LEXLAW Solicitors & Barristers
We successfully annulled a bankruptcy order against our client after HMRC failed to properly serve notice of a key hearing. Mr. Gaster proved this procedural error denied him the chance to present evidence of his ability to pay. The court’s judgment emphasized due process under Rule 10.23 of the Insolvency Rules 2016, exposing flaws in HMRC’s conduct and evidence on the adjournment notice.
In Purkiss v Kennedy, the High Court rejected a liquidator’s attempt to recover unpaid PAYE and NICs from Ethos Solutions Ltd’s failed tax avoidance scheme. The court found no fraudulent intent to evade HMRC under Insolvency Act 1986, Section 423. This case highlights HMRC’s challenges in tax recovery via insolvency law and the need to prove intent.
This article uses the case of Sandra Blower v GH Canfields LLP to illustrate how judges in England and Wales reach decisions in civil litigation. Mrs. Blower alleged that Canfields, a London law firm, gave her inadequate advice regarding a settlement during her husband’s bankruptcy proceedings, where he faced liabilities exceeding £2 million. During a mediation session, Mr. Blower and the firm’s solicitor negotiated a £1.5 million settlement. However, Mr. Blower later attempted to back out of this agreement. The judge ruled in favour of the law firm. The judgment demonstrates the importance of evidence and legal precedent in the English legal system, as well as the weight judges give to the conduct and arguments of the parties.
HMRC’s use of Account Freezing Orders has risen 170% over the past 3 years. An AFO allows HMRC to quickly freeze funds in accounts suspected of criminal activity for up to two years. The number of AFOs, easily obtained by HMRC, has surged from 125 in 2022 to 341 in 2024, with the value of frozen assets rising massively. AFOs pose catastrophic risks for innocent businesses caught up in HMRC’s net.
The High Court ordered Norman Freed to repay £918,590 after causing Just Recruit Group Ltd to make substantial payments to connected companies while insolvent, breaching his fiduciary duties under the Companies Act 2006.
Businesses in London, UK are being targeted by a debt collection invoice scam email claiming to be from Lexlaw Solicitors (lexlaw.co.uk). These emails are FAKE. Spot the red flags and avoid falling victim to this invoice scam.
We successfully represented a client in a significant cryptocurrency loan dispute. On 2 July 2024, the High Court handed down a judgment varying the valuation date for assessing damages in lieu of specific performance. Initially, the County Court had set the valuation date at the breach in 2019, which did not account for the significant increase in Ethereum’s value.
HMRC consented to the dismissal of a £0.5m winding-up petition against our client company, conceding their petition and agreeing to pay substantial costs. Our solicitor and counsel team successfully argued HMRC’s actions, including account freezing and misrepresentation, were an abuse of the proper process of the Companies Court. This case highlights the repercussions for all, including UK Government agencies, that engage in unjustified petitions.
A litigation funding report for the Legal Services Board evaluates UK litigation funding. It finds such funding can improve access to justice, facilitate consumer interest cases, and support a healthy legal market. However, it identifies the problems of highly limited, highly selective funding, potential cost tensions, and the need for robust AML controls.
An Account Freezing Order (AFO) is a UK court order that restricts access to funds in bank accounts suspected of involvement in criminal activity. Certain organisations such as the NCA, SFO or HMRC must show reasonable suspicion that the money is linked to criminal activity. They can apply for an AFO at a Magistrates’ Court. These orders, lasting up to two years, freeze the account, preventing any transactions without court approval. To protect their legal rights and assets, businesses and individuals facing an AFO can challenge or seek variation through legal representation.