We have in depth and longstanding specialist expertise in both Extradition and Mutual Legal Assistance. Our team includes Anand Doobay and Michael O'Kane, co-authors of the standard text on these areas "Jones & Doobay on Extradition and Mutual Assistance".
We are frequently called upon to give advice to corporate clients and senior executives upon the increasing risk of extradition to the US arising from the general trend towards criminalising regulatory matters.
We have dealt with numerous extradition requests from different countries including France, Belgium, USA, Russia and India. We have been instructed in ground breaking cases including the first request made by the UAE and two extradition cases which were stayed due to abuse of process, an extremely rare outcome.
The introduction of the European Arrest Warrant has led to increased extradition requests from EU Member States. Members of the team were involved, on behalf of the Law Society of England and Wales, in the drafting of the EU European Arrest Warrant Framework Decision and the Extradition Act 2003 which implemented the European Arrest Warrant Scheme in the UK.
There have also been an increasing number of extradition requests for white-collar offences made by the US in respect of activities which have taken place mainly in the UK. Extradition arrangements with the US have recently been changed to remove the requirement for the US to provide evidence. Understandably this has led those companies and individuals who conduct business in or with the US to become more concerned about the possibility of extradition requests being made for allegedly criminal conduct taking place mainly in the UK. Our team is recognised as being expert on the US / UK extradition arrangements and is often asked to speak on this area and to provide comments for the media.