James Fletcher

Practice Areas

James is a specialist in crime (fraud and money laundering) and the civil aspects of criminal and fraud litigation: asset forfeiture and recovery (including Account Freezing, listed assets and Cash Forfeiture), restraint and freezing orders, confiscation, enforcement and judicial reviews of search warrant and other investigative orders.

He receives instructions from specialist Defence firms, businesses and the Proceeds of Crime Units of the CPS, City of London Police, police forces, HMRC, Home Office and individuals under direct access. He is briefed by the NCA, CPS and HMRC in complex cash and civil recovery cases. He also has a litigation extension to his practicing certificate.

He is often brought into cases at the appellate stage or where specialist knowledge of proceeds of crime is needed.

Recent highlights include:

Successfully acting for City of London Police resisting judicial review of the execution of search warrants.

Acting for a company involved in foreign exchange in successful negotiations that persuaded HMRC not to pursue account forfeiture orders.

Acting for an Iranian family to obtain the release of funds after Police had brought a claim alleging them to be proceeds of crime.

Acting for HMRC ongoing challenges to search warrants and for the NCA in civil recovery investigations.

Career

Called 2000 (Middle Temple).

Professional Memberships

Proceeds of Crime Lawyers Association (POCLA).