Simon Gurney and Graham Rishton Successfully Defend Former Solicitor in Fraudulent Trading Trial

Instructed by John Greenwood and Sian Darlington of Stephensons Solicitors, Simon Gurney and Graham Rishton successfully represented a former solicitor accused of fraudulent trading. 

Their client, and two partners in the solicitors’ firm in which she was then employed, were alleged to have facilitated a fraud that secured £5million from the alleged victims. The allegation related to the preparation and drafting of trust products which were misrepresented to the public as guaranteeing the protection of their assets from care home fees. The offending was alleged to have occurred between 2013 and 2016. 

After 9 weeks of Prosecution evidence at Leeds Crown Court, Simon and Graham successfully argued that there was no case to answer. The trial judge duly directed the jury to return a not guilty verdict. The trial continues against three remaining defendants.

Simon is recognised as a Leading Junior in the Legal 500 (Tier 1) in Business and Regulatory Crime and in Chambers & Partners (Band 1) in Financial Crime. Graham was a director in a Legal 500 (Tier 1) Manchester firm which specialised in financial crime before joining chambers in early 2022.