Nick Barnard

Senior Associate (Solicitor), Corker Binning

Nick has been a solicitor at Corker Binning specialising in crime and regulatory defence since 2014. He routinely advises and represents individual and corporate clients in a range of financial, tax and business crime and regulatory matters, including investigations by the SFO, the NCA, the FCA and the FRC. He also has expertise in general crime matters and police station advice on offences ranging from murder, rape and grievous bodily harm to VAT fraud, drink-driving, possession of indecent images and misconduct in public office.

Career highlights include:

Advising a client involved UK FCA and US Department of Justice investigations, and subsequent UK–US extradition proceedings, arising out of loans worth $2bn made by European banks and guaranteed by the Government of Mozambique.
Representing a client prosecuted for conspiracy to defraud arising from participation in allegedly fraudulent tax avoidance schemes. All charges were subsequently dismissed or discontinued and the client received a six-figure costs award.
Advising a professional interviewed under caution by the SFO concerning alleged false accounting and failure to report knowledge or suspicion of money laundering, and representing the same client in subsequent FRC regulatory proceedings.
Advising multiple clients interviewed under caution by the SFO in relation in relation of alleged LIBOR manipulation, corrupt payments to foreign officials, false accounting and conspiracy to defraud.
Advising clients subject to the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002, including Restraint Orders, Accounting Freezing Orders and Moratorium Applications.
Representing clients in FCA investigations into fitness and propriety, unauthorised regulated activity and breach of Money Laundering Regulations.
Advising on potential liability of companies and directors in respect of corporate manslaughter, gross negligence manslaughter and health and safety offences.

Contributed to

1

Civil tax fraud investigations—Code of Practice 9

Practice Notes

This Practice Note explains the practice and procedure for an HMRC Code of Practice 9 (COP9) civil investigation into suspected tax fraud. It includes information on the contractual disclosure facility, denial or non-co-operation route, criminal investigations and COP9, the disclosure regime, and reaching (and not reaching) an agreement with HMRC in relation to civil tax fraud.

Corporate Crime