Mr Deepak Vij > ABV Solicitors > Hayes, England > Lawyer Profile
ABV Solicitors Offices
The Shipping Building, Old Vinyl Factory
252-254 Blyth Road
Hayes
UB3 1HA
England
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Mr Deepak Vij
Work Department
Serious Fraud, Serious Crime, White-Collar Fraud
Position
Director
Career
Deepak specialises in high profile, complex white/grey-collar serious fraud cases and has over 25 years of experience in that field.
He is consulted regularly on matters including investigations conducted by the SFO, FCA, NCA, HMRC, Trading Standards, Local Authority, DBIS and the CPS. His work includes advising clients and corporations both pre and post charge. These clients include companies, high-net worth individuals, professionals, law enforcement offices and people in the public eye / household names.
Deepak has built his practice in defending serious and complex fraud cases which include conspiracies to defraud, relating to mis-selling investments, boiler room frauds, land banking frauds, advance fee frauds and various collective investment schemes, large scale mortgage frauds, vishing / phishing frauds, cross border money laundering, VAT and various Customs offences.
He is currently involved in representing high profile clients on high profile bribery and corruption SFO investigations which also have an overlap with investigations conducted by the US Department of Justice.
Deepak also has vast experience in dealing with offences under the Proceeds of Crime Act, Confiscation and Asset Forfeiture, Restraint Orders and Extradition together with major / serious organised violent crimes including Murder.
Deepak has defended clients in some of the largest prosecutions in the UK (see work highlights included in this submission) and is highly regarded and respected within the profession.
Deepak’s track record is extensive and impressive. As a result of his reputation and success, Deepak has built his practice entirely on recommendations.
As a fraud supervisor and contract manager on the Very High Cost Cases (VHCC) Panel, Deepak has a vast amount of experience of working on VHCC cases, often involving multiple defendants, high value offences and major organised crime, which are usually accompanied by voluminous prosecution disclosure.
Deepak is also the MLRO within the practice.
Deepak’s work highlights include:
- SFO Investigation: Deepak has been instructed by the former President of SBM Offshore in respect of allegations of bribery and corruption investigated by the Serious Fraud Office (Unaoil Investigation). The worldwide value of the bribes are circa $180 million.
- SFO Investigation: Deepak is also advising a lawyer from South Africa in respect of the Serious Fraud Office bribery and corruption investigation into British American Tobacco.
- R v G: Representation of a multi-company director under investigation by the Environment Agency for a £40 million fraud involving illegally deposited waste circa at least 17,000 tonnes.
- Operation Tidworth: said to be one of the largest investigation conducted by the Financial Conduct Authority into a land banking investment fraud.
Operation Haslemere: an investigation conducted by the Financial Conduct Authority into a £4.5 million boiler room investment fraud where shares of a number of Public Limited Companies were offered for sale.
- R v C: Deepak is instructed to represent a suspect involved in a multi-million Ponzi scheme investment fraud. One of the co-suspects was a famous household football player.
- Operation Surging: NCA investigation into an alleged £40 million laundering scheme.
- Operation Alyxia: Deepak represented a suspect involved in a £113 million vishing fraud, linked to Operation Kadenza. The Prosecution relied upon a witness who had decided to give Queen’s Evidence against our client.
- Operation Yalong: multi-million mortgage fraud involving defence enquiries conducted in Dubai.
- Operation Sorrell: £20 million contested confiscation proceedings where Deepak was required to conduct crucial defence enquiries in Nairobi and Mombasa.
- Operation Belman: Large Tier 1 immigration fraud, linked to Operation Façade following the BBC Panorama expose.
- Operation Pulex: the suspect, a British Airways baggage handler instructed Deepak to represent him for a case involving the importation of 100 kg of Class A drugs into the UK from Rio, Brazil.
Deepak started his career in the City of London before developing his practice and client base in the West London and Berkshire region. Today his clients come from a vast geographical area requiring Deepak to travel both within the UK and internationally.
Memberships
Fraud Lawyers Association
POCLA
LCCSA
VHCC (Panel Supervisor and Contract Manager)
Lawyer Rankings
South East > Crime, fraud and licensing > General crime and fraud
(Leading partners)Described by clients as ‘reliable, thorough and efficient’, ABV Solicitors’ client roster consists of high-profile individuals, senior company executives and corporations. Jointly headed by Deepak Vij, Akhtar Ahmad and Robert Borwick, the team is lauded for its expertise in serious fraud investigations, and is well-equipped to handle cross-border cases involving foreign investigative agencies. As head of the financial crime team, Vij excels in commercial and financial fraud matters, as does Ahmad, while Borwick’s varied caseload includes murder, regulatory, and serious sexual offences. Amirah Ajaz specialises in white-collar fraud, organised crime and complex confiscation cases, and Fergus Harrington is a key contact for boiler room fraud, tax evasion and money laundering as part of his white-collar crime focused practice.
London > Crime, fraud and licensing > Fraud: white-collar crime (advice to individuals)
ABV Solicitors counts high-profile individuals in the financial services, oil and gas, energy, and insurance sectors among its strong roster of clients. Handling both privately and publicly funded instructions, the team is well-placed to advise on the full spectrum of fraud and white-collar criminal matters on a national basis. Deepak Vij and Akhtar Ahmad jointly oversee the team; Vij has a strong record defending company directors and government officials in SFO investigations, while Ahmad has notable experience handling investigations by overseas law enforcement agencies in the US and Asia. ‘Star performer‘ Amirah Ajaz has a notable focus on serious organised crime and confiscation cases, while Rohit Sharma attracts praise for his ‘excellent strategic mind‘. The core team also includes Fergus Harrington, who ably assists on complex fraud investigations.
Lawyer Rankings
- General crime and fraud South East > Crime, fraud and licensing
- Leading partners South East > Crime, fraud and licensing > General crime and fraud