James Fletcher appeared for the National Crime Agency in NCA v Tonino Persico and Osmaston Business Park Limited [2021] EWHC 3476 (QB). Judgment was handed down on 21 December 2021.
The NCA was successful in its application to enforce an unpaid tax judgment against Tonino Persico (raised by the NCA as it suspected he had generated income through unlawful conduct) by obtaining final charging orders over land estimated to be worth £1.1 million.
The Court found that the land was held on trust by Osmaston Business Park Limited for Persico and that the business had concealed Mr Persico’s beneficial interest. The NCA press release can be viewed in full here.
James Fletcher practises in both civil and criminal law. He is a specialist in Asset Recovery and Proceeds of Crime work. He has significant expertise in dealing with Account Freezing and Forfeiture applications. He is instructed on behalf of businesses, by individual members of the public and by Government departments. This year he has acted for both the HMRC and the NCA in their first contested applications for Account Forfeiture Orders, assisted a client to obtain the return of sums frozen pursuant to an Account Freezing Order and provided advice to a foreign national on Unexplained Wealth Orders.
James has been featured in Chambers and Partners in the field of Proceeds of Crime and Asset Forfeiture work (all circuits) since 2014 and has been “Top Ranked” since 2016. He is ranked as a Tier 1 leading individual in The Legal 500 for POCA and Asset Forfeiture (London Bar).
