BCL Solicitors LLP recognised as a leading firm in The Legal 500 UK 2022-2023 Guide

BCL Solicitors LLP recognised as a leading firm in The Legal 500 UK 2022-2023 Guide

BCL Solicitors LLP are pleased to be once again recognised as a top-tier firm with an extensive team of outstanding individuals in the new Legal 500 United Kingdom 2022-2023 Guide. We have been identified as a leading firm in six practice areas and 14 of our lawyers commended for their standout contribution in their respective practices.

The Legal 500 UK Guide is one of the leading independent directories of UK legal services, in which the UK’s leading firms and lawyers are identified.

In the 2022-2023 edition, BCL is recommended as a top-tier or leading firm in the following practice areas:

  • Crime: General
  • Fraud: White-Collar Crime (advice to individuals)
  • Dispute Resolution: Tax litigation and Investigations
  • Health & Safety
  • Risk Advisory: Data protection, privacy and cybersecurity
  • Risk Advisory: Regulatory Investigations & Corporate Crime (advice to corporates)

In this year’s ‘Hall of Fame’ which highlights individuals who have received constant praise by their clients for continued excellence. The Hall of Fame highlights, to clients, the law firm partners who are at the pinnacle of the profession.

Three of our lawyers are listed in the elite “Hall of Fame” list:

Three of our lawyers are listed in the “Leading Individuals” list. The Legal 500 United Kingdom 2022’s guide to outstanding lawyers nationwide:

A further three BCL lawyers are recognised in the “Next Generation Partners” list:

And finally we have five lawyers in the “Rising Stars Lawyers” list:

The Legal 500’s editorial for each of BCL’s practice areas is set out below:

Crime: General

‘As a firm their preparation is outstanding and they have a remarkable strength in depth both in terms of their solicitors and back room staff. Their client care is first class.’

Clearly at the top of their game’, BCL Solicitors LLP acts on the full range of serious crime matters, extending from historic sexual assault accusations to major drug crime. The department’s strong reputation attracts a broad range of clients, including high-profile and high-net worth individuals. The ‘superb’ Ellen Peart leads the team, with an extensive practice area which includes sexual crimes, assault, and firearms offences. Mark Haslam, who is praised for his ‘tactical intelligence’, has more than 40 years’ experience covering all forms of criminal defence work, and in addition to expertise in drugs cases, murder, and assault, has a notable specialism in motoring matters. ‘Completely brilliant’ associates David Hardstaff and Daniel Jackson are key members of the team, with Hardstaff covering regulatory law and controlled drug licensing, while Jackson is experienced with sexual, violent, and regulatory offences.

Fraud: White-Collar Crime (Advice to Individuals)

‘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.’

Remaining highly active at the top of the individual white collar criminal defence market, BCL Solicitors LLP deploys an extensive senior team on behalf of senior executives, directors, and high net-worth individuals in the UK and globally, handling SFO, FCA, police, and global enforcement agency investigations into bribery and corruption, revenue frauds, insider dealing, and money laundering, with standout involvements in ongoing issues relating to Russian sanctions and Cum-Ex proceedings. The practice is overseen by Harry Travers, who has particular expertise in tax fraud, multijurisdictional financial crime expert Richard Sallybanks, and Shula de Jersey , who has been active in a number of major SFO investigations into bribery and corruption. Senior partner Ian Burton continues to work on behalf of high-profile clients in complex proceedings, while Shaul Brazil is also highlighted for his work in financial crime. John Binns has been active in the sanctions space, representing a number of individual clients facing UK, US, and EU economic and trade sanctions, and Julian Hayes has continued to burnish his reputation in high-profile crime cases. At senior associate level, Hannah Raphael has standout involvements in cross-border financial crime cases, including relating to LIBOR rate-fixing, and Anoushka Warlow is a key name for SFO investigations and prosecutions.

Health & Safety

‘BCL have a strong reputation in this field. They are well known for their broad range of regulatory services with a focus on advising corporates including Directors. I would personally recommend clients to instruct BCL in cases where I am conflicted from acting which is always a good litmus test for me as a fellow practitioner.’

Operating as part of the firm’s larger business crime and regulation department, BCL Solicitors LLP‘s health and safety team is instructed on high profile regulatory and criminal cases, as well as matters involving corporate manslaughter, fire safety; food safety and environmental protection. The team’s focus is on contentious criminal and regulatory matters, with the intent to end investigations before they start. Richard Reichman leads the team and is often instructed in cases that require a deep knowledge of corporate crime and regulation. He is supported by senior associate Tom McNeill, who specialises in regulatory investigations, fire safety and environmental investigations.

Regulatory Investigations & Corporate Crime (Advice to Corporates)

‘A very strong team with a fantastic reputation. Very personable and responsive’.

The ‘excellent team’ at BCL Solicitors LLP is increasingly active on behalf of corporate clients facing financial crime investigations and charges, with areas of focus including money laundering, account freezing orders, and Unexplained Wealth Orders. The firm acts for a diverse client base, including high-profile names in professional services as well as trustees and charities, and also has a strong record in complex compliance advice alongside its criminal representations. Senior partner Ian Burton oversees the team alongside John Binns , a key name for Proceeds of Crime Act work and cross-border investigations, as well as compliance advice on complex issues such as cannabis. Richard Reichman has notable expertise in health and safety issues and internal investigations, while senior associate Anoushka Warlow is noted for her work on challenging search warrants and unlawful retention of evidence during complex corruption proceedings.

Tax Litigation and Investigations

‘This is a highly capable team with an ability to get up to speed on technical tax points and to handle difficult investigations. It has excellent relations with HMRC and is highly strategic.’

The business crime and regulation team at BCL Solicitors LLP acts for a range of clients including high-ranking executives and senior figures. The firm has expertise in tax fraud cases across the financial and legal sectors. Co-head Harry Travers combines experience in tax litigation and tax fraud. Other co-heads Ian Burton and Greg Mailer are involved in tax investigations while John Binns represents individual and corporate clients.

Data Protection, Privacy and Cybersecurity

‘BCL is the only firm that is truly able to combine criminal law and data law expertise. Many other firms specialise in one or the other and are not competent to advise on both but BCL is uniquely placed to do so.’

Highly praised by clients for its ability to ‘truly combine criminal law and data law expertise’, BCL Solicitors LLP is uniquely positioned to handle enforcement actions, investigations, online harm issues, and cybercrime matters. Leading the practice is former GCHQ legal director Michael Drury, who is especially sought after to advise on cyberattacks, ransomware incidents and potential prosecutions by the ICO. Another key name is Julian Hayes, whose expertise spans data subject rights, compliance matters, data transfers and breach responses.

For full access to the 2022-2023 The Legal 500 rankings, visit their website.