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23 Mar 2022

If you’re currently facing an SFO investigation, you might be panicking about your next steps. You might have never faced one of these before or were not even aware of their existence until recently, but that doesn’t mean you still can’t get organised and respond in a timely manner. Below, our fraud solicitor will tell you everything you need to know. If you’re still confused or have questions, don’t be afraid to reach out to us!

Here at ABV Solicitors, we work fast to get you the best possible outcome. We understand that as business owners, disruption can cause losses and problems within your company, so our skilful experience and rapid timing will have to minimise that.

What is an SFO investigation?

The Serious Fraud Office, referred to as the SFO in this article, investigates matters that pose risks or losses to financial and commercial interests. Our fraud solicitor is well educated on this prosecuting authority and pays great attention to detail that may give you the best possible outcome during the investigation. The SFO is commonly known for investigating offences such as corruption, bribery and fraud. The consequences from these investigations are quite severe, so our fraud solicitor is prepared to offer advice at every stage of the investigation and assist where needed.

What is the process of an SFO investigation?

Before the SFO has been notified or is involved with your company, it is always best to act on your suspicions or reports made by those within the company, whether that be external or internal. If an internal investigation is made and you can see that there has been some wrongdoing, you can report the findings to the SFO yourself; the SFO is sometimes likely to be more understanding if this is the case. Getting legal help from our solicitors will keep you informed on the investigation and can provide you with any advice that may be useful. It is important to know that self-reporting does not mean that prosecution will not happen; however, if the SFO believes you are self-reporting and making changes to fix the wrongdoings or problems found, it may be possible that this will work in your favour during the investigation.

In the event that you’re not able to perform an internal investigation, the SFO moves fast due to their ability to retain warrants and request interviews before you’re made aware. There will be interviews and raids to check documents and witnesses and gain reports from anyone involved. Although this can sound intimidating, our solicitors know how to open a dialogue with the SFO and challenge any evidence or reports that are not correct or fall short legally. With this legal authority, aiming for the most favourable outcome is the most secure way to move forward.

How can we help?

As mentioned above, our fraud solicitors have experience with this kind of activity. We can support you through every stage of the investigation, including interviews, restraint orders and extradition. Speaking to one of our solicitors as soon as possible will get you the most favourable outcome.