Blackfords LLP

Client satisfaction

Special Advisor, Solicitor-Advocate. Gary has been described both in the National and International media outlets as a formidable and brilliant lawyer, and is recognised worldwide for providing clear, comprehensive and strategic legal advice to both individuals and organisations. Gary’s specialist and almost unique legal portfolio means that he is often instructed to defend both high net worth and ultra high net worth individuals who are subject to both criminal investigations and multi-jurisdictional legal problems.Gary’s work is purely recommendation referrals often from clients, previous clients and other lawyers. Gary’s client base includes individuals , CEOs, solicitors, barristers, accountants together with public figures including royalty, politicians, celebrities and professional sports persons (football, cricket, rugby and boxing).Gary’s strategic judgement when advising on written submissions to prevent or stop investigations on both public interest and evidential grounds pre and post charge is second to none.Gary is acknowledged for his expertise in dealing with reputation issues and crisis management of individuals and companies.Gary’s current instructions include advising an individual (UK) in the highest profile US investigation into trafficking young females worldwide, individuals under investigation for corporate manslaughter and health and safety allegations arising from the police investigation in the Grenfell Inquiry. Gary is instructed in a number of fraud, money laundering, insider trading and bribery and corruption matters.Gary has also been instructed to defend the largest ever cryptocurrency case in Europe. Gary is one of the leading private crime solicitors and his work apart from above also includes investigations of historical sexual allegations ,art and antiquities investigations and firearm related offences.

Nicola Chamberlain

Partner, Head of Family Team Nicola is known for providing clear, practical legal advice in plain English. Nicola practises exclusively in family law, including:- Children: Child Arrangement Orders Leave to Remove applications Parental Responsibility Orders Special Guardianship Orders Relationships/Matrimonial: Civil Partnership Dissolution Cohabitation Disputes Divorce Enforcement Proceedings Financial Arrangements Pre-nuptial Agreements Other: Forced Marriage Orders Non-Molestation Orders Occupation Orders Nicola carries out a full range of family law cases, predominantly privately funded, working on cases in the local courts and nationally, as well as complex cases in the High Court. In addition to her legal work, Nicola is a Resolution qualified family mediator, mediating in both children and financial issues for privately funded clients.

Partner, London office Specialising in white-collar criminal defence and Partner in charge of the firm’s Dispute Resolution Department. Daniel advises company directors and officers and private individuals. He represents those facing serious and often highly sensitive enquiries and investigations. Daniel is regularly instructed to advise and to defend in large and complex cases, which involve allegations of corporate wrongdoing, corruption, bribery, sanctions breaches, corporate and personal tax evasion, VAT and duty evasion and allegations of frauds involving investments, pensions, property, mortgages and insurance, banking and insider dealing, brought by authorities including the Serious Fraud Office, National Crime Agency, HMRC, Financial Conduct Authority, US Department of Justice, and the police. Daniel provides discreet advice and assistance to high profile, high net and very high net worth individuals and to a number of national organisations. Daniel is experienced and adept at dealing with multi-media working groups in very high profile cases, international agencies and players and governmental bodies. He works with a network of lawyers internationally, currently with ongoing cases in Bosnia, Denmark, Germany, Switzerland and India, and is praised for tactical and strategic acumen, clear and comprehensive advice, strong guidance and client support and fearless dogged tenacity. Daniel advises and assists in relation to a range of regulatory matters involving various specialist bodies, which have included the Electoral Commission, the Charity Commission, the Financial Conduct Authority, the England and Wales Cricket Board, the Competition and Markets Authority, the Insolvency Service, and National Trading Standards. Daniel is highly experienced at providing effective representation for persons being interviewed by investigative bodies and dealing with the realities and aftermath of raids and search warrants – including judicial challenges to them, as well as legal professional privilege matters. This experience extends to those subject to international enquiries and requests. Daniel has brought about high profile stays of prosecution in a number of large cases, for reasons of successful abuse of process arguments and he has brought about a change to the BBC Trust policy and protocol for film crews attending raids, as a result of a successful application for a stay of prosecution for reason of a rare, ‘limb two’, abuse of process argument, resulting from the conduct of the police and the BBC in the course and conduct of a criminal investigation. Daniel acted for the first defendant in what is said to have been the largest and most complex tax fraud case ever prosecuted by HMRC. He has acted for senior journalists, politicians, well-known personalities, sportsmen and senior royalty. Daniel deals with proceeds of crime and money laundering matters, including cash detention and forfeiture, account freezing orders, restraint orders, freezing orders and confiscation proceedings.

