England - London • Crime, fraud and licensing
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Fraud: white-collar crime (advice to individuals)

PCB Byrne

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Acting on behalf of CEOs, HNW individuals, and suspects in sanction breaches, the ‘outstanding individuals’ at PCB Byrne  handle ongoing SFO criminal investigations, spanning from money laundering to corruption and fraud. The group is highly recommended for its tax and financial services offering, consistently advising individual clients in high-profile FCA and HMRC investigations, alongside complex confiscation and asset forfeiture proceedings. The criminal team is jointly led by Sara Teasdale and Michael Potts, with the former boasting vast experience in regulatory and criminal investigations, whilst the latter concentrates on alleged sanction breaches and anti-money laundering compliance measures. Matthew Frankland has expertise defending in major criminal fraud trials and investigations, while Emma Brooks regularly assists individuals facing allegations of corruption and serious fraud across many jurisdictions.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • ‘PCB Byrne has  a standout reputation in white collar crime. One of the 'go to' firms for investigation/pre-charge advice.’

  • ‘Matthew Frankland - hugely experienced partner who provides outstanding tactical and legal advice.'

  • ‘Emma Brooks is a very clever, incredibly hard-working expert in this field. She approaches every case, from the earliest stages, like a chess game - one she intends to win and usually does. She is steeped in the complexities of high-level fraud, knows everything and everyone and gives her all to her clients. Hannah Redwood is a rising star, who quietly masters the facts of the heaviest frauds then plots the route through them with a sophistication way beyond her years.’

  • ‘I know Michael Potts well and he is an excellent and reliable specialist in white collar crime and FCA regulatory matters.’

  • ‘PCB Byrne is the premier boutique business crime firm. No other firm has their experience, in both depth and breadth, of white-collar crime.’

  • ‘The team and individuals at PCB Byrne LLP are involved in the majority of the major complex criminal cases in the UK. As a result, they have a great deal of experience and knowledge of many different types of criminal cases and are therefore leading figures in this area of law in the UK.’

  • ‘We worked with Michael Potts' experience and precision were indispensable and greatly appreciated. He provided invaluable input on the function of the UK prosecution authorities.’

  • ‘Outstanding individuals I have come across are Matthew Franklin and Mike Potts, both of whom have a wealth of experience in fraud and related matters and very strong client skills.’

Work highlights

  • Acting for Rodney Whiston-Dew in complex confiscation proceedings for the former solicitor convicted of £107m fraud.
  • Representing a corporate and individual defendant in the Royal Mail’s largest ever private prosecution due to take place at Southwark Crown Court. Royal Mail alleges an £81 million conspiracy to defraud.

Lawyers

Hall of Fame
The lawyers at the very top of the profession, widely known and respected by peers and clients for their longstanding involvement in market-leading work.
Matthew Frankland 
Hall of famePCB Byrne
Founding partner at Byrne and Partners specialising in the defence of national and international fraud investigations and prosecutions. Matthew acts on behalf of corporate and individual clients with a particular emphasis on avoiding prosecutions wherever possible and challenging the conduct of prosecutors. He has advised at Government level in connection with several matters including a major UN criminal investigation and disputes arising within the Oil Industry. He has conducted many investigations and prosecutions with multi-jurisdictional issues including Greece, Ukraine, Russia, Somalia and the USA causing him to have substantial interaction with the US Department of Justice. He also advises clients in matters arising from all aspects of Criminal Law including corruption, cartel offences, market abuse and city fraud. He consequently advises in large money laundering investigations and prosecutions and, has extensive experience of Crown Court and High Court confiscation, restraint, receivership and forfeiture proceedings. He recently led the defence in two SFO Libor prosecutions obtaining the acquittal of one of the ICAP brokers and recently advised members of the Board of an international oil company, in connection with a corruption investigation by the SFO.
Leading partners
The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.
Sara Teasdale
PCB Byrne
Sara Teasdale has consistently been involved in some of the most high profile and complex white-collar crime and contentious regulatory cases. She has extensive experience of criminal and regulatory investigations and prosecutions brought by the SFO; FCA; CMA; MHRA; DOJ and the CFTC. Sara acts primarily for senior, often high-profile individuals and corporate clients. Sara also advises individuals in relation to internal investigations. Sara's notable cases include acting for a corporation in Operation Holbein (SFO investigation into alleged criminal cartel activity in the pharmaceutical industry) and acting for individuals in a number of SFO corruption cases including BAE systems corruption investigation into South African arms deals and more recently Sweett Group plc. Sara also acted for a UK based property developer charged with bribery relating to property dealings with the government ministers in the Turks & Caicos Islands ("TCI"). Sara's other main practice area is acting for individuals in the financial sector being investigated by the FCA. Sara acted for the former finance Director of the main trading arm of Cattles PLC in the high profile "Cattles" FCA case and also acted in the parallel FRC (formerly the AADB) regulatory/disciplinary proceedings. Sara also represented a number of traders at a range of different banks in LIBOR-related investigations brought by SFO, FCA, DOJ and CFTC.
Michael Potts
PCB Byrne
Michael specialises in the defence of business crime and regulatory investigations and prosecutions. He has acted in numerous high-profile investigations and prosecutions brought against individuals by the SFO, FCA, NCA and other regulatory bodies and prosecution agencies. Many of Michael's cases have an international dimension involving overseas authorities such as the US DOJ, SEC or CFTC and other prosecution agencies and regulators from other jurisdictions.  He also advises both individuals and corporates who have to deal with international mutual legal assistance requests. In addition and as a member of the Law Society’s Money Laundering Task Force he advises companies and professional firms on their anti-money-laundering compliance. He is a solicitor-advocate (Higher Courts Criminal and Civil Proceedings).
Next Generation Partners
Junior partners with significant recognition from clients and peers in the market and key roles on multiple matters.
Emma Brooks
PCB Byrne
Partner specialising in the defence of corporate fraud, business crime and regulatory work. Emma has acted in various high profile and international investigations brought against individuals by the SFO, CPS and HMRC as well as other regulatory bodies and prosecution agencies. She acted for the directors of Soma Oil and Gas in relation to the much publicised corruption investigation by the SFO. Emma also defended one of the individuals prosecuted by the SFO for LIBOR fixing. She is also known for her skill and expertise in regulatory work, in particular representation of solicitors who face criminal allegations as well as representing those solicitors in regulatory proceedings instigated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority. Emma has also appeared regularly as an advocate defending solicitors in front of the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal. Other regulatory experience includes defending medical professionals in proceedings brought by the General Medical Council and General Dental Council.

Practice head

The lawyer(s) leading their teams.

Sara Teasdale, Michael Potts

Other key lawyers

Matthew Frankland, Emma Brooks

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