25 Bedford Row Barristers Chambers | Richard Furlong

Practice

Before coming to the bar Richard Furlong worked as an investment analyst of banks and financial services companies for Credit Lyonnais Securities, hence his expertise in areas of law involving a financial element. His specialist practice encompasses both criminal and civil proceedings.

Richard’s experience in serious fraud matters includes VAT and diversion fraud, investment and commercial fraud of all types. He regularly represents professionals including accountants, financial advisers as well as senior business people. He is a highly regarded for his expertise in high value confiscation, asset recovery and restraint proceedings.

Richard Furlong is associated with the following areas of expertise:

Crime
Fraud & Financial Litigation
International Criminal Law
Regulatory and Disciplinary
Restraint, Confiscation & Asset Recovery

Richard Furlong is available for public access cases.

Directories

Recommended as a leader in criminal fraud in Chambers and Partners 2013, and the Legal 500.

“an invaluable team member”
“sound advice and good judgement.”
"sound advice with a practical approach and impressive grasp of complex financial issues"
"his past experience as an investment analyst stands him in good stead in the fraud arena"
"He's very strong internationally, is very clever and is one of those barristers who doesn't seem to sleep".
"very knowledgeable and impressive".
"A man very much with his wits about him".
“A succinct advocate who bring his previous experience to the table”.

Cases

Fraud and Financial Regulation

R v SM & others - allegation involving a network of businesses based in the Ealing area said to be trading in counterfeit goods and involved in mortgage fraud .
R v RW - allegation involving a Spanish based property developer of using counterfeit documents and identities on a substantial scale, money laundering and benefit fraud.
R v PH - leading junior in allegation involving a former solicitor said to have defrauded a number of banks of several million pounds. Case fixed for May 2013. Large number of transactions, and client alleged to have been the central figure in fraud.
R v RF & others - representing private investigator said to be involved in obtaining information unlawfully relating to competing bids for Olympic Stadium.
R v MA & others – Alleged conspiracy to defraud investors and HMRC in relation to self-invested personal pensions. High profile and technically complex allegations involving purported loss of up to £14m. Ongoing VHCC.
R v A & others – Alleged conspiracy to launder the proceeds of mortgage fraud. Ongoing
R v JW - Leading junior in VHCC alleging the laundering of the proceeds of a multi-million pound bank theft. Client acquitted.
R v R – Individual charged with money laundering conspiracy related to box breaking mobile phones on a substantial scale
R v B - MTIC fraud with VAT loss in excess of £90 million, involving the importation of huge quantities of mobile phones and related equipment.
R v Dr S & Others - Allegation involving laundering the proceeds of a multi million pound mortgage fraud. Coterminous civil proceedings and restraint order.
R v G & Others - Allegation of laundering the proceeds of a substantial breach of copyright case
R v CF - Large scale boiler room fraud and laundering it proceeds. Client alleged to be mail drop and bank account manager.
R v AMP - Instructed on behalf of the only individual European national to be charged with corruption in relation to the BAE Systems case.
R v MJ - International boiler room fraud. Client alleged to be a salesman and organise.
In re M Group - Advising independent financial advisory group in relation to production order sought by HMRC of information concerning related company alleged to have been involved in tax fraud.
R v KW & others – Leading junior for first defendant in substantial trial of multiple identity frauds on banks and finance companies.
R v NF & others – Conspiracy to defraud brought by the SFO arising out of the collapse of the Imperial Consolidated Group, a £250 million investment company based in Lincolnshire which raised funds from thousands of investors worldwide. VHCC. Defendant acquitted.
R v D & others - Conspiracy to distribute substantial quantities of counterfeit currency.
R v M & others - Leading junior in multi-million pound identity fraud.
R v H & another - High profile £2m+ benefit fraud involving two pensioners. Leading junior.
Media Protection Services v P & A - Defending committee members of working men's club accused of copyright offence of unlawfully showing football matches.

Proceeds of Crime Act

R v RB & others – Leading junior counsel in substantial confiscation of the proceeds of drug trafficking. Ongoing
R v RH & others - Leading junior counsel in complex confiscation of the proceeds of a cigarette tax evasion fraud.
R v L & another - Leading junior counsel in complex confiscation of proceeds of copyright offences.
R v JH & another - Leading junior counsel in complex confiscation of proceeds of substantial benefit fraud.

International Criminal Law

MP c/. B & others – English nationals alleged to have been involved in inappropriate conduct in French ski resort. Extremely high profile case
MP c/. B – Instructed by English national based overseas appearing before Tribunal de Grande Instance in Bordeaux. Allegedly involved in series of massive importations between Spain and UK via France.
MP c/. D – Instructed by English national based overseas appearing before Tribunal de Grande Instance in Marseilles. Allegedly involved in substantial cocaine importation.
In re A - Advising trustees of offshore trust in relation to whether creation of the trust out of the assets of a company which were transferred to St Kitts & Nevis breached the Larceny Act 1916 as applied in that jurisdiction.

Civil Cases

M v M – Representing individuals pursuing former business partner for fraud.
In re R – Representing pensions trustees in proceedings brought by The Pensions Regulator for suspension following warning notice.
FSA v A & H Ltd – Instructed by independent financial adviser to defend regulatory action brought by FSA for misconduct.
SRA v S – Instructed to defend solicitor in proceedings in the SRT for serious professional misconduct.
B v A Ltd – Instructed with a view to issuing proceedings against A Ltd and directors relating to substantial investment fraud.
B v HMRC – Civil proceedings by man acquitted of MTIC fraud in relation to (a) opposing an application by the receiver for a retrospective reinstatement of the receivership order to insert a charging clause in the order, and (b) proceedings under section 89 of the Criminal Justice Act 1988 for compensation for serious default on the part of HMRC in prosecuting him on the back of a wholly unreliable informer.
Federal Republic of Nigeria v F & others – Defending freezing injunction proceedings against associate of former Governor of Bayelsa State, Nigeria.
FRN v D & others – Defending multifaceted litigation in Admin Court and Chancery Division arising out of the allegedly corrupt activities of the former Governor of Plateau State, Nigeria.

Articles & Publications

Co-author with Paul Hynes & Nathaniel Rudolf of International Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing – a UK Perspective, published by Sweet & Maxwell.

Co-author with Paul Hynes QC & Nathaniel Rudolf of Bribery Act materials for (subscription based) LexisPSL website. Link here: https://www.lexisnexis.com/uk/lexispsl/signOn.faces

Richard Furlong has contributed to an online CPD podcast on The Criminal Procedure Rules 2010 with CPD provider CPDcast.com

Instructed in various private prosecutions brought under the Hunting Act 2004.

Adviser to Met Police's Property Forum Acting for Safer Transactions, a property industry counter-fraud group. Lectures regularly to criminal justice professionals and students.