Specialist private prosecutions firm, Edmonds Marshall McMahon has a considerable share of the market, representing individuals, including international high net-worth individuals, and corporate clients in bringing private prosecutions relating to all types of crime, both financial and general, and also providing defence and investigative advice. The firm has represented clients in largescale fraud and asset recovery cases, as well as proceedings relating to bribery, corruption, cyber crime, and enjoys strong relationships with UK and international courts and enforcement bodies, as well as enjoying a steady stream of referrals from international law firms. The practice is headed by founding partners and experienced prosecutors Tamlyn Edmonds, Kate McMahon , and Andrew Marshall .
Private prosecutions in London
Edmonds Marshall McMahon
Practice head(s):
Tamlyn Edmonds; Kate McMahon; Andrew Marshall
Other key lawyers:
Mike Jackson
Testimonials
‘EMM are to my mind the go-to firm in London for private prosecutions. Very assured and knowledgeable with unrivalled experience.‘
‘Kate McMahon is very impressive and a pleasure to work with. Mike Jackson is an extremely effective investigator.‘
‘We have worked with EMM for many years on numerous cases, and they are by far the leaders in the private prosecution market.’
‘The lawyer who continues to stand out and impress is Tamlyn Edmonds. This is constantly demonstrated by her expertise, professionalism and knowledge, particularly as it relates to private prosecutions. Her commitment to her clients is total and unwavering, along with her ability to meticulously work through the most difficult and complex cases, translating these into language that is understandable to those not in the legal profession.’
‘EMM are without doubt the legal sector experts in Private Prosecutions. Every member of staff that I/we have dealt with is knowledgeable, skillful and dedicated to providing an impeccable top quality service, supported by the latest technology and contacts.’
‘Tamlyn is highly personable, responsive, always ready to assist and provides clear and straightforward advice – frankly she’s invaluable.‘
‘Andrew Marshall, Tamlyn Edmonds and Kate McMahon are the leaders in this field. Each exceptional.’
‘Tamlyn Edmonds is a great communicator, highly focused on the detail whilst seeing the bigger picture she manages the team around her effectively.’
Key clients
Macmillan Cancer Support
JUUL UK Holdco Ltd
Hunter Worldwide Premium Sourcing Ltd
TM Eye Ltd
DAS UK Holdings Ltd
Cyrith Limited
Work highlights
- Represented Swiss/French high net worth individuals in the successful (and highly publicised) private prosecution of a well-known property tycoon arising from a failed luxury property redevelopment.
- Represented a Kazakh businessman in respect of the successful private prosecution of a Russian/British national arising from a multi-jurisdictional fraud in Hong Kong using “fake” Standard Chartered bank ATMs.
Addleshaw Goddard
Headed by Polly Sprenger, the practice at Addleshaw Goddard
is adept in both bringing and defending private prosecutions on behalf of corporate and individual clients, with particular expertise in bringing serious fraud cases in concert with its global investigations and civil fraud teams. The firm has been involved in a number of high-profile proceedings, including failed prosecutions that resulted in further litigation and criminal action, and is also able to contribute defence and investigations experience, enabling it to handle the full process. Alongside Sprenger’s SFO and asset recovery experience, the work of civil fraud specialist Mark Chesher is also key to the team.
Practice head(s):
Polly Sprenger
Other key lawyers:
Mark Chesher
Testimonials
‘High quality resourcing never seems to be an issue, even very last minute.’
‘Polly Sprenger is excellent. She is incredibly experienced in all aspects of both civil and criminal fraud, which is a real selling point for a civil litigator. She understands client needs and gives her all.’
‘Outstanding legal subject matter expertise and timely client responsiveness.’
‘Polly Sprenger is an outstanding legal counsel and extremely well-versed in the concerning legal matters.’
‘The team are one of the best regarding client care, hard work and legal ability. They always go the extra mile. Their results speak for themselves. I can’t recommend them enough.’
‘Polly Sprenger is superb. A fantastic lawyer, imaginative and fearless. The best in her field.’
Key clients
Bystronic Glass (UK) Limited
Global chemical and ingredients distributor
Arena Television Limited (in Administration)
S-RM – Global Risk Consultancy
Nardello & Co LLC
Ground Truth Intelligence
Work highlights
- Advising private individuals on a private prosecution following an alleged fraud of $2 million.
- Advising Bystronic Glass (UK) Limited and Glaston Plc on a private prosecution brought against a former director.
- Advising a global chemical and ingredients distributor in investigating an employee fraud, as well as defending a threatened civil claim brought by one of its customers.
Howard Kennedy LLP
Howard Kennedy LLP has experience both defending and bringing private prosecutions, acting for clients from a variety of sectors in proceedings arising from fraud allegations and investigations by the SFO, FCA, HMRC, and international enforcement agencies. As well as fraud and business crime proceedings, the firm is also regularly involved in private prosecutions arising from restructuring and insolvency proceedings, drawing on in-house restructuring and civil fraud expertise in coordinating these proceedings. The firm was also notably involved in a leading private prosecution in the retail space, which ended successfully for the firm's client. Ian Ryan heads up the team, and represents a wide range of corporate and financial services clients in regulatory investigations resulting in private prosecutions, Financial crime and fraud specialist Kyle Phillips and senior associate Jennifer Harper, who has advised on cross-border prosecutions, are also key members of the team.
