Peter Finnigan QC

Practice: Fraud and Crime

Peter Finnigan QC is admired as a "tenacious advocate" who takes an "inclusive, team based" approach to his work. - Chambers UK 2012

Summary

Peter specialises in serious fraud cases and in particular those involving multi-jurisdictional issues.  He also specialises in asset restraint and confiscation.

He is currently instructed by the SFO in its enquiry into contravention of international legal sanctions imposed by the United Nations and implemented by the United Kingdom as part of the Oil For Food Programme.  He has been involved in the recent key prosecutions of Innospec  Limited and Mabey and Johnson Limited as well as those of individual directors David Mabey and Charles Forsyth which also featured  an ultra vires argument taken to the Supreme Court. He has considerable recent experience of plea agreements  and SOCPA arrangements  in cases of serious and complex fraud.

He has advised and appeared in cases involving concurrent proceedings abroad particularly those involving the US Government authorities (DOJ, SEC and OFAC).

He has been concerned, both prosecuting and defending, in many of the largest revenue fraud cases and in particular those concerning carousel fraud. He has recently advised upon and overseen substantial cases involving a number of ‘linked’ disclosure issues.

Reviews

‘Peter Finnigan QC - recognised specialist in complex confiscation matters, instructed by the SFO in the Oil for Food investigation. ’ – Chambers UK (2010) - Fraud

Peter Finnigan "who is acting in the Iraqi 'Oil for food' programme investigation" - Legal 500 (2010) - Fraud

Recommended as a Leading Silk in Fraud - Chambers UK (2010)

‘Peter Finnigan is "a particularly fine lawyer" whose practice covers commercial and professional crime, City fraud, revenue offences and VAT frauds. He is standing counsel to HMCR and has been instructed by the SFO and the Fraud Investigation Group of the CPS.’ – Chambers UK (2009)

‘Peter Finnigan QC is a Leader at the Bar in Crime (Fraud)’ – Chambers UK (2009)

‘Peter Finnigan QC is very much the man who knows how to nail the mendacious witness’ – Chambers UK (2008)

Career Details

Having advised and acted in such high profile cases as the Iraqi Supergun case, Peter was appointed Standing Counsel to HMRC in 1996. His experience of substantial complex commercial fraud goes back to the ‘Blue Arrow’ case in which he appeared for one of the defendant companies. Since then he has both prosecuted and represented many professional defendants in cases concerning allegations of VAT and excise fraud, insider dealing and money laundering.  

He has prosecuted cases for the SFO for a number of years, most recently, ‘sanctions-busting’ cases involving corporate defendants and individual directors.

 He has additionally prosecuted and defended in a number of serious criminal cases including murder, manslaughter, kidnap, shootings, sexual crime and large scale smuggling and distribution.

Appointments

Additional Information