Financial Crime

Members act for law enforcement agencies (NCA, SFO, FCA, HMRC and CPS), government bodies, financial institutions, and private clients in connection with a wide range of financial crime matters including: civil recovery claims, investigative orders, freezing orders, suspicious activity reports, moratorium periods, information sharing, money laundering compliance, and breach of sanctions.

Highlights of 3VB’s recent and ongoing cases include:

• NCA v Hajiyeva [2020] 1 WLR 3209 (first ever application for unexplained wealth orders).
• NCA v Hussain [2020] 1 WLR 2145 (first application for an unexplained wealth order relying on the serious crime limb).
• NCA v Odewale [2020] 1609 (Admin) (civil recovery claim in respect of high value Patek Philippe watches).
• Faerman v Director of the SFO [2020] EWHC 1849 (Admin) (application to discharge a disclosure order).
• CPS v Aquila Advisory Ltd [2021] 1 WLR 5666 (Supreme Court decision concerning the scope of POCA and the fraud exception to the attribution of knowledge).
• DPP v Briedis [2021] EWHC 3155 (Admin) (confirming that crypto-assets are property for the purposes of POCA).
• Javadov v Westminster Magistrates’ Court [2022] 1 All ER 730 (application of the open justice principle to an investigation into politically exposed persons suspected of receiving monies laundered through the Azerbaijani Laundromat).
• NCA v Petrosaudi Oil Services (Venezuela) Ltd [2022] EWHC 920 (Admin) (prohibition order made against £240 million held in the Court Funds Office pursuant to a request from the US Department of Justice).