relating to the proceeds of crime. He is experienced in regulatory matters and civil recovery. Notable cases: Preddie (leading mortgage case), Operation Elveden (Deputy Editor of The Sun), SFO v Allied Deals Metal, Olympic ticket case, Fergal Lynch a defendant in the “horse racing trial of the century", R-v-Lunn (Operation Edgewood), GP Noble pension case, Operation Crystallite (major tax avoidance re: film investment scheme – 2 defendants), R-v-Goodman & others (acquittal of broker in Libor fixing scandal), Operation Aquamarine (£40 million mortgage fraud against well known banking institutes), Operation Amazon (largest HMRC prosecution – income tax deferral in R&D carbon credit scheme), Operation Lunar (dismissal of charges in complex tax scheme prosecution against ex partner of KPMG in Zeus tax scheme alleging £300 million tax avoidance), representing 9 senior executives in the SFO Rolls Royce investigation. · Criminal Defence

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Fiona Gavriel

Fiona is a senior criminal litigation lawyer specialising in and with extensive experience of complex business, white collar and general crime. She has led large teams of solicitors in numerous high profile and media featured cases brought by the SFO, HMRC, CPS, FCA, Trading Standards and more recently the Metropolitan Police War Crimes Unit. Fiona qualified as a solicitor in 2000. Significant cases include: R- V- R and others (Op Amazon) Southwark Crown Court Feb 2017 – present Successful Defence of an accountant after a ten month trial. The case took 8 years to come to trial and has been described as the most complex direct tax prosecution case ever brought by HMRC. The case has afforded unprecedented insight into the workings and deficiencies of HMRC’s disclosure process as regards e-disclosure. R- V- JWW and others July 2017 Successful defence of the director of a major independent brewery who faced three counts of cheating the public revenue. The charges related to the alleged non-payment of tax by the company. The company was one of the first London microbreweries and was recently acquired by Carlsberg. The jury were directed to give not guilty verdicts following successful half time submissions of “no case to answer”. R- v- R and others Southwark Crown Court Sept 2015 - Jan 2016 Successful defence of a broker who worked at Tullett Prebon accused of involvement in LIBOR manipulation. The client was acquitted in less than one day following a four month trial. R- V T Central Criminal Court - Charged 1st June 2017 . Trial September 2018 Charges of “Torture” dating back to the Liberian civil war, brought by the Metropolitan Police War Crimes Unit under “Universal Jurisdiction”. Other Notable Experience in Allegations of: -Pension theft (Cheney Locksmiths in Birmingham) -Horse race fixing (involving Kieran Fallon) -Counterfeit software (Microsoft grey goods market) -Boiler room fraud -MTIC fraud -Money Laundering (including a long running trial of money laundering for a Colombian drugs cartel with numerous associated trials involving a police informant). -Large scale mortgage fraud -Tax evasion (representing two Vantis Tax directors and their wives) -Drugs offences (including importation and possession with intent to supply) -Arson (resulting in hospital order) -Fraudulent Trading (including the McAlpine owned “Welsh Slate” false invoicing case). Relevant Work History · Criminal Litigation

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James Mullion

James has been a Partner at Janes since 2010. He advises clients on all aspects of fraud and regulatory matters and has a burgeoning fraud practice with both civil and criminal cases. He has been instructed to advise clients on a major privacy claims, international trust claims and a London Stock Exchange related matter. His impressive criminal practice continues to expand, advising a major witness in the phone hacking civil trial, and a high profile investigation into misappropriation of political funds. Notable cases include Operation Ventford (multi-handed conspiracy to defraud banks with losses in the millions), R v Potter, Johnson & Others (international boiler room fraud). His corporate clients include a company director being investigated for Iranian crude oil sanction-busting. His civil practice continues to expand: James was instructed on several claims against Mirror Group Newspapers arising from Operation Golding (police investigation into phone hacking) and in a similar claim against News UK Ltd. He is also advising a number of high-profile, high net worth individuals in a major sham trust and asset forfeiture application. · Fraud

Marc Livingston photo

Marc Livingston

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Robert Berg

Partner representing clients in major criminal prosecutions including fraud, murder and money – laundering and drug trafficking. Notable cases: successful defence of Nicholas Van Hoogstraten, Appeal of Warren Blackwell. Representing a victim in the Grenfell inquiry. Instructed in several major fraud and international bribery investigations, a trial involving large scale control of prostitutes and money laundering and a trial involving conspiracy to supply in excess of 200 kilos of cocaine. Robert is also representing clients in connection with the current SFO Rolls Royce investigation, an international investigation by French Police into the recovery of a substantial hoard of ancient gold coins and in an extradition request by France on a case involving an £8m fraud in France. Robert is widely regarded as a litigator of great integrity with an uncompromising commitment to the interests of his clients who hold him in high esteem. He has a solid reputation for dealing with serious crime such as high-value money laundering, international drug trafficking, murder, serious violent offences and sexual offences. Robert also has extensive experience of extradition matters, mutual legal assistance and international cooperation investigations. With over forty years’ experience in the most high-profile criminal cases, Robert is well regarded for his fierce devotion to achieving the best possible outcome for his clients and handles his cases with the upmost tactical skill. As a Higher Courts Advocate (Criminal) Robert regularly represents defendants charged with the most serious offences, has conducted jury trials and appeared before the Court of Appeal. Robert has also completed a post-graduate course in Forensic Medicine and has featured in newspapers, TV and Radio and has contributed to write scripts for criminal dramas including the popular cult series Line of Duty. Robert is an appointed member of the Law 100 Panel for The Times newspaper. Robert also advises individuals employed by a UK-listed company in respect of allegations of bribery and corruption and regularly deals with cases attracting national media interest. · Criminal Law

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Simon Barker

Partner practicing in all areas of criminal litigation particularly complex fraud, confiscation and money laundering proceedings. In this field Simon has achieved many important and significant results for his clients. He has established a strong reputation for being ‘extremely easy to deal with, very clear, very driven and very supportive’ (Chambers & Partners). Important cases worked upon at a senior level include: R v Wootton (the famous Jubilee Line Extension case in which the acquittal of the client was secured after a 2 year trial ); R v Jain (SFO prosecution of a highly complex billion pound metal trading fraud and ensuing confiscation proceedings in which a discontinuance was obtained for the client); R v Embleton (large scale and complex machinery financing fraud prosecution in which acquittals on all counts were obtained); R v Lewis (prosecution of a broker in a large scale mortgage fraud where a non-custodial sentence was obtained following the client’s acquittal on the large majority of counts and thereafter a confiscation order in the amount of £1 only); R v Harrold (large scale insurance industry fraud prosecution in which pressure from the defence led to the abandonment of the proceedings by the prosecution before trial); R v van Meel (Beijing Olympic ticket fraud prosecution where the case against the client was discharged mid-trial as a result of successful legal argument); R v Lunn (prosecution by HMRC of an accountant acting for thousands of clients); R v Goodman (acquittal secured of ‘Lord Libor’ in the well-publicised LIBOR brokers trial); R v Amin (acquittal of an investor in a film investment scheme in a large-scale, multi-defendant prosecution brought by HMRC). · Crime