The Legal 500 > Peters & Peters Solicitors LLP > London, ENGLAND > Lawyer profiles

Peters & Peters Solicitors LLP

15 FETTER LANE, LONDON, EC4A 1BW, ENGLAND

Tel:: Work 020 7822 7777
Fax:: Fax 020 7822 7788
DX:: 407 LONDON CHANCERY LANE

Web:: www.petersandpeters.com
Email:

Michael O'kane

Tel:: Work +44 20 7822 7777
Email:

Work Department

Domestic and international business crime and regulation.

Position

Partner and head of the business crime team, specialising in domestic and international business crime and regulation. Particular expertise in cartel investigations, extradition, international sanctions, mutual legal assistance and FSA investigations. Has successfully represented many individual and corporate clients facing criminal and regulatory investigations in the UK, the US and other jurisdictions. Headline cases include: representing multiple government figures and companies from various states facing international sanctions; successfully representing two senior British Airways executives in the criminal prosecution brought by the OFT into passenger fuel surcharge price fixing; acting for the first person to be charged with the UK criminal cartel offence; successfully resisting extradition on behalf of the Russian owner of a leading global drinks company; successfully resisting extradition for the owner of Russia's largest mobile phone company; acting for a manager of British Airways Worldwide Cargo (BAWC) in the DoJ, Canadian and Australian cartel investigations into alleged global fuel surcharge price fixing. Has previous experience as a prosecutor of high-profile and complex criminal cases. Author of 'The Law of Criminal Cartels Practice and Procedure' (published September 2009, Oxford University Press), which is the first work to focus exclusively on the UK cartel offence from the practitioner's perspective. Michael has also contributed to 'Criminalising Cartels- Critical Studies of an International Regulatory Movement' (published February 2011, Hart publishing); he is co-author of mutual assistance section of 'Jones and Doobay on Extradition and Mutual Assistance' (Sweet and Maxwell). Lectures and writes widely on his specialist areas (including for the IBA, ABA and the British Institute of International Law). Delivers assistance and training to City law firms on criminal cartel investigations and extradition. Regularly provides legal commentary on television and radio. Consistently highlighted as a Leading Authority in Business Crime in 'Chambers and Partners' and 'The Legal 500' legal directories, Michael has also been nominated as Legal Innovator of The Year in The Financial Times Lawyer Awards 2011.

Career

Pupillage at Criminal Bar 1992-93; Crown Prosecution Service (Greenwich) 1994-99; Crown Prosecution Service (Casework Directorate) 1999-2002; Peters & Peters 2002 to date; partner 2004.

Member

Co-chair of the IBA's Business Crime Committee; member American Bar Association; Competition Lawyers Association.

Education

St Columb's College, Derry; Manchester Metropolitan University (1991); Inns of Court School of Law (1992).

Practice Areas

Crime - corporate; EU and competition; Fraud

Back to index

Search News and Articles

Legal Developments worldwide

Legal Developments and updates from the leading lawyers in each jurisdiction. To contribute, send an email request to

Jersey Royal Court considers measure of damages for dilapidations claims

In the absence of any statutory provision in Jersey addressing how dilapidations claims are to be quantified, the Royal Court's decision in JSSL v Barclays has provided some much needed guidance, particularly in circumstances where there is an acceptance that works to redress dilapidations have not been and will not be carried out.

- Ogier
English Supreme Court rules on Mistake and Hastings Bass

On 9 May 2013 the English Supreme Court handed down a unanimous judgment on the seminal cases of Pitt-v- Holt and Futter -v- Futter , with Lord Walker's valedictory judgment conclusively resolving the English position on the rule in Hastings Bass and rescission on the ground of mistake.

- Ogier
Getting the breaks

Shook, Hardy & Bacon currently authors the Insurance section of The In-House Lawyer magazine. For more information and articles from this author click here .

- Falcon Chambers
Product liability and dietary supplements

Shook, Hardy & Bacon currently authors the Insurance section of The In-House Lawyer magazine. For more information and articles from this author click here .

- Shook, Hardy & Bacon International LLP
The calm before  the storm: are  you prepared for  a dawn raid?

WilmerHale currently authors the Fraud and Corporate Crime section of The In-House Lawyer magazine. For more information and articles from this author click here .

- WilmerHale
International shipment of waste: transporters beware

Burges Salmon LLP currently authors the Environment and Energy section of The In-House Lawyer magazine. For more information and articles from this author click here

- Burges Salmon LLP
Cyprus Shipping Industry : Business as usual. Why despite recent events Cyprus remains an internatio

Cyprus is the third most populated island in the Mediterranean Sea. It is strategically located at the crossroads of Europe, Africa and the Middle East. Traditionally Cyprus has always been at the heart of the seafaring trade and therefore always functioned as an important centre for trade and commerce. Today as a member of the European Union it remains an optimal business base. It is one of the most attractive locations for foreign investments worldwide. Foreign companies have been given the opportunity to invest and establish business in Cyprus on equal terms with local investors as no distinction is made between foreign and Cypriot companies.

- Michael Kyprianou & Co
FOREIGN EXCHANGE OPERATIONS

The excellent support system in combination with the ideal jurisdiction provided in Cyprus set the country in the list of the most desirable countries through which you can offer foreign exchange operations. In addition, the accession of Cyprus within the European Union and, most importantly, the extremely beneficial economic advantages available due to the low costs and the outstanding taxation, create a covetable environment for foreign investors.

- Michael Kyprianou & Co
National public order. Adoption of the Draft

The Presidium of the Supreme Commercial Court of the Russian Federation (hereinafter - SCC RF) adopted by the Informative Letter No. 156 dated the 26th of February, 2013 (hereinafter - the Informative Letter) on Review of the consideration by arbitrazh courts of the cases on the implementation of the public order clause as the ground for rejection of the recognition and enforcement of the foreign court decisions and arbitral awards.

- Lidings Law Firm
China Customs New Interpretation

For many products, tariff classification can be technically complex, confusing, and subject to multiple interpretations. Often several different Harmonized System Codes ("HS Code") may seem applicable for one given product with different tariff rates. Tariff classification is indeed a process of application of customs classification rules, including customs rulings and decisions, and misclassification may trigger severe legal consequences. The sad fact is, unfortunately, that many companies rely on non-legal professionals to determine the HS Codes for imports or exports. A recent interpretation issued by the General Administration of Customs of China ("GACC") (Circular No. [2012] 495 Shu-Fa-Fa) (the "Interpretation") reinforces the process of tariff classification as a legal matter, and formulates the test as to what counts for regulatory violation if tariff classification rules are improperly applied by the importer or exporter in a given case. If the legal defense is successful, misclassification may only be treated as a non-violation misclassification, with the possible obligation to pay up additional customs duties, if any, but without administrative or criminal consequences. The Interpretation took effect as from February 1, 2013.

- Haoliwen Partners