On 7 September 2010 The Legal 500 published the 2010 edition of its Clients’ Guide to the UK Legal Profession. This is one of the leading independent directories of UK legal services in which the UK’s leading firms and lawyers are identified.
Specifically, BCL is recommended as a leading firm in the following practice areas:
- Fraud: White-Collar Crime
- Crime
- Fraud: Corporate Crime
- Fraud: Civil & Regulatory Investigations
- Customs & Excise
- Health & Safety
The Legal 500’s editorial for each practice area is set out below:
Fraud: White-Collar Crime
This category showcases firms with a reputation for representing individuals and BCL again tops the table of leading firms in this list and the directory states:
BCL Burton Copeland ‘is in the premier league of white-collar crime litigation firms’, and is currently advising the director of Madoff’s London operations in relation to a UK and US investigation, and one of the former senior board members of Kaupthing Bank in relation to an SFO investigation. Ian Burton ‘is a lawyer who knows everyone and gets things done’; Harry Travers‘ has a fierce intelligence, unmatched commitment to his clients, and an unrivalled ability to think laterally’; Brian Spiro is ‘thorough, dependable and able’; and Richard Sallybanks ‘is a calm and intelligent presence in any case’.
Crime
As in previous years the directory once again lists BCL at the top of the table of leading firms and states:
BCL Burton Copeland has a superb reputation for taking on high-profile and complex serious and general crime cases. It recently represented Premiership footballer Joey Barton and singer Amy Winehouse on separate charges of assault, and Trooper Gooda of the Royal Household Cavalry, who was charged with the manslaughter of Timothy Moore. Mark Haslam’s‘meticulous approach to his cases is unrivalled’; regulatory expert Paul Morris is ‘hugely charismatic and second to none at pre-trial strategising’; Brian Spiro is ‘a man to have on your side if you’re feeling nervous’; and Rachel Hubbard is also a force to be reckoned with.
Fraud: Corporate Crime
This table is a new addition to The Legal 500, designed to highlight the leading firms advising corporate entities. In regard to BCL’s inclusion in this list of leading firms the directory states:
BCL Burton Copeland advised an engineering company in the SFO Oil for Food Programme investigation, and has been retained by Bank of America to represent employees facing allegations in criminal proceedings brought in Italy in respect of the collapse of Parmalat. Harry Travers is ‘sensitive, tenacious and pragmatic’, and Brian Spiro is ‘incisive, calm and enormously experienced’.
Fraud: Civil & Regulatory Investigations
In regard to Fraud: Civil & Regulatory Investigations BCL is listed as a leading firm. The directory states:
Specialist firm BCL Burton Copeland is advising a director of Madoff’s London operations in relation to a UK and US investigation, and former senior board members of Kaupthing Bank in relation to an SFO investigation. Tax fraud specialist Harry Travers and Ian Burton are both highly acclaimed.
Customs & Excise
In regard to Customs & Excise, BCL is listed as a leading firm. The directory states:
BCL Burton Copeland’s expertise lies in tax investigations, and it has a strong reputation in cases with a criminal element. The practice acted in civil proceedings in the High Court defending a claim brought by HMRC seeking to recover over £100m, following its successful defence of the principal defendant in a large MTIC fraud. Harry Travers is ‘astute, with a firm grasp of the law and tactics’.
Health & Safety
Once again, BCL is ranked as a leading firm in Health and Safety. The directory states:
BCL Burton Copeland brings its criminal defence and regulatory enforcement expertise to bear in matters such as advising the London Borough of Southwark on the inquiry into a fatal fire in a residential tower block in Camberwell. The ‘impressive’ Ian Burton leads the team; Guy Bastable is ‘clever, committed and very hardworking’; and Harry Travers is also recommended.