Can I be prosecuted personally for white collar crimes committed at my company?

Yes. If you had knowledge or failed to act under your statutory duties, you may be charged individually under joint liability or consent/connivance provisions.

What does a COP9 investigation involve?

HMRC issues a Code of Practice 9 (COP9) when they suspect serious fraud. You must disclose all irregularities through a Contractual Disclosure Facility. Legal support is essential from day one.

What’s the risk of responding informally to a regulator’s query?

Unreviewed responses may become admissions. Even informal replies can limit your defence or create evidence against you.

What’s a Deferred Prosecution Agreement (DPA)?

It’s a court-approved resolution where prosecution is suspended in exchange for cooperation, remediation, or payment. They are available in corporate matters and require structured negotiation.

How does legal privilege apply in internal investigations?

Legal advice privilege and litigation privilege can protect certain documents, but only when structured properly from the start. Mishandling this can make internal reports disclosable in court.

Commercial Legal Advisory

White Collar Crime Defence Support UK

We assist UK clients facing white collar crime allegations with legal structure and support across FCA, SFO, and HMRC matters.

Years Advising: 10+Years Advising
Typical First Response: 48hTypical First Response
& Cross-Border: UK+& Cross-Border

Book A Free Consultation Request A Fee Estimate

Senior adviser on every matter
Free initial position assessment
Fixed-scope fees agreed upfront

UK & Cross-Border Counsel

If you're reading this, there’s a problem. Someone's flagged your name — maybe it’s internal, maybe it’s regulatory, maybe it’s been whispered across a boardroom table or put in writing by HMRC, the FCA, or the SFO. No matter where it started, it’s already threatening your income, your company, and your future. These investigations don’t start with handcuffs. They begin with letters, interviews, audits, or requests for clarification. And if you respond without structure, you put yourself in a tighter bind than the accusation ever did. This is a consultation service. It's not courtroom drama. It's structured legal direction to help you contain the risk and take the lead before others dictate the outcome.

Legal advisory built for commercial decisions

We advise UK and international businesses on commercial contracts, business disputes, employment advisory and regulatory compliance, then set out the options and the risk attached to each.

Senior-led advisory: One accountable adviser on your matter from first assessment through to resolution.
Built for commercial pressure: Drafting, negotiation and escalation handled on one timeline, because delay costs leverage.
Clear risk and cost picture: Exposure, options and likely cost set out in plain language before you commit to a route.

See the full scope across our services, or book a call for a free legal position assessment.

Overview

Our Services

We advise senior executives, shareholders, regulated professionals, and private clients across the UK. Our services are designed to assess, contain, and support white collar matters from the moment an issue is raised. No speculation. Just structure. Each service below directly addresses the key exposures clients typically face during these matters.

How It Works

Allegation Mapping and Offence Identification

We review the nature and scope of the alleged conduct, identifying whether it falls under fraud, false accounting, bribery, tax evasion, market abuse, or corporate misconduct. We break down the relevant legislation

including the Fraud Act 2006, Bribery Act 2010, and Proceeds of Crime Act 2002

to clarify your position and responsibilities.

Our Approach

Communication Strategy and Regulatory Response Handling

Whether you’ve received an FCA notice, a COP9 letter from HMRC, or a voluntary interview invitation, we prepare or review every word of your written or spoken reply. We flag what can and cannot be disclosed, reducing the risk of legal missteps that create wider exposure down the line.

What To Expect

Internal Investigation Setup and Oversight

If the issue originated internally or involves other departments, we help set up and guide internal investigations. We provide support on legal privilege, interview boundaries, data collection, and how to present your findings without creating further liability. This is essential when preparing for dual-track proceedings (regulatory and civil).

Working With Us

Risk Analysis for Directors and Senior Officers

We evaluate duties under the Companies Act 2006, Corporate Criminal Offences regime, and any potential for personal prosecution. This includes assessing knowledge, failure to prevent, breach of fiduciary duty, and whether your indemnity cover or D&O insurance applies.

Scope & Detail

Anti-Bribery, AML, and Financial Controls Advisory

Where risk involves bribery, money laundering, or client asset mismanagement, we examine whether your current controls are fit for purpose and whether internal failures may impact your legal position. We structure remedial actions that may reduce penalties or improve negotiating power.

Overview

Parallel Proceedings Management (Civil, Criminal, Regulatory)

When investigations overlap, timing and communication must be carefully coordinated. We provide clear legal coordination for matters involving the FCA, SFO, HMRC, NCA, or foreign enforcement bodies to ensure no statement, filing, or hearing undermines another process.

How It Works

Settlement Structuring and Deferred Prosecution Guidance

Not every matter ends in prosecution. Many conclude with structured outcomes — civil settlements, Deferred Prosecution Agreements, administrative penalties, or no-action outcomes. We help you position yourself for these options, working with financial investigators, forensic accountants, and regulators to achieve a contained resolution.

Our Approach

Pre-Interview Preparation and Statement Review

Whether under caution, voluntary, or compelled, interviews carry legal weight. We guide you through preparation, disclosure rights, questioning techniques, and how to respond without triggering secondary liability. One misworded answer can cost you the upper hand — we make sure you don’t hand it over.

Proven Track Record

Why Choose Us

We’ve advised clients facing FCA enforcement, SFO investigations, and HMRC fraud proceedings. We build communication strategies that protect your legal standing without inflaming the matter.

We provide direct legal input

not third-hand summaries

to regulated professionals, board-level officers, and legal teams.

We respond rapidly and structure each phase around statutory and procedural exposure.

We work with forensic accountants, investigators, and foreign counsel when required.

We support clients under pressure — helping contain regulatory escalation and reputational risk.

Take Control Before the Accusation Controls You

Once your name is in a file, silence is rarely a strength. A single wrong move can change the direction of an entire investigation. We help you get structured, clear, and protected — starting now.

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Got Questions?

Frequently Asked Questions

The questions clients ask most often before instructing us on this matter.

Services

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How we work: Pearl Lemon Legal is a commercial legal consultancy. We scope your position, advise on strategy, commercial risk and documentation, and where a matter needs court representation or regulated advice we introduce and manage a suitable regulated firm alongside you. Nothing on this page is regulated legal advice on your specific circumstances.