Our Services

Court proceedings are not a certainty. Many problems end up in court when they could, and should, have been spotted and remedied at an early stage.

If you, or your business, foresee compliance issues arising, Shearman Bowen can deploy our expertise to resolving them quickly, cost-effectively, and with minimal impact on your reputation.

Our service is built on many years experience of matters that, if the right advice had been taken, would have been resolved sooner. We can consider developing problems and advise you on the best strategies to deal with the issue. Our aim, wherever possible, is to deal with these challenges before they get out of hand.

The regulatory landscape is always changing, and the pitfalls of non-compliance have never been more serious. A grey-area has developed where civil fraud, regulatory & compliance obligations, and criminal investigation overlap; this area is rapidly increasing in scope and consequence. Our team have been dedicated to challenging the most serious of allegations and can adapt our expertise to rectifying compliance issues before they enter the public domain or the public Courts.

Unfortunately, individuals and businesses can find themselves as victims of crime, or on the wrong side of the law, without even knowing they were at risk. Our tailored service, to fit the needs of your business, ensure you are advised of every risk and any cause for concern. Where issues have arisen, we are adept at handling developing situations quickly, efficiently, and with your business (and reputation) in mind.

Early recognition of issues is crucial, but having expertise in the aftermath adds a further dimension to our approach. You can rest assured that our high-quality service is founded on decades of expertise and we are here when you need us most.

Internal investigations are now increasingly a fact of life for organisations big and small.

Misconduct allegations in the workplace need to be dealt with speedily and carefully, or they can have serious consequences.

We are trusted by general counsel, employment lawyers, HR departments and other professionals as a safe pair of hands in these situations. We are used to dealing with individuals in the firing line, whether they are the accused or the accuser. We have the skill set to deal with allegations of all kinds efficiently, fairly and with the utmost care and discretion.

We are used to putting together teams for an organisation to deal with all aspects of crisis and reputation management. We understand the difficult legal issues that arise in these situations, like legal professional privilege, the use of NDAs, whistleblower protection, reporting to regulators or criminal justice agencies and so on.

Above all, we never lose sight of the fact that somebody’s career and reputation depends on the outcome.

If you are facing any kind of investigation – whether it’s criminal, regulatory, or both – you need to take expert advice and quickly.

We deal with specialist investigators like the Serious Fraud Office (SFO), the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) and Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC), and we are used to dealing with police forces throughout the country and wider afield. We understand how investigators work, how they think and what they look for.

We also understand the bigger picture. We know that investigations in 2021 are often more complex than ever before, and how daunting it can be to face an investigation: whether regulatory, or at the police station. We pride ourselves on a pragmatic approach to investigations and our team know the effects can be felt throughout your business or by your family and loved ones.

Our focus is on achieving the best possible outcome for you in what can seem like an impossible situation. We can advise you how long an investigation will take, assess the strengths and weaknesses of your situation, and tell you what steps we can take to ensure a positive outcome. We are conscious of the need for reputation management when investigations commence and conclude.

We can advise whether you should respond to the investigation and, if so, how. We are adept at assessing whether a proactive response is likely to assist or whether calm and patience will give a better chance of a positive outcome.

We understand just how stressful the investigation process can sometimes be. Many years of experience and engagement have helped us devise the strategies to get you through it. We pride ourselves on pragmatic, proactive, approaches with your business, reputation, or liberty in mind. We have particular expertise in resolving cases at the earliest opportunity, before (and without) criminal charges or regulatory disciplinary.

Having the right team behind you if you are facing Court proceedings is critical to the outcome. Experience and expertise are vital when navigating the Court system, and ensuring the best results. We have decades of experience in all areas of Court proceedings, including:

First Appearances, Warrants & Summons     //     Trial Proceedings     //     Appeals     //     Enforcement of Orders

Magistrates’ Court     //     Crown Court     //     Court of Appeal     //     Coroner’s Court & Inquests

Ancillary Orders     //     Orders on Acquittal     //     Proceeds of Crime, Restraint Orders & Confiscation

We have a proven track record of successfully defending clients in the Magistrates’ Court and Crown Court in a wide array of criminal matters. We have appeared in some of the most serious and complex white-collar, financial crime, and business crime cases. We have defended clients facing serious allegations or daunting confiscation orders. Our team have experience across the whole array of criminal law, from business crime and serious crime, to road traffic offences, general crime, and appeals.

Our practice has developed over many years experience in the Courts. We are adept at preparing trials, working with you to present your case in the most positive light. Working closely with experienced and renowned barristers, each tailored to the particular needs of your case, we believe that any case can be won.

Shearman Bowen are dedicated not only to preparing, presenting, and fighting your case – but to exploring all avenues to obtain a positive result. Where cases cannot conclude without Court proceedings, we adapt our skills and expertise to having cases stopped at the earliest opportunity.

Above all, we understand that the most important person in your case is you. Success in a criminal case is about many things: the evidence, the witnesses, the arguments and the law, but ultimately it is about you: the client. In many cases your story needs to be heard and you must be ready to tell it. Our team are ready to guide you through each step.