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News & Insights

  • Acquittal in One of the UK’s Largest Money Laundering Prosecutions
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  • Sundeep Soor and Ben Cooper KC Overturn Unlawful Search Warrant in Extradition Case
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  • Suspended Sentence & Reduced POCA Confiscation Order in £1M Trading Standards Case
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  • ‘The Legal 500’ – Sundeep Soor Receives Continued Recognition In The 2025 Edition Of The Directory
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  • ‘The Legal 500’ – Sundeep Soor receives continued recognition in the 2023 edition of the directory
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  • Successful Legal Challenge: Construction Company Reclaims Frozen Bank Account
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Defence Lawyer - Financial & Serious Crime/POCA/Business Regulatory/Extradition
“If I haven't done anything wrong, I don't need a “If I haven't done anything wrong, I don't need a solicitor.” It's one of the things I hear quite often and one of the riskiest assumptions someone can make. Most people aren't legally trained, which means their understanding of where they actually stand can be wrong - sometimes significantly so. What feels like an innocent explanation can, in the wrong circumstances, amount to an admission. Said in the wrong way, at the wrong time, without the full picture, it can end up being used against you - sometimes leading to court proceedings that could otherwise have been avoided. That's why it's always best to seek legal advice early, even when you're confident you've done nothing wrong. It's not about assuming the worst. It's about making sure what you say, and how it's understood, actually reflects your position.
Wishing everyone celebrating Diwali and Bandi Chho Wishing everyone celebrating Diwali and Bandi Chhor Divas a very happy and peaceful festival. These celebrations are a reminder of the triumph of light over darkness, and of freedom, hope and new beginnings. They are also a time to be with family and friends and reflect on the year gone by. To my clients, colleagues, and everyone I work alongside, thank you for your trust and support. I wish you and your families health, happiness and prosperity in the year ahead. Happy Diwali and Happy Bandi Chhor Divas.
I was privileged to attend the Annual Proceeds of I was privileged to attend the Annual Proceeds of Crime Lawyers' Association (POCLA) Dinner at the St. Pancras Renaissance Hotel London as a guest of 5 St Andrew's Hill Chambers on the 4th of November. It was a fantastic evening from the champagne reception hosted by headline sponsor Davidsons Forensic Accountants through to a superb three course dinner.   Thank you to the POCLA committee & programme sponsors for adding those finishing touches to the evening. A special thank you to Dean Cook, clerk at 5 St Andrew's Hill, and to counsel Barnaby Hone , and Andrew Bird KC for the invitation and for being such great hosts. It was also lovely to catch up with so many old friends and colleagues, including Jonathan Lennon KC, Matthew Butchard , Osman Osman, Sonal Dashani KC, Narita Bahra KC, Sunpritha Jutla, Emma Makepeace, Alfie Lee, Sam Healy, Aaron Watson Weinberg, Fergus Harrington and Raymond Davidson. Events like this are a great reminder of the strength of the POCLA community and how valuable it is to spend time with the people you work alongside throughout the year.
What can a director or business owner actually be What can a director or business owner actually be arrested for? It's a question I’ve been asked recently and you may be surprised that there are more scenarios than most people expect. Financial crime is the most obvious one; false accounting, fraudulent trading and tax fraud. HMRC can and does investigate all of these in relation to fraud and dishonesty, as well as investment fraud. Then there's the regulatory side; money laundering regulations, cybercrime and failure to prevent fraud - a relatively new offence but it falls into this category. Failure to prevent bribery has existed for a number of years, and failure to prevent fraud now sits alongside it. Both tend to apply to very large organisations, but their reach is something every director should understand. Running a business comes with legal exposure that isn't always obvious until it's too late. Understanding where the risks sit is the first step to managing them properly.
