Overview
On July 5, 2023 Law360 UK quoted white-collar defense partner, Zoe Osborne in an article titled, “Who Needs A Lawyer In Charge? Not The SFO." The article discusses the appointment of a former London police officer as the next head of the UK Serious Fraud Office (SFO). The SFO investigates and prosecutes cases, and has historically always put a lawyer in charge of the organization, this is the first non-lawyer to hold the post.
Zoe, who has represented many defendants in SFO cases, said: "Ephgrave's appointment is a recognition that the agency's problems have stemmed from errors during its investigations rather than the subsequent prosecution. Where the SFO appears to have fallen down most in the past has been during the investigation phase and its failure to disclose evidence and pursue relevant lines of inquiry. His appointment appears to be a nod of acknowledgment to where they have been falling down and the need to plug that gap."
Read the article at Law360 UK (subscription may be required).