Managing Partner, Solicitor-Advocate. Trevor specialises in regulatory investigations and enquiries, crisis management and reputation protection for ultra high net worth clients, serious fraud, money laundering and high value confiscation and restraint issues and Coroner Inquests. Current instructions include rape and serous sexual assaults, corporate manslaughter and other health and safety matters, electoral law issues, defamation actions, Trading Standard investigations and proceedings, Insider trading, high value white collar fraud, bribery and corruption and high value international civil fraud and asset recovery.

Robert Newbould

Rob is a Solicitor-Advocate within our Regulatory Team; he is the lead Partner for Police Misconduct and Disciplinary Proceedings. He receives instructions from the Police Federation of England and Wales (PFEW) and associated insurers in criminal and disciplinary investigations and proceedings, as well as inquests, public inquiries and judicial review proceedings. Rob has vast experience in acting in the entire spectrum of criminal and disciplinary investigations and proceedings. He is qualified to advise police officers and staff in relation to post incident procedures (PIP’s) where there are incidents of the discharge of police firearms, deaths in custody or high speed driving pursuits. Rob routinely advises and represents Interested Persons within coronial proceedings that arise from these events. Rob is also instructed to represent the interests of individuals within public inquiries and judicial review / associated Court of Appeal proceedings. Rob is nationally recognised as a leader in his field and is regularly instructed to provide training and advice and assistance to individual Police Federation Representatives, Federation Branch Boards and the PFEW nationally on wider issues and matters of general importance. These instructions have included providing legal opinion on specific cases and also on matters of wider implication for policing and the PFEW membership, at both a national and regional level. Rob’s experience means he routinely advises in cases that are highly complex and sensitive in nature such as allegations of corruption and white collar fraud.

Senior Consultant, Solicitor-Advocate (Higher Court criminal proceedings) Diana specialises in serious crime and those matters whereby it is of the utmost importance that the correct outcome be achieved. As a consequence, Diana’s client base consists regularly of professionals. Extensively experienced in matters including: - Murder, manslaughter, serious violence Sexually related matters including historical allegations High value fraud All drugs related matters Robbery, blackmail, kidnapping and misconduct Diana has a niche practice in motoring law and understands that the outcome needs not to impact prejudicially upon a client’s livelihood. A particular expertise in representing young people who find themselves in conflict with the criminal justice system. Diana is fortunate to be in a minority of lawyers who have represented clients before the House of Lords (now the Supreme Court). Notable cases: R v Mills & Poole (House of Lords) 1997.

Jennifer Richardson

Jennifer Richardson acts for both corporate bodies and individuals under investigation by all UK enforcement authorities, with particular expertise in financial and serious business crime. Jennifer’s financial crime practice has a particular focus on complex fraud prosecutions brought by the SFO, FCA, Trading Standards and Local Authorities, particularly those with international or cross-border aspect. Jennifer’s practice also includes representing high-profile and high net worth individuals in a variety of serious general crime investigations and prosecutions including sexual and violent offences and multi-handed drugs conspiracies. She also has significant experience representing clients engaged in public inquiries and inquests, with a particular focus on fatalities occurring in prisons and military settings. Jennifer is frequently engaged to represent individuals and companies in complex health and safety prosecutions with recent highlights including representing a number of individuals under investigation for their involvement in the Grenfell Tower tragedy.

