Our business crime team advises individuals who are subject to extradition requests, overseas Production Orders, Interpol red notices, European Arrest Warrants, European Investigation Orders and all other aspects of international criminal law.
As law enforcement agencies around the world engage in greater co-operation with their international partners, criminal offences are sometimes prosecuted in countries that have little connection to the place where the offences are alleged to have occurred. Individuals may therefore find themselves the subject of extradition requests, Interpol red notices, European investigation orders or other requests for mutual legal assistance (MLA).
The way in which a person or business responds to a request from a foreign jurisdiction can have profound consequences. Knowing your rights and understanding the options from the beginning is essential to achieve the best results. Our lawyers have an outstanding international reputation and an extensive network of trusted professionals in other jurisdictions who can advise on issues arising in the requesting state.
A person can be liable for extradition if they are accused, or convicted of a crime in a foreign country. Even where a country does not have an extradition arrangement with the UK, it is possible for special arrangements to be made.
We are experienced in defending extradition requests made by countries that fall under the European Arrest Warrant and Category 2 States such as the US that have bilateral extradition treaties with the UK.
When an extradition request is made we advise on the technical statutory and human rights challenges available. We support our clients at every stage of the process untangling any complications that arise. We can also call upon the firm's wider expertise in areas such as Immigration, Family and Media law. This enables us to provide a unique offering in delivering solutions to clients facing the most complex cross-border legal problems.
Some of our extradition work is one part of our wider remit when acting for individuals in cross-border criminal investigations and involves coordinating a team of international lawyers. We are also called upon by our international network to provide expert advice for individuals facing extradition to the UK in particular for charges of bribery, corruption, fraud and money laundering. Those prosecutions are often being taken by the SFO or FCA.
Alongside defending substantive extradition proceedings we have the skill and expertise to represent clients seeking to avoid or challenging the issue of Interpol Red Notices. Such notices often foreshadow the issue of an extradition request (and may remain in place after the successful defence of an extradition request) and inevitably restrict an individual's ability to travel freely.
