Hall Of Fame

Leading Associates

Firms To Watch: General crime and fraud

At Central Chambers Law, practice head Ahmad Jawad ‘is an excellent and resourceful solicitor who you will be glad to have on your side if facing a serious prosecution’.

General crime and fraud in West Midlands

Jonas Roy Bloom

The ‘very close knit, dynamic and hardworking’ team at Jonas Roy Bloom is collectively led by Steven Jonas; Ben Henry and Matt O’Brien. Its general crime offering (which covers offences from motoring to murder) is well-regarded. The business crime team focuses on private crime and white-collar offences. Many high profile cases are handled by the firm, and its clients are based worldwide. It frequently advises on various significant fraud matters. The group regularly acts on some of the largest cases being investigated by the SFO and the NCA. Fergal Bloomer is another key member of the department.

Responsables de la pratique:

Steven Jonas; Ben Henry; Matt O’Brien


Autres avocats clés:

Fergal Bloomer


Les références

‘Ben Henry and Matt O’Brien are superb. A pleasure to work with, always in control and excellent communicators. A top-class reputation in the market. Exceptional legal minds, pragmatic and enormously respected.’

‘Ben Henry is a lawyer’s lawyer. Intellectual, hard working and pragmatic. Matt O’Brien is dynamic, approachable, extremely intelligent with brilliant judgment. Steven Jonas is a brilliant lawyer who fights for his clients by thinking outside the box. ’

‘Ben Henry is outstanding, both in his legal and tactical knowledge, but also the client care levels he provides. We are also confident that when we refer a client to Ben they are in the safest possible hands.’

Principaux clients

Suspect in Patisserie Valerie SFO investigation


Defendant in Balli Steel SFO prosecution


Suspect in Capita Oak SFO investigation


Suspect in confidential SFO investigation


Suspect in Operation Salmon and Sanderling


Principaux dossiers


  • Defended finance director of Balli Steel, only defendant to be acquitted in $500m trade finance fraud after a four month trial.
  • Represented suspect in Patisserie Valerie SFO investigation pre-charge and the client was informed they would not be prosecuted in 2023, following a four year investigation.
  • Acted in R v Luckhurst, a prosecution for investment fraud offences, where the team was successful in the Supreme Court on a novel issue of proceeds of crime legislation, which had a wide impact on the conduct of proceedings involving criminal and civil fraud and freezing and restraint orders.

Kangs Solicitors

With the ‘tactically astuteHamraj Kang at the helm at Kangs Solicitors, it provides a ‘Rolls-Royce service’ to clients -‘ no stone is left unturned‘. The large team advises its national clients on the most serious crime and white-collar crime cases in the country. It regularly represents professionals in the legal, medical, financial and business sectors, as well as Premier League football clubs, and media personalities. The group also has considerable expertise in extradition law, and specialist knowledge of cybercrime. Helen Holder covers diverse areas such as sexual offence cases. John Veale is highly regarded for his work in matters such as large-scale fraud, and tax fraud investigations. Timothy Thompson is another name to note.

 

Responsables de la pratique:

Hamraj Kang


Autres avocats clés:

Helen Holder; John Veale; Timothy Thompson; Amandeep Murria


Les références

Hamraj Kang is a force of nature – charismatic, hardworking and effective.’

‘This team’s strength lies in their client service and attention to detail. They are exceptional with their response times which is so important for the cases that they are dealing with. They are clear in their advice and report back regularly so all parties are clear on the way forward.’

‘Hamraj Kang is an exceptional individual. He is approachable, friendly but clear with his advice. He will work collaboratively so that the strategy is clear. He is readily available and will go above and beyond to ensure the client is well looked after as well as providing good strategic and tactical advice.’

Principaux dossiers


  • Representing a company director in relation to an international investigation conducted by HMRC alleging a tax loss of over £190m.
  • Representing a specialist recruitment company in proceedings brought by HMRC alleging a tax loss of more than £10m.
  • Representing a highly decorated medical professor in relation to an alleged multi-million pounds tax fraud in proceedings brought by HMRC.

Cartwright King

The talented team at Cartwright King is jointly led by Laura Smith and John Allchin. It regularly advises on the full spectrum of corporate and financial crime, as well as regulatory based prosecutions. Clients are directors, senior employees, and the management of multinational companies who are accused of bribery and other serious financial crime. The group is recommended for its work on extradition cases, and civil High Court judicial review proceedings. Its complex fraud work is a mix of privately paid, publicly funded and insurance backed work.  Allchin has considerable expertise in defending heavyweight criminal cases, and is a grade ‘A’ supervisor under the Very High Costs Cases arrangements.

Responsables de la pratique:

Laura Smith; John Allchin


Les références

‘Excellent nationwide reputation. John Allchin is a stand out fraud and POCA lawyer. His attention to clients and detail is second to none. An ‘old school’ solicitor operating successfully in the modern age.’

