Fraser Fisher was successfully defended by a team of lawyers from the DWF's Financial Services Regulatory Investigations and Corporate Crime teams. The team led by Richard Burger (Partner), Kelly Wilson (Senior Associate) and Amanda Lea (Associate), with support from Euros Jones (partner), Imogen Makin (Legal Director) and Aaron Osborn (Senior Associate) were able to deliver justice for the client.
Commenting on behalf of Fraser Fisher, Richard Burger, Partner at DWF, said:
"Our client is profoundly grateful for the jury's unanimous verdict of not guilty on all counts in this case, and the support of his legal team throughout the 14 week trial and the years before it, from the first interview through to commencement of these proceedings. Our client would like to express his thanks to Richard Lissack QC and Leonora Sagan of Fountain Court, and Kelly Wilson and Amanda Lea of DWF.
"We are pleased with the outcome of this case. Our client always maintained his innocence and it was finally proved in court. Kelly Wilson led a team of over 15 lawyers from across the business and worked with colleagues from our Connected Services, Forensic and Mindcrest teams to come together as part of our One Team ethos to achieve this fantastic outcome.
"Our client was as surprised at the accounting irregularities as the other board members and members of the audit committee. After the nature and size of the accounting problems became evident to the Board in November 2016, our client remained in post to investigate, resolve the irregularities and shape the remediation scheme.
"It came as a considerable shock to be notified, on his 50th birthday, that he would be prosecuted with knowingly or recklessly misleading the stock market, and if convicted, faced a custodial sentence.
"After an exhaustive investigation and prosecution of our client, and which on the evidence the court heard had taken a terrible toll on our client and had a devastating effect on all aspects of his life, he has been completely exonerated by the jury; our client can now start to rebuild his life."
Further information on the case can be found here: https://www.fca.org.uk/news/press-releases/redcentric-former-cfo-finance-director-guilty-misleading-investors