Chambers & Partners have now published the 2009 edition of Chambers UK; one of the leading independent directories of UK legal services.

The directory recommends BCL Burton Copeland as a leading firm in the following practice areas:

• Fraud: Criminal (Best of the UK)
• Fraud: Criminal: Corporate (Best of the UK)
• Competition: White-Collar Crime: Cartel Defence
• Crime
• Health & Safety (Best of the UK)
• Tax: Contentious: Fraud (Best of the UK)

Yet again, BCL Burton Copeland has a partner ranked as a star individual in the table of leading individuals for Fraud: Criminal (Best of the UK) as well as in the table of leading individuals for Crime.

Fraud: Criminal (Best of the UK) and Fraud: Criminal: Corporate (Best of the UK)

In relation to Fraud: Criminal (Best of the UK), the firm is ranked once more, as joint top of the table of leading firms in the UK.  In addition, six of our partners are included in the table of leading individuals in the UK, as follows:

• Ian Burton – Star individual
• Brian Spiro – Band 1
• Harry Travers – Band 1
• Jane Glass – Band 2
• Robin Booth – Band 3
• Guy Bastable – Band 4

In relation to Fraud: Criminal: Corporate (Best of the UK), the firm is again ranked top of the table of leading firms in the UK.

In relation to the firm, the directory states:

This first-class firm offers clear, concise and uncomplicated thinking and an unsurpassed knowledge of criminal law.  It covers all areas of criminal and regulatory law, including commercial and criminal fraud, tax fraud, corruption, financial regulation, cartels, money laundering and criminal asset recovery.  It continues to provide advice and representation in the most high-profile criminal fraud trials and investigations.

In relation to our partners, the directory states:

Head of the department and undoubtedly a star, Ian Burton knows everyone and has seen it all before, which is very comforting to clients. 

Brian Spiro is a bright, hard-working and extremely capable individual who passionately represents his clients.  In the words of one client, Harry Travers is a great lateral thinker who never stopped thinking about my case even outside office hours.  He has a great ability to see the flaws in the opposition’s argument before anyone else, and is exceptionally bright and very talented, with a tremendous eye for details.  As a former head of the fraud division of the CPS, Robin Booth is immensely experienced and has a reputation for being particularly strong on money laundering matters. 

Jane Glass is highly efficient with great judgement.  Over the past year she successfully defended Kieren Fallon in the widely reported horse race fixing case, and also advised in the cash for honours investigation. 

Guy Bastable is lauded for his impressive ability to drill down to the detail and look beyond the obvious – he puts in so much work that he can become a greater expert on the papers than the police!

Competition: White-Collar Crime: Cartel Defence

BCL Burton Copeland is identified as one of the five leading firms in the practice area of Competition: White-Collar Crime: Cartel Defence.  In relation to the firm, the directory states:

Known for its strong capabilities in complex white-collar crime cases, this firm is considered one of the greats in the area of business fraud and crime investigation.  Cartel defence is handled by the firm’s business crime and regulation department, which provides advice and guidance to individuals in cartel matters.  Experienced in handling SFO and FSA investigations, the team has been involved in some of the most public and high-profile cartel investigations, including the highly publicised investigation into the airline industry.  Ian Burton is the firm’s main contact for cartel defence issues.

Crime

In relation to Crime, the directory again identifies BCL Burton Copeland as one of the leading firms and ranks four of our partners in the table of leading individuals, with Mark Haslam again being ranked as a star individual.  Assistant Solicitor, Ellen Peart, is regarded as an up and coming individual.  The directory states:

Clients praise the lawyers’ personal touch that really makes you feel like an individual, almost as if your case is the only one they’re dealing with.  Mark Haslam is singled out for his excellent manner with clients in circumstances that are often traumatic, and for his incredibly intelligent and articulate demeanours.  He recently represented Steve Wright in the Suffolk murders case.  Rachel Hubbard also worked on this case, and successfully represented a senior prison officer following a death in custody.  She has a great combination of attention to detail and an easy manner, and is seen as an unbelievably hard-working, on-the-ball lawyer. 

Paul Morris recently advised the defendant in the much-publicised murder of Stephen Langford in Henley.  Clients say he’s tactically and strategically very good – he doesn’t just follow the book but takes his clients’ personal circumstances into account, and is always looking two steps ahead. 

Jane Glass works 24 hours a day if necessary with total intensity, yet tempered with common sense throughout.  Ellen Peart is praised for her impressive tactical nous and client care.

Health & Safety (Best of the UK)

In relation to Health & Safety (Best of the UK), the firm cements its position as one of the leading firms in the UK with two of our partners, Harry Travers and Guy Bastable being ranked as leading individuals in the UK.

In relation to the firm, the directory states:

This small firm enjoys an excellent reputation in the business crime field, which sources believe makes it extremely well placed for the impending corporate manslaughter act.  While it remains highly regarded in the field of fraud, the group has increasing visibility in the health and safety sector and has been involved in some hefty deals during the past year.  The vastly experienced Harry Travers is a key figure in the London-based firm whom sources identify as a go-to lawyer for corporate manslaughter work.  According to interviewees, Guy Bastable is also an individual worthy of note.  Possessing “impressive health and safety knowledge on which he is always willing to build,” Bastable receives ample praise for his performance in the area.

Tax: Contentious: Fraud (Best of the UK)

A new entry for BCL Burton Copeland this year is Tax: Contentious: Fraud (Best of the UK) with partner, Harry Travers ranked as a leading individual.

In relation to the firm, the directory states:

This firm has amongst the best expertise in the country in relation to tax connected with criminal prosecutions, with a pool of lawyers specialising in both civil and criminal law as well as a specialist tax investigations and litigation department.  Harry Travers has a razor-sharp intellect and is a terribly versatile lawyer due to his deep understanding of criminal law and background as a tax lawyer.