Corporate Defence

Our Corporate Defence Team specialises in the defence of corporate criminal prosecutions raised in Scotland by the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service.

Our Services

Our team advises on, prepares and presents the defence of prosecutions brought against our clients following upon investigations by Police Scotland’s Economic Crime Unit, the Financial Conduct Authority, the Health and Safety Executive, the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency, the Food Standards Agency, the Forestry Commission, HMRC and DVSA among other regulatory bodies.

The team’s client base ranges from sole traders to global corporate companies. We defend our clients from the initial point of contact with investigators through to any hearing at court. Our team will liaise with investigators and prosecutors throughout and protect our clients’ position, including representing our clients at interviews with investigators.

The team is regularly instructed by clients facing financial investigations, including Common Law Fraud, Embezzlement, offences under the Bribery Act 2010, the Enterprise Act 2002 and the Companies Act 2006.

It is a recurring feature of our instructions that a company can have contact with a regulator, but not realise that they need protected right at that initial point of contact. Often clients will compromise themselves by giving information to a regulator that they need not give. As soon as a regulator contacts a company or business in relation to an investigation or incident, the business really should take legal advice to protect its position.

 

24 Hour Helpline

MacRoberts’ Corporate Defence has a dedicated 24/7 helpline to deal with these matters. A solicitor will be on call to provide free advice on how the business should deal with the incident under investigation, and how to protect itself moving forward.