Michelman & Robinson, LLP landed a significant hire for its newly launched London office, recruiting Polly Sprenger, Addleshaw Goddard‘s outgoing head of private prosecutions, along with a significant number of her former colleagues. Sprenger, who now heads up the firm’s private prosecutions and investigations practice, is a highly experienced, qualified barrister who formerly served as Head of Strategic Intelligence at the Serious Fraud Office. Experienced in working with both corporates and individuals, Charlotte Moss‘ capabilities span private prosecutions, internal investigations, and regulatory investigations conducted by various UK authorities. Ross Lennox is noted for his abilities in disclosure and evidential strategy, while Patrick Lloyd is recommended for his focus on fraud, commercial misconduct, and regulatory risk.

Described as ‘the pioneering firm to focus exclusively on private criminal prosecutions‘, Edmonds Marshall McMahon can be distinguished as a firm of a boutique nature with a focus on private prosecutions, while still retaining a multidisciplinary model. Among its varied workload, which extends to criminal fraud prosecutions, are complex civil corruption prosecutions. The team hosts a deep bench of practitioners with particular areas of expertise, including fraud, an area in which the practice has adapted to represent victims, and advises both individuals and large corporations. Tamlyn Edmonds, Andrew Marshall and Kate McMahon oversee the department, and McMahon has a strong track record in financial investigations, while Edmonds and Marshall often represent high-net-worth individuals who have been defrauded, as well as a broad range of civil corruption and fraud cases.

Noted for its ability to handle private prosecutions which have a ‘complex and unusual factual background’, BCL Solicitors LLP specialises in defending against such prosecutions, and excels in complex, large-scale multi-jurisdictional fraud cases. The team represents clients in courts of all levels, from appearing in the Magistrates’ Court decision to grant a summons to appearing in Civil Courts and the Crown Court. Richard Sallybanks heads up the team, and is well supported by Anoushka Warlow who acts in judicial reviews. The group supplements its practice with financial crime expertise, such as demonstrated by John Binns.

Howard Kennedy LLP‘s practice particularly centres on high-profile investigations in the retail arena, including representing well-known fashion brands and some of the UK’s leading retailers. The team forms part of the broader business crime and regulatory team at the firm. Practice head Ian Ryan is strong in serious fraud, financial crime and regulatory work both in the UK and globally. Elsewhere, Jennifer Harper focuses on white-collar crime and regulatory investigations, often multi-jurisdictional in nature. The group also includes barristers such as Angharad Hughes, who utilises experience both in-house and at the Bar to represent clients in court within large cross-border private prosecutions relating to matters such as the procurement of confiscation orders, and general crime matters such as violent crime incidents. Specialist financial crime and regulatory lawyer Kyle Phillips is another integral team member.

Described as ‘industry leaders‘, Mishcon de Reya LLP specialises in ultra-high value private prosecutions within fraud, including large-scale property fraud. ‘Tactically brilliant’ barrister Gareth Minty heads up the team and has been involved in criminal enforcement matters running in concurrence with civil proceedings, representing victims of crime, benefitting from strong knowledge of the law enforcement agencies involved. The practice saw the addition of Sam Smart in March 2024, previously an in-house counsel who acts as a trial advocate as well as a lawyer, with a particular focus on fraud, money laundering, and offences committed by company directors.

Notably active on the defence side of private prosecutions, Peters & Peters Solicitors LLP‘s practice lies in the firm’s wider business crime and investigations group and is accomplished in a wide range of criminal and civil investigations, particularly fraud such as investment fraud and money laundering. The team is notable for its ability to act in pre-investigation matters, prosecution in the courts such as court of appeal, as well as post prosecution actions such as professional negligence claims. Experienced criminal defence lawyer Nick Vamos, who runs the group, is often instrumental in such claims, and ‘knows every trick in the book from his time in the specialist crime division of the CPS’. Additionally, Michael O’Kane has a history of acting in high-profile fraud, terrorism, espionage and special interest criminal matters, and Charlotte Tregunna is a key team member for high-profile business crime and fraud cases.