Restraint and Confiscation
St Philips Chambers Criminal Group offers a team of barristers with substantial experience of all aspects of restraint and confiscation in both the Magistrates’ and Crown Courts. The Group seeks to offer specialist advocates to represent both the prosecution and defendants at all stages of investigation and post-charge.
Members of the Group regularly appear in contested hearings relating to restraint, confiscation and cash seizure. Chambers is regularly instructed by a range of prosecuting authorities including the Serious Fraud Office, the Revenue and Customs Prosecution Office, BERR and the specialist divisions of the Crown Prosecution Service.
Members of the Group work with Regional Asset Recovery Teams and appear on behalf of individual police services.
There is equal experience in defending professionals and others under investigation in relation to financial crime from interview under caution to trial and any subsequent confiscation hearing. The Group appreciates that an understanding of the implications of restraint and confiscation is needed at all stages of the criminal process. Members of the Group also offer substantial experience in the representation of companies in the context of financial crime.
The Group provides representation in relation to the variation and discharge of restraint orders and also in applications where an individual’s assets can no longer meet a confiscation order.
The Criminal Group recognises that specialist knowledge is key to providing the very best service, including both advice and advocacy, in this constantly developing area of law. Members of the Group regularly lecture and write on a range of relevant topics.