Partner and Head of the Regulatory & Health & Safety Teams A specialist in health and safety, regulatory and criminal litigation, Gary regularly defends organisations and individuals, including directors and senior managers in complex Police, HSE and HMRC investigations and prosecutions. He has extensive experience of defending those accused of gross negligence manslaughter and health & safety breaches, arising from workplace fatalities across a wide spectrum of industries including railways, construction, electrical & engineering, gas and the medicine and care sectors. He is currently instructed in a number of high profile work place fatality cases and represented the driver of the Tram in the Croydon (Sandilands) tram crash during the police investigation. Gary also acts for a number of clients in the Grenfell Inquiry and associated police investigations. Previous high profile cases include defending the train drivers following the Watford & Southall train crashes and appeared in the Southall & Ladbroke Grove public rail inquiries. Gary was instructed to represent the machine operator in the Tebay disaster where 4 trackworkers were fatally injured, and acted in the corporate manslaughter charge of a construction company and health & safety charges of its’ senior director at the Old Bailey in 2017, for the fatality at Cadogan Square when a balustrade collapsed during the lifting of a sofa killing two operatives. In December 2007 Gary represented the Purley train crash driver in his successful appeal against conviction for manslaughter following the crash in 1989. This was unique as the appeal was made 17 years out of time and the driver had pleaded guilty. He is currently acting for client’s in the Grenfell Tower Inquiry. Gary also advises and represents companies, directors and senior officers, both self-employed and employees in relation to enforcement action taken by regulatory bodies and represents proper interested parties at Coroner’s Inquests, including Article 2 inquests where there has been a death at work or in police custody. He is currently instructed for the tram driver in the Sandilands Inquests (Croydon). Commanding a thorough understanding of regulatory and disciplinary codes of conduct, Gary represents police officers, professionals including Doctors, nurses, paramedics and social workers at disciplinary hearings. This experience has proved invaluable when instructed in serious criminal cases where there has been significant overlap between the criminal liability and regulatory and employment matters. Gary also has several years experience of representing police officers and police staff in Post Incident Procedures where there has been a fatality involving police contact. He has over 20 year’s experience of representing clients in the police station, Magistrates and Crown Court.

Naureen Shariff

Specialist in White Collar Criminal Defence Naureen Shariff is a highly regarded partner in the Dispute Resolution and Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA) Teams, specialising in white collar criminal defence. Recognised as a Rising Star in The Legal 500 for both 2023 and 2024, she was most recently named a Next Generation Partner in the category of Fraud: White-Collar Crime. Described by The Legal 500 (2021) as “Unflappable, good humoured and with exceptional client handling skills. Her work is of the highest quality, and she has proven herself time and time again at being adept at taking on new areas of law and doing so capably and effectively,” Naureen is known for her strategic, calm, and client-focused approach. She is frequently instructed at the earliest stages of investigations, with a strong track record of avoiding criminal charges altogether — securing no further action or alternative disposals where possible. Naureen has successfully defended clients in complex and high-profile prosecutions, achieving numerous acquittals. Her client base spans individuals, multinational corporations, and government departments. She is part of a team regularly instructed by ultra-high-net-worth individuals with intricate, multi-jurisdictional financial arrangements. Naureen has extensive experience across the full spectrum of major fraud, bribery and corruption, money laundering, and POCA investigations. Her work includes defending against Account Freezing Orders and Worldwide Freezing Orders, and she regularly acts in matters involving the SFO, FCA, HMRC, NCA, and international enforcement agencies. Many of her cases involve cross-border elements, requiring close collaboration with legal teams and experts in jurisdictions such as the US, India, Bosnia, and Switzerland. In addition to her white-collar practice, Naureen also advises on general criminal matters, ranging from serious offences such as murder, rape, and grievous bodily harm, to VAT fraud, drink-driving, possession of indecent images, and misconduct in public office.

Helen specialises in cases concerning children in public law care cases. Experienced in representing parents, and other family members and children of all ages (either on the instruction of the Children's Guardian or separately when competent). Helen has experience in dealing with complex cases concerning non – accidental injuries, domestic violence., drug and alcohol addiction , mental health difficulties, parental alienation and deprivation of liberty (DOLS). Helen also works with parents who seek advice about child in need, child protection and PLO proceedings.