Nikita McNeill

Business Crime & Financial Services

Nikita is skilled at representing both individuals and businesses in complex and high-value fraud matters, as well as other white collar work. She has particular experience in prosecutions by, or on behalf of, HMRC.

Before she came to the Bar, Nikita worked as a credit analyst for a worldwide blue chip company and was an adjudicator for the Financial Ombudsman Service, investigating and deciding upon complaints made against financial institutions. She has utilised this unique experience to advise upon the application of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 to proposed business structures.

Notable Cases:

HMRC v Divyesh Karsan & Ors

 Nikita was a led junior in a lengthy and complex MTIC fraud. The prosecution followed a large scale HMRC investigation, including covert surveillance and concealed cameras installed within the organisation’s offices. HMRC estimated that over £85 million in profits was laundered within the UK and transferred abroad, and that the total loss to the revenue as over £34 million. Nikita, led by Mark Graffius, defended the director of Golden Harvest, a wholesale alcohol supplier who was alleged to have acted as a “buffer company”.

HMRC v Italian Wine Company (Central Criminal Court)

Nikita appeared as a led Junior in the defence of the Financial Controller of IWC. A joint investigation by the British and Italian authorities culminated in a 2 month trial at the Central Criminal Court. Over a 5 year period from 2008-2013 the company manipulated the Excise Movement and Control to smuggle wine from Italy. The total value of the evaded VAT, Excise Duty and Corporation Tax was estimated as over £46.5 million.