Senior Partner: Ian Burton
- Partners : 14
- Assistants: 9
- Other fee-earners: 8
THE FIRM BCL Burton Copeland is a pre-eminent firm in the UK specialising in national and international commercial fraud, business crime, regulatory enforcement, dispute resolution, serious and general crime, and anti-money laundering and anti-corruption compliance. BCL is renowned for its expertise in representing those affected by all kinds of regulatory or criminal investigations and prosecutions, including commercial fraud, criminal fraud, tax fraud, corruption, cartels, sanctions offences, financial regulation (insider dealing and market abuse/manipulation), corporate manslaughter, health and safety, fire safety, environmental, trading standards, product safety, money laundering, criminal asset recovery, serious and general crime, regulatory/ disciplinary proceedings, and mutual legal assistance and extradition. Its lawyers are a unique blend of litigators and advocates who have backgrounds in City law firms, specialist criminal law practices, leading prosecuting authorities and at the Bar. Its clients include major commercial organisations and their directors/ senior personnel, governments, public figures, and high net worth individuals in the fields of business, industry, entertainment, sport and the media.
PRINCIPAL AREAS OF WORK
Business Crime/Cartels/Corruption: With one of the largest business crime departments in the country, BCL has been instructed in most of the largest business crime investigations and prosecutions in the UK during the last 20 years, involving a huge diversity of allegations brought by bodies including the Serious Fraud Office, HM Revenue & Customs, the Financial Services Authority and the Office of Fair Trading. Its work is increasingly international, reflecting the increased globalisation of the investigation and prosecution of business crime, and BCL has considerable experience in the areas of extradition and international mutual legal assistance. Its work also includes expert representation and advice in relation to proceeds of crime issues, including restraint, freezing, receivership, confiscation, civil recovery and cash seizure/forfeiture. Commercial & Tax Litigation/Civil Fraud: Services include a wide spectrum of business and Chancery commercial litigation, including civil fraud, breach of trust, equitable remedies, asset tracing, insolvency and directors’ liability.
FSA Investigations/Regulatory/Disciplinary: BCL has many years of experience in regulatory investigations by financial regulators such as the FSA. It also acts for individuals facing professional disciplinary action by bodies such as the Bar Council, the Solicitors Regulation Authority, the General Medical Council, the Medicines & Healthcare products Regulatory Agency, and the British Horseracing Authority.
HM Revenue & Customs: Defending investigations, prosecutions and civil litigation involving HMRC. BCL’s lawyers regularly work alongside eminent tax and accountancy practices and have substantial expertise in litigating allegations of ineffective tax avoidance and tax evasion, negotiating settlements, and monitoring/challenging the use by HMRC of its increasingly wide ranging powers.
Corporate Manslaughter/Health & Safety/Environment: Defending investigations, enforcement action and prosecutions concerning corporate manslaughter, health and safety/fire safety/environmental breaches and fatal accidents, including providing emergency advice, undertaking internal investigations, providing representation in interview, challenging enforcement notices, advising on orders for the compulsory provision of information and providing representation at Coroners’ inquests. BCL has developed considerable recognised expertise in relation to the new corporate manslaughter offence.
Money Laundering/Risk Management & Compliance: BCL is pre-eminent in advising large corporations, financial institutions, professional service providers and individuals in relation to anti-money laundering and anti-corruption compliance, as well as advising on corporate accountability and risk management relating to the widening range of applicable criminal offences. It also undertakes investigations on behalf of large corporates.
Serious & General Crime/Motoring: BCL has a long-established reputation as a market leader in the largest and most high profile serious criminal cases. It offers specialist and discreet advice across the whole spectrum, from homicide to road traffic offences, whether in the police station, the Magistrates’ Court or the Crown Court.Many of its clients are high profile individuals in the fields of business, industry, entertainment, sport and the media, where discretion and reputation management are crucial.
Areas of PracticeCommercial Fraud/Tax Fraud/Business Crime/Regulatory: 75%
Serious & General Crime: 15%
Commercial Litigation: 10%