News

May 2008

1. VHCC Panel - Edward Hayes appointed to the new VHCC Panel by the Legal Services Commission. Only 300 or so firms have been admitted to this new Panel to deal with the most serious and complex criminal litigation cases. As one of the first firms on the Serious Fraud Panel, which later became the Specialist Fraud Panel, Edward Hayes are recognised as being the very top tier of law firms dealing with serious fraud and complex crime. The Commission have now rebranded the Panel as the Very High Cost Criminal Cases Panel for obvious reasons. The top 100 or so cases have cost in the region of one hundred million pounds.

Over the years Edward Hayes have dealt with many of the major prosecutions. In fact there are only about 50 law firms in the country who have genuine experience of these matters although an additional 250 or so have been admitted to the new Panel on the basis of very limited experience of heavy duty crime cases. Barristers are still to agree terms. If you are facing a serious charge you should also check the track record and experience of your team.

2. Landmark ruling in Court of Appeal - R v Mote. Ashley Mote MEP was convicted on a number of counts of benefit fraud. The Court of Appeal quashed a major count in a landmark ruling that is already being referred to and has been widely reported. An application is currently pending to the House of Lords as Mr Mote continues to protest his innocence.

3. Christopher Hayes appears at Court of First Instance in Luxembourg in a unique case relating to the immunity of MEPs and in an application to annul a decision of the European Parliament. The case raises issues relating to the Rule of Law and Sovereignty of Domestic/European Courts. The case has attracted enormous national and international interest and involves the first ever legal challenge to the European Parliament by an MEP.

4. Edward Hayes instructed in Hague Convention child abduction case.

5. Edward Hayes instructed in major tax prosecution relating to off shore funds - this is linked to the amnesty introduced by HMRC along with whistle blowing and the responsibility of professional accountants to lay clients.

6. Edward Hayes instructed in largest ever cyber bank fraud.

7. Dubai link with Bin Shabib & Associates firm www.bsa.ae. Edward Hayes have a strong association with Bin Shabib & Associates based in the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) www.difc.ae.

8. Website in Arabic - Edward Hayes regularly visit the UAE and formed part of the UK Trade Mission organised by the DTI and Law Society last year, meeting with key figures from the UAE, visiting the DIFC, Courts, British Embassy and Qatar.

9. Website in Polish - Anna Miziarz speaks fluent Polish and assists many in litigation, family and employment matters.

10. Family and children - victory for parents in crime and child care case

11. Edward Hayes Tax and Business - Charles Long heads up the Edward Hayes Tax and Business Regulatory Department based in Fleet Street.

12. Christopher Hayes cited as 'Legal Expert' in register of UK Experts.

13. Victory over Customs - Edward Hayes win historic landmark ruling before the Court of Appeal in a confiscation case. R v Hansford - this case commenced some five years ago and involved a multi-million pound alcohol warehouse diversion fraud. The case is now likely to proceed to the House of Lords.

14. Edward Hayes to speak on MTIC Fraud - lawyers from Edward Hayes are to speak at a leading conference on MTIC and the problems faced by traders dealing in commodities such as mobile phones and computer chips in light of the approach of Customs & Excise and particularly now following the landmark victory against Customs in the Livewire Telecom Limited case.

December 2007 / January 2008

1. Very High Cost Cases (VHCC) contract awarded to Edward Hayes. 100 cases are reported to cost £100 million a year!

2. The Legal Services Commission (LSC) has awarded contracts for complex fraud and legal cases to a select few firms across the country, based upon audit and experience.

3. Edward Hayes were one of the first firms to gain membership of the Serious Fraud Panel and have specialist knowledge of the issues arising in complex criminal and civil litigation.

4. We are pleased to be recognised as a leading law firm and one of very few nationwide with the skills for Serious Crime Cases.

18 September 2007

Legal 500 - Number One Firm in the South East
Edward Hayes voted number one crime firm in South East for the third year in succession by Legal 500.

1 June 2007

Christopher Hayes to speak on Carousel/MTIC Fraud to accountants.