Jonathan Fisher QC
Year of Call 1980 Silk 2003
Jonathan Fisher QC specialises in cases involving corporate defence (fraud, bribery, accounting mis-statements, cartels, financial sanctions, export controls), financial services (insider dealing, market manipulation), proceeds of crime (money laundering, confiscation, civil recovery), tax disputes (avoidance, evasion, investigations) and commercial litigation (investor cases, breach of trust, dishonesty, asset recovery, freezing orders and search orders, pharmacy / pharmaceutical cases).
The Legal 500 Directory 2012 and the UK Chambers and Partners Bar Guide 2013 name Jonathan Fisher as a leading barrister in the following fields - Fraud (Civil); Fraud (Criminal); Proceeds of Crime; Tax.
With extensive experience in civil and criminal cases, Jonathan Fisher accepts instructions in the High Court, First-tier Tribunal and Upper Tribunal, Crown Court and Appellate jurisdictions. Much of his work involves cross-border transactions and he has gained significant experience handling international mutual assistance issues. Jonathan is particularly familiar with cases involving offshore companies and trusts.
Jonathan Fisher accepts instructions directly from members of the public under the Public Access scheme.
Recent notable Court cases include:
- Wiese v UKBA ([2012] EWHC 2549 (Admin), cash forfeiture, money laundering)
- HMRC v Curran ([2012] UKFTT 517, interest relief, avoidance, setting aside settlement agreement)
- Christopher Lunn & Co v HMRC ([2011] EWHC 240 (Admin) multi-million pound alleged tax fraud)
- SEC v Manterfield ([2010] 1 WLR 172, hedge fund alleged investment fraud, cross-border freezing order)
- Operation Ghast (R v Samra, 2010, £125 million carousel fraud)
- Operation Euripus, (R v Castillo [2010] EWCA Crim 658, £250 million carousel fraud)
- Opportunity Unique Fund (2009, international asset restraint, alleged income tax fraud, mutual assistance)
- Thomas Wise (2009, MEP expenses fraud trial)
- Financial Investment Advisers ([2009] Lloyd’s Rep: FC 221, tax film scheme, PACE production order)
- ARA v Szepietowski ([2008] Lloyd's Rep FC 10, civil recovery, alleged tax and mortgage fraud, £30 million)
- Re E (2008, solicitor accused of failing to report money laundering offences, contested committal)
RECOMMENDATIONS
"… an extremely experienced leader who is very easy to work with and who is very used to working across the criminal and civil sphere. He has great experience of money laundering and sanctions cases” Chambers UK 2013
“… academically very bright and knows exactly what he's doing … he has extensive knowledge of white-collar crime, and is a savvy choice for any complex POCA work” Chambers UK 2013
“… an engaging, client-friendly barrister who brings great commercial acumen to his cases. An expert on tax-related fraud, he is a veteran of many cases concerning investigations by HMRC” Chambers UK 2013
" ... high-flying ..." Legal 500 2012
"… Sources praise him for his gravitas and his "very good, clear advice …” Chambers UK 2012
"… an experienced and active silk with "a diplomatic and thoughtful style …” Chambers UK 2012
“… has produced some stunning work over the past year … A highly intelligent silk … a favourite of London’s top law firms …” Chambers UK 2011
“… has great gravitas when appearing in high-value cases where the stakes are high. His combination of tactical nous and robust negotiation skills makes him a favourite silk …” Chambers UK 2011
“…revenue expert Jonathan Fisher QC is learned and astute …” Legal 500 2010
“… brilliant at money laundering and confiscation matters. He regularly appears in an advisory capacity in matters pertaining to financial sanctions …" Chambers UK 2010
“… extremely thoughtful and considered” in the run-up to court but “once in the heat of battle he tells it as it is and pulls no punches ….” Chambers UK 2009
CloseTax
Add to PortfolioJonathan Fisher advises and represents taxpayer clients (individuals and companies) in the UK and abroad in all types of cases involving tax disputes, investigations, disclosures and contentious hearings. He is a Chartered Tax Adviser, a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Taxation (CIOT), a Trusts and Estates Practitioner accredited by the Society of Trusts and Estates Practitioners (STEP) and a Board Member of Simon’s Taxes.