‘The team in the West Midlands has certain individuals who are excellent at what they do. They provide clear guidance and instructions ensure that they achieve the best outcome for their clients.’

‘John Allchin is knowledgeable and a consummate professional – he provides his clients with the advice necessary to allow them to make informed decisions. He engages experts at an early stage.’ 

Principaux dossiers


  • Acting on behalf of a company director under investigation by the National Crime Agency in connection with his alleged involvement in a £25m money laundering conspiracy.
  • Acting on behalf of a futures trader alleged to have committed a £9m Ponzi Fraud.
  • Defending a company director during a five year HMRC investigation into complex offshore tax saving arrangements that were suggested to amount to a multi-million pound cheat on the revenue.

Alsters Kelley Solicitors Ltd

Alsters Kelley Solicitors Ltd fields an impressive team, which has considerable strength in the West Midlands and Warwickshire areas. Led by Jas Thiara, it regularly represents clients at police stations, as well as the Magistrates and Crown Courts, and the High Court. Areas of focus span advising on breaches of food safety regulations, motoring offences, and extradition matters. It also frequently represents vulnerable clients with mental health and learning difficulties.

Responsables de la pratique:

Jas Thiara


Les références

‘Jas Thiara is very knowledgeable and has vast experience in the area of law. This was apparent from day one . She was very clear on what could and what could not be done in my case and managed the process from arrest to acquittal in a very professional manner.’

‘Every call Jas Thiara made proved to be the correct one, her decisions of which path to take and which part of the case to concentrate on was the correct call, every time.’

‘This is the best firm in Warwickshire for criminal law. They are long established and highly respected not only by other practitioners but by judges and the court staff.’

Principaux dossiers


  • Advised the client who was charged with rape and acquitted after trial.
  • Advised the client who was charged with cruelty to animal.
  • Advised the client who was investigated for rape, coercive controlling behaviours – no further action was taken by police.

GQS Solicitors

At GQS Solicitors, Ishfaq Qadir and Ahmer Sattar co-head the practice. The group  is recommended for its representation of clients who are being investigated and prosecuted by various law enforcement agencies such as the UK Border Agency, Trading Standards and the NCA. It continues to be instructed on numerous serious cases ranging from murder and drug conspiracies, to historical sexual abuse cases.

Responsables de la pratique:

Ishfaq Qadir; Ahmer Sattar


Les références

‘This is a boutique Solicitor’s Firm dealing predominantly with high net-worth clients and fraud cases. Ahmer Sattar and Isfaq Qadir pride themselves on providing advice to their clients at times that suit the client and not themselves. They will travel the length of the country to meet a client in person.’

‘They have a ‘can do’ attitude to all client requests. Mr. Sattar demands excellence from all the Barristers he instructs. He insists on the personal touch for all his clients. As such, he will very often appear at even minor hearings in a case to ensure his client’s interests are fully respected.’ 

‘Two very experienced partners and a diligent, organised and capable solicitor running the Crown Court work. Together, an efficient and effective team.’

Hussain Solicitors

At Hussain Solicitors, practice head Basharat Hussain continues to advise defendants on an array of complex cases such as terrorism, fraud and murder. Abid Hussain is another key member of the department who is a Solicitor Advocate with  higher rights of audience. His experience covers murder and terrorism trials, as well as large-scale fraud cases.

Responsables de la pratique:

Basharat Hussain


Autres avocats clés:

Abid Hussain; Nadeem Naguthney


Les références

‘As a small and progressive firm, Hussains has the advantage of a familiar feel within the company. The advice given is tailored to each individual, no matter how big or small the case is. Everybody is involved, at all levels in the firm. ’

‘Bash Hussain is the main driving force and the very reason for the success of the business. A great tactician, he always puts his clients first. Nadeem Naguthney is an exceptionally talented and hard working litigator who leaves no stone unturned.’

‘Excellent client care and sheer hard work sets this firm apart. They have excellent client care and set out a clear defence strategy from the start. They are a small firm and consequently they work extremely well as a team, sharing ideas and collaborating on the defence from an early stage.’ 

Kang & Co Solicitors

Under the joint leadership of Manjinder Kang and Kirandeep Kang, Kang & Co Solicitors acts for clients across England and Wales. It frequently advises on privately funded motoring  cases such as speeding and causing death by dangerous driving.  In private criminal matters, it defends clients on charges of murder,  manslaughter and accusations of assault.

 

Responsables de la pratique:

Manjinder Kang; Kirandeep Kang


Les références

‘This is a strong and forward thinking team. It offers a great service which provides excellent value for money. Manjinder Kang is very client friendly. He has a great manner and gives complex advice in a straightforward manner.’

‘The team has a high ability to critically analyse and interpret difficult and quite often complicated legal issues and provide clear, concise and well-reasoned advice to Clients.’

The team do not offer promises or false hope but simply offer very clear and honest advice. ’