Financial Crime & Regulatory
Cash & Asset Seizure
If you feel your assets have been seized incorrectly, or are concerned about a criminal investigation, call us as soon as possible and our financial crime specialists will offer detailed guidance and support your defence.
Law enforcement in the UK has the legal ability to seize your cash and assets if there is a belief that those assets have been gained by, or are associated with, an illegal act or criminal activity.
In some cases, law enforcement may act quickly and with little evidence, only continuing with investigations once the assets have been seized. This may, of course, lead to some assets and property being seized wrongly and without sufficient evidence.
Seizure of cash and assets is not only a financial problem but can signal the start of a potentially worrisome and stressful criminal investigation.
Our Crime team have been ranked in the Chambers & Partners 2024 legal directory. The team was described as “extremely strong in terms of criminal defence and particularly protest cases” and were praised for their “dedication to clients”.
“Hodge Jones & Allen are possibly the best firm of criminal solicitors conducting publicly funded work, and also offer an excellent service to privately funded clients. They have a large team that has continually prospered through recruiting excellent trainees and investing in people.” – Legal 500, 2024
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What is forfeiture of assets?
With forfeiture of assets, you may be required to permanently give up your seized property, cash and assets to the court. This could happen if the court is not convinced that your property is not associated with illegal activity or there is not enough evidence to prove otherwise.
We’re on hand to represent you and secure the safe return of your goods, whether they be precious gems, jewellery, artworks or money.
If your assets have been seized, or you are facing a forfeiture of assets you believe to be unjust, our expert cash and asset seizure specialists are available to protect your property.
"EXCELLENT SERVICE AND ADVICE FROM START TO FINISH, A GREAT HELP AND RELIEF FOR WHEN I NEEDED IT MOST."
Why choose Hodge Jones & Allen?
It is so very important that you seek representation from lawyers that are not only familiar with asset seizure, but also have vast experience of defending criminal proceedings. Our financial crime team are experienced in both.
At every stage your lawyer will need to consider how your response to these proceedings may impact any criminal investigation. Often, law enforcement agencies will seek your cooperation to obtain disclosure of your documents and records.
Whether you’re an individual or a business, we can move quickly to secure your property’s future and defend against any application to seize your assets.
This is backed up by vast experience in defending these types of applications and orders. Our criminal defence experience means that at all times we are focused on the wider picture and ensuring your position is properly protected.
"THEY'RE EXCELLENT: THEY ARE ABLE TO ACCOMMODATE EVERY LEVEL OF CASE FROM THE MOST COMPLICATED TO THE SIMPLEST, THEY'VE GOT THE RESOURCES AND DEPLOY THEM WELL, AND THEY'RE VERY PRODUCTIVE." - Chambers UK and Partners 2019
Featured cases
Suspected Criminal Property
Partners Ruth Harris and Kiran Mehta have previously advised individuals caught up in Operation Rize, which was one of the largest investigations of its kind by the Metropolitan Police in connection with suspected criminal property stored in safety deposit boxes. Many of these cases concerned precisely the above type of considerations relating to criminal investigations into the individuals connected to the safety deposit boxes.
Student accused of money laundering
We advised a Chinese student accused of money laundering. Cash in out of tender £50 notes was seized when he attended the Bank of England to transfer the equivalent funds to his bank account. We successfully defended the cash seizure proceedings. The defence involved consideration of issues relating to currency controls in China and instruction of a Chinese expert. The evidence gathered convinced police that the millions of pounds used to purchase property in the UK from a Chinese source was not the proceeds of crime and no further action was taken.
Featured Cases