"A brilliant experience from start to finish, know "A brilliant experience from start to finish, knowledgeable and communication throughout helped me and gave me peace of mind from the outset, would definitely recommend. And will be passing details on to anyone who requires this type of service in my family and friends.” Feedback like this means a great deal to me, particularly the reference to peace of mind. Clients often come to me at some of the most stressful points in their lives, so being knowledgeable is only part of the job. Communicating clearly and consistently throughout a case is just as important in helping people feel supported and in control of what's happening. I'm grateful for the trust clients place in me, and for reviews like this that reflect the kind of relationship I aim to build with every client I work with.
I recently acted for a client whose accounts had b I recently acted for a client whose accounts had been frozen by HMRC under an Account Freezing Order - around £2 million, spread across three or four bank accounts. Cases like this come up more often than people expect. An AFO typically runs for six months in the first instance, but that can be extended for up to two years before it reaches a contested forfeiture hearing. It's not simply a case of waiting it out - an order can be contested, and applications can be made to vary it (for example, to release funds for business or legal expenses) or to discharge it entirely. My client was fortunate to have enough resource to keep his business running while the order was in place. Not every business is in that position. We're now four months into this case, and it could run for several months yet. It's a reminder that businesses should have a contingency plan in place before a situation like this ever arises - can the business realistically continue for six months, or longer, with funds frozen? Getting early advice is critical, both to understand your options and to start building a case for variation or discharge from the outset.
One question I'm often asked is: if someone has al One question I'm often asked is: if someone has already been to an interview under caution, can I still help? Of course. I can get involved at any stage of the proceedings, whether that's before an interview under caution or once a case has already reached a court hearing. That said, the sooner advice is sought, the better. Seeking early representation from a criminal specialist solicitor - ideally before that first interview - gives you the best chance of understanding your position and protecting it from the outset. But whatever stage you're at, it's never too late to get the right advice in place.
It was a pleasure to be part of this year's MALA B It was a pleasure to be part of this year's MALA Ball. Evenings like this are a highlight of the Midlands legal calendar - bringing together barristers, judges, guest speakers and familiar faces from across the profession, all under one roof. A reminder of how much strength there is in a connected legal community, professionally and personally. Thank you to @jmw_solicitors as our main sponsor, and to 36 Crime Group and C Lewis Company as our secondary sponsors, for supporting the evening. We’re already planning our next few events and we hope to see you there.
This year, the @midsasianlawyers Midlands Asian La This year, the @midsasianlawyers Midlands Asian Lawyers Association has chosen the @uniquehomeforgirls Unique Home for Girls in Jalandhar, Punjab as its charity. It's a cause I've supported ever since MALA's former president, Ranjit Thaliwal, introduced me to it around 15 years ago. Since then, I've been privileged to visit the home in person with my family on at least three occasions. Each time, I've seen first hand the remarkable work of Prakash Kaur; Bibiji, in how she runs the home, alongside her wonderful volunteers. Girls I first met 12 years ago are now educated and settled in places across the world. That is heartwarming to see, and a testament to Bibiji and her team. We're looking forward to raising further funds and donations on 9 October. Please look out for Ranjit's team and support as much as you can. Thank you.
There have been some significant changes to the Pr There have been some significant changes to the Proceeds of Crime Act, following the Crime and Policing Act 2026, which came into force in late June. One change I'd highlight relates to restraint orders - what most people think of as freezing orders. Previously, if your assets were frozen, you couldn't use those funds directly towards your legal fees. You'd have to rely on a third party, or a solicitor acting pro bono. Under the new rules, funds can now be released directly to deal with legal costs linked to the case. There are also changes to how confiscation amounts are calculated, including how hidden assets, tainted gifts and crypto assets are treated - reflecting how these cases have evolved in recent years. Another change I've welcomed is the introduction of Early Resolution of Confiscation (EROC) meetings and hearings. These are designed to encourage earlier agreement and narrow the issues before a confiscation hearing, alongside a new mandatory timetable replacing the old postponement regime. In the past, I've dealt with confiscation cases that have run on for up to two years, so bringing formal structure and earlier resolution to this process is a welcome step. These are significant reforms, and if you're currently subject to a restraint or confiscation order, it's worth getting specialist advice on how the changes may affect your case.
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