Advisory and Court Cases
Due to the highly confidential nature of this work, it is not possible to identify the clients in many of the advisory cases in which Jonathan Fisher has been instructed. Resolution of issues arising in these cases is often achieved without recourse to the Courts. Instructions to advise have been received from “magic circle” firms and top 4 accountancy firms, as well as other firms of solicitors and accountants (ranging from international firms to sole practitioners) seeking advice and/or representation in Jonathan Fisher’s areas of practice.
CloseFinance
Add to PortfolioProceeds of crime
Since the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 was enacted, Jonathan Fisher has become a leading practitioner in the new areas of law which it established. In July 2009 the House of Lords European Union Committee (Home Affairs Sub-Committee F) referred to his evidence in its report, Money Laundering and Financing of Terrorism, 19th report 2008-9. Jonathan Fisher’s experience in tax and property cases involving offshore companies and trusts compliments his work in this area.
Corporate crime
Jonathan Fisher represents clients in all types of corporate crime cases. He also advises clients on matters such as the response to an investigation where corporate crime is suspected. In 2010 he chaired the Special Project Group established by the Fraud Advisory Panel into Fraud Reporting and he has advised Government on corporate crime issues.
More recently, he was instructed to advise the House of Commons Treasury Select Committee in relation to its investigation into Barclays / LIBOR.
Areas of work arising in the context of corporate crime include accounting misstatements, bribery & corruption, cartels, confiscation, civil recovery, cybercrime, data protection, environmental offences, financial services offences, fraud, health & safety offences, international economic sanctions and money laundering.
CloseCommercial Litigation
Add to PortfolioJonathan Fisher is ranked in Legal 500 as a leading Silk in civil fraud cases, and he represents clients in disputes involving asset recovery, freezing injunctions and search orders. He appeared in the leading cases of SEC v Manterfield ([2010] 1 WLR 172) involving a cross-border freezing order and ARA v Szepietowski ([2008] Lloyd's Rep FC 10) where the Court of Appeal laid down the principles to be applied in a civil recovery action involving an interim receivership. In addition to his work in commercial fraud disputes, Jonathan is known for his expertise in civil and regulatory cases involving allegations of money laundering, corruption, accounting misstatements, tax and breach of trust, and more generally in commercial litigation cases where the conduct constitutes a criminal offence even though it is not the subject of criminal prosecution. He is particularly well placed in a commercial litigation case where there are disputed factual issues requiring extensive advocacy experience, and he is part of a small group of practitioners equally comfortable in the civil / commercial and criminal courts.
CloseFraud
Add to PortfolioJonathan Fisher is one of our expert barristers working in this area with extensive experience in both civil and criminal cases. Ranked as a leading barrister in Chambers UK and Legal 500 for civil fraud as well as criminal fraud, tax and proceeds of crime (including civil recovery) cases, he is a recognised practitioner in these areas, with a particular focus on investor fraud, financial markets fraud and tax fraud cases. He is an Honorary Steering Group Member of the London Fraud Forum, a member of the Commercial Fraud Lawyers Association, and between 2006 and 2010 he was a Trustee Director of the Fraud Advisory Panel He is a co-author of “The Law of Investor Protection” published by Sweet & Maxwell as well as many other publications on fraud, money laundering and recovering the proceeds of crime. Jonathan is particularly familiar with cases involving offshore companies and trusts, being an accredited “STEP” Trusts and Estates Practitioner as well as a Chartered Tax Adviser and a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Taxation.
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Add to PortfolioJonathan also has his own website where you can find out more about his practice. Please click here to find out more - www.jonathan-fisher.co.uk
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