Nick Barnard

WORK HIGHLIGHTS

• Acting for Bernie Ecclestone, the former Formula One boss, in criminal proceedings arising out of an HMRC  civil tax investigation prosecuted by the CPS.
• Acting for ENRC in the decade-long SFO investigation recently discontinued on the grounds of insufficient evidence.
• Advising a client involved in UK FCA and US Department of Justice investigations, and subsequent UK–US extradition proceedings, arising out of loans worth $2billion 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 clients interviewed under caution in several SFO investigations related to alleged LIBOR manipulation, corrupt payments to foreign officials, false accounting and conspiracy to defraud.
• Advising clients under investigation by HMRC on suspicion of criminal tax offences, including recipients of COP9 notices.
• 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 including representing an Independent Financial Advisor before the Regulatory Decisions Committee in respect of non-financial misconduct.
• Advising on potential liability of companies and directors in respect of corporate manslaughter, gross negligence manslaughter and health and safety offences.
• In 2020, Nick undertook a secondment with the Litigation & Investigations team of a Magic Circle firm in London, advising corporate clients on cross-border bribery and money-laundering issues.

Career

Nick began his legal career as a paralegal at Corker Binning in 2011, before training at a Top 100 Firm where he gained experience of civil litigation, including High Court trials, investigating workplace accidents and representing interested parties at inquests.

He qualified as a solicitor in 2014, re-joined Corker Binning in 2015 and became a partner in 2023.

Nick studied English at University College London, followed by the GDL and LPC at the College of Law, achieving a distinction in both and a First Class Honours LLB. Prior to studying law, Nick was Director of Communications at Families Need Fathers, a charity providing advice and assistance to separated parents.

He was a member of the Justice Working Party on Prosecuting Sexual Offences, and frequently presents on the basics of criminal law for family, private client and employment lawyers.
Nick is the author of ‘What Family Lawyers Need to Know About Criminal Law’, published in conjunction with Resolution. He frequently writes for the mainstream and specialist press on important and developing issues of criminal and regulatory law.

Nick is a member of the Fraud Lawyers Association, the Health and Safety Lawyers Association and Justice.

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