Investigations
Receiving clear specialist advice at the outset of an investigation can make a huge difference to its outcome. Our lawyers know that and we regularly represent clients in complex, novel and demanding investigations which often involve the interplay between a number of regulators, disciplinary bodies and other government agencies.
Whether you are seeking pre-emptive advice or a response to enforcement action, our experience will allow us to advise and reassure you at even the most stressful of times.
Whether to engage in an investigation or to exercise a right of silence is often a crucial question with which many clients struggle.
Compliance
Getting it right first time is so much better than realising too late that you have failed to comply with regulatory legislation. Rather than simply providing a reactive service in the event of an investigation, our team now commonly advises many clients from the conception of an idea to its launch as a product or service. Whether you are developing a novel food, an alternative to smoking or simply trying to fathom out how to advertise your product without breaching advertising codes or consumer protection legislation, our team will be able to provide you with practical informed and timely advice
We can help with:
- Compliance advice in relation to products and services;
- 24 hour access;
- Advising on arrest;
- Attendance at police stations;
- Interviews under caution or PACE interviews;
- Responding to dawn raids or searches – home or business;
- Advising on the legality of warrants and production orders including judicial review;
- Advising on legal professional privilege;
- Representation at the magistrates' court and crown courts;
- Preparation of cases for trial including:
- Review of evidence and unused material;
- Advice on the criminal and regulatory process;
- Advice on abuse of process and other legal arguments;
- Advice on expert witnesses requirements;
- Advice on confiscation proceedings;
- Advice on appeal
Our Services
- Trading Standards
- Consumer Protection
- Advertising and Marketing
- GDPR & Data Protection
- Product Liability
- Consumer Credit Regulation
- Food Safety Regulation & Compliance
- Vehicle Regulation
Our experience: current and recent cases
- Representing a national high street retailer in relation to all investigations by Trading Standards, including national product recalls, labelling, product descriptions, fabric content, food labelling and underage sales
- Advising major high street banks and finance houses on compliance with the consumer credit directive (including credit and charge cards, personal loans, bridging loans, hire purchase, conditional sale and motor loans)
- Advising a number of companies on their responses to investigations by Which? and BBC Watchdog into allegations of poor customer service, product quality; and alleged misleading and aggressive sales practices
- Reviewing a VOSA audit of a large logistics operation following a full-scale investigation into tachograph offences, including representation and mitigation at court
- Advising a multi-national brewing company on the development of its product range
- Representing a number of retailers in relation to food safety investigations arising from the supply of products containing allergens including at inquests and engagement with the media
- Advising an importer of consumer products following an investigation into alleged fraud and weights and measures allegations and securing the acquittal of its principal director
- Advising a multi-national retailer on plain packaging, advertising and the sale of tobacco products
- Representing numerous retailers following the sales of knives and other age restricted products to children during test purchase exercises
