Serious Fraud Office Solicitor: What to Do If You Are Facing an SFO Investigation

Being contacted by the Serious Fraud Office can be alarming for any individual, director or business. The SFO deals with serious and complex allegations, often involving large volumes of documents, financial evidence, interviews, digital material and reputational risk. If you have received correspondence, a notice, a request for information or an invitation to attend an interview, it is important to take legal advice before responding.

A specialist Serious Fraud Office solicitor can help you understand your position, protect your rights and respond in a way that is careful, accurate and strategic from the outset.

What is the Serious Fraud Office?

The Serious Fraud Office, often shortened to SFO, investigates and prosecutes serious or complex fraud, bribery and corruption. Its cases may involve companies, directors, senior employees, professional advisers, investors, public sector contracts, international transactions or allegations of dishonesty across multiple jurisdictions.

Unlike some lower-level fraud investigations, SFO matters can be highly document-heavy and may develop over a long period. The early stages are therefore important. What is said, disclosed or overlooked at the beginning can shape the direction of the case.

Why early legal advice matters

If you are approached by the SFO, it may be tempting to respond quickly to show cooperation. Cooperation can be important, but it should not come at the expense of understanding your legal position. You need to know whether you are being treated as a suspect, witness, company representative or third party. You also need to understand whether information is being requested voluntarily or under a compulsory power.

Early legal advice can help you avoid accidental admissions, incomplete responses, privilege issues, document handling mistakes and unnecessary exposure for you or your business. 

What is a Section 2 notice?

One of the SFO’s most significant investigation tools is the power to compel people or organisations to provide information, answer questions or produce documents. These notices are serious and should not be ignored.

If you receive a notice, you should take advice on what is required, the deadline for compliance, whether any material may be legally privileged, and how the response should be prepared. A solicitor can help you engage with the SFO while ensuring that your rights and obligations are properly understood.

Interviews and questioning

An SFO investigation may involve interviews with suspects, witnesses, employees or company representatives. The format and legal position can vary, so preparation is essential. Before any interview, you should understand the allegations, the purpose of the interview, your rights, the risks of answering questions without advice and the possible consequences of refusing or failing to comply where a compulsory power is being used.

A solicitor can help you prepare, attend with you where appropriate and ensure that the interview is dealt with fairly and professionally.

Businesses facing an SFO investigation

For businesses, an SFO investigation can create immediate operational and reputational pressure. There may be document preservation issues, employee concerns, media interest, board-level decisions, insurance notifications and parallel regulatory risks. A business may also need to consider whether internal investigations are required and how to manage communications with staff, auditors, regulators or commercial partners.

The right legal strategy should protect the company while also considering the position of directors, employees and other individuals who may have separate interests.

How Adkirk Law can help

Adkirk Law is a specialist law firm advising on serious fraud, regulatory law and criminal investigations. We help clients understand the nature of the investigation, respond to information requests, prepare for interviews and manage the legal risks that can arise in complex fraud matters.

If you need advice from a Serious Fraud Office solicitor, contact Adkirk Law on 0330 111 9728 to discuss your position in confidence.