PCB Byrne

PCB Byrne is a leading specialist law firm for high value, complex and international disputes. We have particular expertise in civil fraud and asset recovery, insolvency, white collar crime and investigations; have won numerous landmark decisions and have a stellar track record of winning some of the most difficult cases.

Clients seek us out for our creativity in solving problems, expertise and strategic oversight in managing global disputes, partners’ hands-on involvement from start to finish, strong-minded and commercial approach, complete dedication in fighting their corner, and legal financing solutions to help our clients.

We are recognised for our unrivalled experience in the following:

Banking and Financial Services Litigation: As a conflict-free law firm, we can act against all of the major UK banks. At the same time, we can draw upon our experience of acting for large foreign banks for whom we have acted extensively in fraud and global asset recovery cases, leading to us being described by The Times as “solicitors to the banking community”.

Claimant Fraud and Asset Recovery: We provide a world-class team of lawyers with decades of expertise working together in some of the most substantial and complex international fraud and asset recovery cases. We are known for our creative solutions and work that is required for these cases. Our experience in building cases, including tackling structures and other hurdles put in the way of enforcement, enables us to obtain recoveries for our clients. We regularly act for financial institutions, state-owned banks, state bodies, multi-national corporations and high-net-worth individuals in tackling some of the most challenging cases. We provide insight, strategy and a seamless cross-border approach.

Commercial Litigation: We have a wealth of experience in dealing with high-value, complex and heavily contested commercial litigation cases. A number of our cases have been selected over the years by The Lawyer as being in their top 20. Most of our cases are international in scope, where main or ancillary proceedings may be taking place in several jurisdictions, and vary from supply chain disputes, to shareholder and joint venture disputes, and professional negligence claims.

Fraud Defence: We are renowned for our expertise in defending clients faced with allegations of deceit, conspiracy, breach of fiduciary duty and other allegations of dishonesty, unjust conduct and unconscionability. We have acted for numerous defendants faced with allegations of fraud, and who are often also faced with freezing orders and other interim relief and committal proceedings. Those defendants may have been put “on the back foot” early in the process and often feel that the court is against them in making various, sometimes draconian, orders. Our aim is to put the client “on the front foot”.

Insolvency and Restructuring: We have dealt with some of the largest insolvency cases in the English courts of recent years. Our experience includes advising creditors on options available to them in respect of distressed debt; directors and stakeholders on their options in the twilight of an insolvency; insolvency practitioners, directors, creditors and stakeholders in relation to all insolvency processes; receiverships; mediation in relation to insolvency disputes; and restoration of dissolved companies.

International Arbitration: We act for clients in large-scale arbitrations governed under various arbitration rules and ad hoc commercial arbitrations. Our clients benefit from our in-depth legal analysis, industry knowledge and strategy in building and presenting the facts. We are recognised for our expertise in obtaining interim relief from Courts in support of the arbitrations. We are regularly instructed in domestic and international arbitrations, both ad hoc arbitrations and arbitrations under various institutional rules. In 2019, one of the firm’s partners received the Client Choice Award for arbitration and ADR.

Serious and General Crime: We bring decades of criminal defence experience and expertise to represent clients facing police investigations into a wide range of criminal offences, ranging from fraud to sexual and violent offences, and work sensitively and collaboratively to guide them through this challenging time to pursue the very best outcome in each case. We are known for taking a proactive approach from the outset of any criminal inquiry as our client’s reputation and career depends on them retaining their good character, and often make representations to the relevant authorities to persuade them to deal with the matter without formal charges being brought or to stop a prosecution that should not have been started in the first place.

White-Collar Crime and Investigations: We regularly advise multinational companies, international organisations, financial institutions, senior officers and directors, sovereign states and high-ranking public officials, and in-house counsel, on all areas connected with bribery and corruption, economic sanctions, money laundering, terrorist financing and fraud across different jurisdictions. Our extensive disputes experience allows us to provide clients with strategic advice to address the legal, procedural, operational and reputational aspects of regulatory issues and investigations. We offer services in all areas of financial crime: anti-bribery and corruption, anti-money laundering, sanctions, investigations and fraud.