Britain is currently an excessively regulated society and corporate breach of regulatory provisions that are often little known to private businessmen, are being pursued with more and more vigour by local authorities or those empowered with enforcement.  The regulations range from those governing environmental issues to fire regulations, from town planning issues to European fishery quotas, to name but a few.

In looking after our private business clients’ interests, not only in the acquisition of businesses, the purchase and sale of commercial property and the purchase of sale and shares, we also provide a service to those of our Clients who, through either ignorance of the relevant regulations governing the specific undertakings, or through the negligence of subordinates, may fall fowl of the myriad of regulations that are interwoven throughout day to day business operations. 

With this in mind and with a view to providing a complete commercial service for our business Clients, we now offer expert, sensible and commercial advice and active defence representation against and in connection with, regulatory compliance and breach of prevailing commercial legislation.  Our services range from the point of initial investigation by the Authority concerned all the way through to appearance at Court in order to defend any prosecution for alleged breaches of pertinent subsidiary legislation. 

Our expertise extends to considerable experience in both commercial and property matters, combined with criminal litigation and this unique combination provides an effective and dedicated service for commercial and private Clients who find themselves in difficulty in this area of business practise. 

The penalties for regulatory breach are surprisingly severe.  It is clear that local authorities and the various parastatal agencies responsible for enforcement of subsidiary legislation are becoming more proactive in enforcement of regulatory provisions.

A successful prosecution for regulatory breach for example may turn out to be a very expensive experience.  The Magistrates’ Court is empowered to enforce heavy fines for offences under various regulatory enactments.  The knock on effect of a conviction under any subsidiary legislation is that there is of course adverse publicity, increased insurance premiums and of course, the payment of prohibitively expensive fines by the client, resulting in damage to their business interests and possibly to their private estate interests. 

The provision of our corporate regulatory protection service has thus far been a great success and of great benefit to our Clients.  We regularly deal with matters concerning the following legislation:

Environmental Protection Act 1990

Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety Regulations) Order 2005

Road Traffic Act 1988

In addition to the defence work outlined above we also represent French and UK fishermen alleged to be in breach of one or more of the EU regulations governing the conduct and practice of fishing at sea.

In such cases of breach – which can include illegal net sizes, exceeding quotas, a failure to keep an accurate log book – the prosecuting body, the Marine Fisheries Agency (MFA), will frequently detain vessels and seize a catch until the case has been heard and dealt with by the local Magistrates Court.  For the foreign fishermen in particular it is crucial that such matters are dealt with expediently so that they can return to sea and earn a living.

We offer a comprehensive service to our Clients in this regard, from the point of initial investigation and interview by the MFA through to representation at Court in order to defend any prosecution.  We can provide our Clients with full French translation services as well as competent and experienced advocacy.