Forbes Solicitors

Crime

Michael has been engaged in criminal defence work as a solicitor for more than 30 years.

Notable cases include defending in the Hillsborough case, securing an acquittal in a £110 million international money laundering VHCC.

For the last 15 years he has specialised in representing corporate and individual clients in the waste industry. Dealing with regulatory issues prosecuted by the Environment Agency and landfill and VAT evasion cases prosecuted by HMRC. He has successfully defended against Environment Agency in the magistrates and Crown courts- cases prosecuted as frauds. He has taken a number of cases to the 1st and 2nd Tier tax tribunal and is presently engaged in such a matter concerning £88 million.

His present case load includes several multi £1,000,000 drugs conspiracies involving EncroChat issues  as well as murder,  and 3  death by dangerous driving allegations. He is instructed on two drugs importation offences. He is presently assisting and advising 3 separate corporate clients in relation to regulatory issues and permit breaches investigated by HMRC and the Environment Agency.

He has successfully defended in relation to a £2 million account freezing order application made by HMRC and as a result have secured instructions in relation to a number of other ongoing such freezing order applications presently before magistrates courts in the north of England.

Michael has been appointed as a peer reviewer for crime and fraud cases, VHCC specialist fraud supervisor, and have been consulted by the legal aid agency on policy making.