Brian O’Neill KC

Business Crime & Financial Services

Brian is particularly sought after in ‘paper heavy’ and substantial multi handed cases where his analytical skills, attention to detail and strong advocacy are highly valued. He is regularly instructed by both leading defence solicitors and prosecution agencies in this sector including the CPS HQ’s Specialist Fraud Division and is on the Serious Fraud Office KC Panel.

He has advised UK and overseas companies in respect of their and their directors’ liabilities in on-going and potential proceedings in this and other jurisdictions. He has advised the Government of the Cayman Islands in relation to allegations of bribery and corruption in the course of a major inter-governmental investigation.

Cases

Mills, Scourfield & Others

Appearance: Prosecution

Following a 4 to 5 months’ trial at Southwark Crown Court David and Alison Mills, Michael Bancroft, Mark Dobson and Tony Cartwright were convicted of conspiracy to corrupt, fraudulent trading and conspiracy to launder criminal property which resulted in a loss to HBoS of £245 million and the substantial enrichment of Mills and his associates. Lynden Scourfield, the HBoS banker, had pleaded ‘guilty’ shortly before the trial commenced.

A number of enquiries into the HBoS scandal are ongoing.

The case was widely covered in the national press, click the links to read more: BBC | The Guardian | The Telegraph | The Sun

Pagliara, Price & Wright

Appearance: Prosecution

The defendants, two football agents and the former assistant manager of Barnsley FC were convicted of offences under the Bribery Act following a two months’ long trial at Southwark Crown Court.

The case stemmed from an extensive undercover investigation into alleged corruption in football by The Daily Telegraph, the most high-profile casualty of which was Sam Allardyce, the then England manager, who resigned his position.

The case was widely covered in the national press, click the links to read more here and here.

Following the trial Brian was instructed by The Football Association in respect of disciplinary proceedings against Price and Wright.

Frisby & Shakespeare

Appearance: Prosecution

The defendants were convicted of a number of counts of fraudulent trading following a 3 to 4 months’ trial. The allegations related to their operation of a number of companies which attracted £millions from private investors and equally substantial investments from various banks in a ‘land banking’ ‘Ponzi’ fraud.

Roberts

Appearance: Defence

Representation of a senior barrister accused of tax fraud and perjury. The case gave rise to a number of complex issues in the crossover area between criminal and chancery law.