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Ian Burton

“If I was an oligarch in bad trouble, I’d go to Ian Burton’ … ‘He’s the one with the greatest amount of experience’ … Burton specialises in resolving a wide range of complex matters for wealthy individuals around the world…. ‘the figurehead of financial crime, he is able to cut through the rubbish without blinking. There aren’t many who can do that.”

Chambers High Net Worth

Ian Burton is the senior partner and founder of BCL.

Having been involved in most of the significant business crime investigations and prosecutions brought by the UK authorities over the last two decades, Ian has particular expertise and experience in providing discreet, prompt and clear advice to high profile individuals, corporations and Government bodies on a wide range of complex and sensitive issues nationally and internationally. These include commercial fraud, international financial regulation (including money laundering), tax investigations, company investigations, price-fixing, corruption, mutual legal assistance and extradition, and corporate manslaughter, and often require the co-ordination of a range of other professionals including accountants, tax advisers and media advisers, in a multi-jurisdictional context.

He lives in London and his professional memberships include the International Bar Association and the American Bar Association. In 2009 Ian was appointed to The Times Law Panel, an advisory body of 100 of the country’s most prominent lawyers.

What the directories have said:

“Ian is a senior-statesperson genius for white-collar fraud.

Chambers UK, 2023

“He is very good at creating long-lasting, successful relationships with clients. He is a rainmaker in the field. He’s a very good operator.

Chambers UK, 2023

“He is one of the most impressive lawyers I ever saw in court. It was about a thousand years ago, but he was absolutely fantastic. He built the reputation the firm has now.

Chambers UK, 2023

“He is a renowned expert and is top class with a massive presence. Overall, his client service, commercial awareness and level of sophistication are very strong.

Chambers UK, 2023

“Ian was excellent and the client feedback was also good. He is very experienced in financial crime, and he will bring you to the bottom of the case and his enormous experience is very easily obvious. Overall, he’s very good to work with and very pleasant.

Chambers UK, 2023

Ian is very experienced in financial crime, and he will bring you to the bottom of the case and his enormous experience is very easily obvious. Overall, he’s very good to work with and very pleasant.

Chambers UK, 2023

He is one of a kind. He’s a brilliant strategist with more experience than almost anybody else practicing in the area of crime and extradition. Him and Michael Drury have a great deal of experience with extradition and there is nothing they don’t know about the work.

Chambers UK, 2023

Ian Burton is a genius in white-collar fraud matters.

Chambers UK, 2023

“Ian Burton is exceptional. He has the ability to build and maintain excellent relationships with both the client and HMRC, inspiring confidence on both sides.

Legal 500, 2023

“Ian Burton – the most experienced high net worth defender in the UK, his reputation for influence and strategic nous is unparalleled. If you are rich and famous you should have his number on speed dial.

Legal 500, 2023

“BCL is a market leader in this field. Ian Burton is the number one choice for the rich and famous. His partner team is large and multi-talented. This attractive and hugely successful outfit would rank in everyone’s Top Five white collar firms in London.”

Legal 500, 2023

“…a coterie of extremely HNW clients, who look to him for their every legal need. His client list sounds like an extract from the Sunday Times Rich List.”

Chambers HNW, 2022

Nobody else has his breadth and depth of experience. He’s extremely insightful and well connected.”

Chambers HNW, 2022

“There is no one like Ian Burton,” … “he is one of a kind.”

Chambers UK, 2022

“Everybody knows him and thinks the world of him. He is without a doubt one of the most amazing lawyers I know,”

Chambers UK, 2022

“He has an unrivalled depth of experience.”

Chambers UK, 2022

“He is one of the best lawyers you could call if you are in trouble.”

Chambers UK, 2022

“There is no one else like him within the profession, and no one else with his enormous experience and instinct. The word “impossible” simply doesn’t exist so far as he is concerned. He is the best of the best.”

Chambers UK, 2022

“Ian is particularly impressive, even with the most demanding clients. He has an excellent manner and has seen everything before, so he is very good at keeping everyone calm, confident and on track.”

Chambers UK, 2022

“He is obviously at the top of the tree now: the grand old man of financial crime. Ian can pick up the phone to everybody, and he is the best lawyer of his kind in the UK. He has very good judgement, is never flustered and clients love him.”

Chambers UK, 2022

“Ian Burton is probably the best white-collar criminal solicitor in London,” enthuses a leading barrister adding: “He is the doyen of financial crime.”

The Legal 500, 2021

“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.”

The Legal 500, 2021

“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.”

The Legal 500, 2021

“Ian Burton is the “go to” man for resolution of investigations without proceedings. A slick operator.”

The Legal 500, 2021

“He is the godfather of criminal law in the UK.” “He is a true titan of the profession with all the presence, wisdom and savvy that it brings, and achieves marvellous results.”

Chambers UK, 2021

“… a huge and well-deserved reputation as the leading figure for high-profile criminal representation”

Chambers UK, 2020

“… the doyen of financial crime.”

“… the most experienced criminal solicitor in the country,” 

“He is an absolute legend.” 

“… he has seen it all before, he is very calm, nothing fazes him and he gives practical and good advice.”

Chambers HNW, 2020

“… a well-deserved reputation for having a deep knowledge of the field, and he can really keep an eye on the big picture and steer through difficult waters.”

Chambers UK, 2019

“… is now the éminence grise of the white collar crime world.” 

“… he is a big name and he knows everything about financial crime. He has been there, done it all and seen it all; nothing fazes him.” 

“… he commands great respect from his clients.”

Chambers HNW, 2019

“The ultimate heavyweight in white collar crime”

“Respected by all, especially his opponents and is able to position his clients to the maximum advantage at the investigation phase”

The Legal 500, 2019

“… is probably the best white-collar criminal solicitor in London,” 

“He’s the grand old man of financial crime.” 

“He’s simply fantastic – he has an extraordinary wealth of experience to draw upon. He has the wisdom of Solomon,” 

“The pre-eminent figure for high-profile criminal representation… He just has an unbelievable depth of experience.” 

“He has vast experience and good judgement, meaning that he is an extremely safe pair of hands when it comes to high-profile or difficult cases.”

Chambers HNW, 2018

“… exquisite judgement and vast experience,”

“… incredible drive to do the best for his clients.”

“The client feels like they are in safe hands. He is very pragmatic and has a wealth of experience. He commands respect.” 

“He has a wonderful manner with clients.”

“He has an amazing ability to win the trust of the clients and assure them he will do his utmost for their case.”

Chambers HNW, 2017

“A superstar who has experience in every kind of case imaginable”

“Intelligent, imaginative and dedicated”

The Legal 500, 2017

“The figurehead of financial crime, he is able to cut through the rubbish without blinking. There aren’t many who can do that.”

Chambers UK, 2016

News: Ian Burton

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