Practice head(s):
Ian Ryan
Other key lawyers:
Kyle Phillips; Jennifer Harper
Testimonials
‘The leading private prosecutions in the country have been handled by HK over the past few years. A number of extremely high profile private prosecutions are in the pipeline. They have a deep understanding of the role and obligations of a prosecutor and are thus able to deliver a smooth, efficient and legally robust service.’
‘Ian Ryan – head of the team, whose hand on the tiller ensures the operation runs efficiently. His judgement is always faultless.’
‘Kyle Phillips – an exciting and new talent in this field, he brings energy and enthusiasm, and is very astute tactically.‘
‘Jen Harper – hard working and bright, Jen Harper is proving herself in the engine room of the team; she is talented and astute and deploys good attention to detail, which ensures that private prosecutions HK bring remain on the right course.‘
‘Exceptional. Amazing efficiency and fantastic at judging the resourcing required. Very effective use of electronic evidence management.’
‘Kyle Phillips – As good at managing a prosecution as he is at defending one – exceptional.’
Mishcon de Reya
Gareth Minty heads up the bespoke private prosecutions offering at Mishcon de Reya LLP, which represents plaintiffs in major white-collar and fraud cases alongside the victims of general crime in bringing private prosecutions against corporations, senior directors, and private individuals. Utilising Minty's experience as a CPS prosecutor, alongside broad in-house litigation and e-discovery expertise, the firm is able to work with clients throughout the private prosecution process, from initial advice on bringing proceedings through to court-level representation, and the team has seen significant success in a wide range of cases, including white-collar, insolvency, and general criminal prosecutions.
Practice head(s):
Gareth Minty
Other key lawyers:
Owen Griffiths
Testimonials
‘They are one of the stand-out firms for bringing and defending private prosecutions and bring their integrity and experience to this niche whilst most others only play at it.‘
‘Gareth Minty is exactly what a client ought to get from a criminal litigator-confident but realistic, cerebral and quick but approachable and understated. He is able to draw on his vast experience of criminal litigation as a prosecutor and defender to ensure the best result is achieved.‘
‘Gareth Minty leads Mishcon’s excellent private prosecutions offering, now supported by the experienced Owen Griffiths.’
‘Gareth has great depth of experience in complex prosecutions of all types and in private prosecutions in particular. He is realistic and fair and a strong litigator.‘
‘Great practical knowledge and understanding of bringing criminal prosecutions, and the specific obligations that they entail. As leading figures in the Private Prosecutors Association they help ensure best practice across the sector.‘
‘Gareth Minty brings a wealth of prosecutorial experience to his leadership of Mishcon’s Private Prosecutions team. He has astute tactical judgement, coupled with a practical understanding of the client’s wishes and needs. He always ensures that they remain fully informed about the benefits and risks of bringing a private prosecution, along with the alternative remedies that might also be available.’
Key clients
Trust Company
Work highlights
- Advised a trust company in respect of all aspects of a private prosecution relating to serious allegations relating to one of the trustees’ abuse of his position to defraud the trust of approximately £750,000 over the course of four years of alleged misconduct.
JMW Solicitors LLP
JMW Solicitors LLP has seen significant growth in its private prosecutions work. It offers a specialist practice handling national and international prosecutions, primarily on behalf of clients bringing the prosecutions, with experience in a broad range of proceedings ranging from high-value corporate fraud to individual criminal cases relating to violence and other general crime. The firm represents clients throughout the process, from investigations through to advocacy in court, and also handles issues such as confiscation proceedings in financial crime cases, as well as enjoying productive relationships with investigators and regulatory agencies. Lee Adams heads up the team, with active fraud and corporate crime practitioners Daniel Martin and Amy Shaffron also heavily active in the national practice, which has a strong presence in Manchester and London.
Practice head(s):
Lee Adams
Other key lawyers:
Daniel Martin; Amy Shaffron
Testimonials
‘The team is experienced in private prosecution work. It is a small but talented team who all seem to be pulling in the same direction.’
‘Lee Adams – very experienced, sensible, approachable, focused.’
‘Amy Shaffron – Fraud background. Experienced business crime practitioner. Very good client skills.‘
‘Young, vibrant, and client driven. A refreshing team which is tactically highly astute and goes the extra mile for the client.‘
‘Without shadow, Lee Adams is a heavyweight colossus of a partner, with huge experience of private prosecutions – and a pedigree track record in that regard. Smart, client driven, down to earth, and tactically brilliant.’
‘Amy Shaffron is a shining light in the private prosecutors team. Highly tactically aware, a real team player, and superb knowledge of the investigation process.’
‘JMW are a very professional outfit with some excellent lawyers working for them. Their client care is excellent and they are unfailingly polite and courteous when dealing with both professional and lay clients.‘
‘Daniel Martin and Amy Shaffron are extremely hard working and a pleasure to work with. I would highly recommend their services to prospective clients.‘
Key clients
Hadland Estate Agents
Work highlights
- Acted for Hadlands Estate Agents, who prosecuted their former financial controller for fraud committed while working remotely due to the pandemic. The prosecution was awarded costs and confiscation was ordered by the Judge.
- Obtained an arrest warrant in the only UK criminal case brought against a fund manager who is widely reported to have defrauded numerous celebrities, including a football manager.