James Fletcher, instructed by Attieh Fard at Fard and Co Solicitors, acted for an Iranian client in Account Freezing Proceedings under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002, successfully persuading West Yorkshire Police to withdraw four Account Freezing Orders which had frozen the balance of his client’s account, and contained the legitimate proceeds of a sale of property in Iran, transferred to the UK through money agents and thereafter third parties, whom the Police had initially suspected were unregistered Money Service Businesses.
James 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).
