Cross Border Criminal Investigations
“They have a very clear understanding of differences in systems of law. They’re great at adjusting their strategy for local contexts and environments.”
Chambers UK
The investigation of crime is increasingly international. We represent clients based inside or outside the UK who may be subject to investigation overseas, or who are subject to investigation in the UK alongside parallel investigations in other jurisdictions. An investigation in one country may trigger investigations elsewhere, either because the alleged criminality is multi-jurisdictional or because assets potentially deriving from the alleged misconduct are held in multiple jurisdictions.
We have represented clients facing investigations in the United States (Department of Justice (DoJ) and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)), France, Switzerland, Italy, Germany, India, Greece, Denmark, the Russian Federation, Romania, Ukraine, the Caribbean, Nigeria, Tanzania, and Liechtenstein.
We secure the best possible outcomes for our clients, often resulting in the resolution of investigations without prosecution and with minimal impact on our client’s personal and professional life.
Our expertise
Our team of specialist and skilled lawyers will provide an empathetic and supportive environment while working tirelessly for you to prepare your most effective response to all aspects of a cross-border investigation. Where necessary, we build a team of similarly expert lawyers in other jurisdictions. This is to ensure that you receive country-specific advice to protect your interests in each jurisdiction and to ensure strategic co-ordination so that an informed and consistent approach is adopted towards all the investigating agencies involved.
We provide beginning to end representation to guide you through the course of a cross-border investigation. Working together with lawyers in other relevant jurisdictions, we will put in place a global strategy which also takes into consideration other factors such as the risk of Interpol red notices, extradition, asset forfeiture and restraint, any parallel civil proceedings, and the transfer of evidential material across borders under informal information sharing agreements or international mutual legal assistance (MLA) regimes.
BCL’s expertise in acting in cross-border matters is widely recognised; we author the “Individuals in Cross-Border Investigations or Proceedings: The UK Perspective” chapter in the Global Investigations Review (GIR) Practitioner’s Guide to Global Investigations.
Our experience
Examples of our cross-border instructions include:
- Successful challenge to a search warrant executed against a UK-based corporate entity pursuant to an MLA request received from the US authorities, and thereafter challenging further action taken by the UK police pursuant to additional requests for assistance from the US authorities in relation to documents and evidence.
- Advising and representing an English barrister in criminal proceedings in Trinidad in relation to allegations of bribery and corruption arising from the suspected payment of kickbacks to the former Attorney General of Trinidad & Tobago.
- Successful resolution of criminal investigations (and parallel civil proceedings) in a number of jurisdictions arising out of the alleged failure by individual trustees to comply with domestic court orders made in the context of the UK’s second largest divorce award; the assets in question, the trusts, and the individual trustees were outside of the UK giving rise to complex arguments concerning the jurisdictional limits of UK court orders.
- Acting for a UK-based former senior executive of a European bank in money laundering investigation conducted by the US and Danish authorities (SOIK) arising from activity through the bank’s Baltic operations.
- Acting for a Swiss based trustee in connection with a US investigation into suspected tax fraud potentially involving trust assets; co-ordinating with Swiss, US and other UK lawyers in relation to ensuring compliance with UK Proceeds of Crime Act regime.
- Acting for UK-based former senior banker facing fraud allegations in Russia and connected money laundering investigations in Switzerland and France; co-ordinating their response to these investigations, asset freezes and associated issues (including Interpol, the risk of extradition and potential civil proceedings) in additional jurisdictions including the UK, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Estonia and Cyprus
What the directories say about us for this area:
”BCL Solicitors has an excellent team – the lawyers work together cohesively and collaboratively.”
Chambers & Partners (2023)
”Always, in every single matter and issue, BCL’s ability to advise us as a multinational company is absolutely essential. They have helped us identify issues in the UK and then develop a global strategy to mitigate risk.”
Chambers & Partners (2022)
”In my experience with BCL there are always cross-border or international elements. The firm is very well positioned with top staff to assist clients with work involving multiple countries. They have a very good network of colleagues in a wide range of countries around the globe.”
Chambers & Partners (2022)
”BCL are a premier firm when it comes to serious matters. Everyone there is high quality, and they have an excellent pool of talent – there isn’t a bad lawyer there. They handle the best cases in the country, and if I were in difficulty, they are the first person I would call.”
Chambers & Partners (2022)
”BCL is an excellent firm in its field of expertise. The team is well coordinated and resources are efficiently allocated.”
Chambers & Partners (2022)
”BCL are a cut above the rest. They are relentless in their pursuit of the best result for the client while maintaining a strong sense of professionalism at all times. They get spectacular results which reflect the total dedication of the partners and associates to their cases.”
Legal 500 (2021)
”BCL are excellent in the white-collar arena. I would highly recommend them.”
Chambers & Partners (2021)
”The premier crime team in the country… Ferocious on behalf of their clients, commercially minded and forensic in their analysis. These are the guys you want going out to bat for you.”
Legal 50 (2020)
”I’m always impressed by BCL. They’re recommended across the board. They’ve always been first-rate.”
Chambers & Partners (2020)
”BCL are fantastic. They are all people who’d go the extra mile for the individual client.”
Chambers & Partners (2019)

Shaul Brazil

Shula de Jersey

Hannah Raphael

Richard Sallybanks

Anoushka Warlow
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