Do you smell a rat? How to sniff out fraud in property development
Kate McMahon, who successfully prosecuted a businessman of 11 counts of fraud offences relating to a failed property redevelopment in Knightsbridge recently, explains the background to the case - and offers some tips on how to avoid getting caught up in dodgy dealings…
Kate is a specialist, dual-qualified prosecutor. Prior to founding Edmonds Marshall McMahon, Kate prosecuted for the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) where she worked as a senior lawyer on some of the UK’s largest criminal prosecutions, including the “Innospec” case. This was the first global settlement in the UK and involved systemic corruption by a UK/USA company in Iraq and Indonesia. The case resulted in a US$12.7 million fine in the UK and a US$14.1 million fine in the USA and successful prosecutions of the Company Directors and employees. Kate now specialises in cases involving serious fraud, serious and violent crime, international crime and perverting the course of justice.
What to read next
Required Reading: The VAT reverse charge for building & construction services
A major change to the way VAT is collected in the building and construction industry comes into play on 1st October 2019 [delayed to 2020].
By Kate Garcia
The Register of Overseas Entities is now in play; here’s what property pros need to know
Designed to "root out corrupt elites using UK property to launder their illicit wealth," the Register of Overseas Entities has officially launched, requiring more transparency for UK property transactions…
Imposter Fraud: How to avoid it happening to you & your clients
The increasingly common crime of imposter fraud hit the mainstream this week with the airing of nightmarish ITV thriller Our House, in which a family returned from holiday to find an unknown couple moving…
By Jayna Patel
Companies in this article
Edmonds Marshall McMahonMost read
Zara billionaire picks up Marylebone rental block for £150mn
Amancio Ortega's Pontegadea has made a notable play in London's built-to-rent arena.
By PrimeResi
Former buying agent’s prime property network chalks up nearly £4bn of listings
Two-year-old platform doubles down on high-end market with nearly 500 agents signed up and over £3bn of live buyer searches.
Facebook founder buys Irish castle
Mark Zuckerberg & Priscilla Chan have reportedly acquired the 440-acre Strancally estate in Waterford in an off-market deal.
By PrimeResi
Behind the Schemes: Rebuilding a Notting Hill townhouse from the inside out
ACT, De Rosee Sa & Katie Harbison talk us through a 75-week overhaul that involved moving the staircase, rethinking every floor and reconstructing the roof of a fine Italianate residence.
Savills adds senior names in Notting Hill & Islington
Marsh & Parsons and Knight Frank alumni join the agency's prime London network.
By PrimeResi
Christie’s International Real Estate joins luxury agency push into Phuket
Global brokerage network follows Bangkok launch with move into booming island market.
Major agency reins in long-range PCL forecast
Strutts now expects cumulative growth of just 4.4% by 2030 - down from 9%-12% at the start of the year - but sees downward pressure easing in 2027.
Behind the Structure: Understanding ownership risk in prime residential property
Required Reading: Sanctions have raised the stakes when it comes to navigating complex ownership structures. Anthony Hanratty explains what prime property professionals should be looking for.
RBKC vs Westminster: What do the latest ONS numbers really tell us about PCL?
Westminster prices are apparently down by a quarter and RBKC by 15% - but the detail tells a rather more nuanced story.
Reality check: will ‘mansion tax police’ really be inspecting homes?
There are significant issues with the roll-out of the incoming High Value Council Tax Surcharge, but recent headlines seem a bit excitable.
By PrimeResi
LATEST ARTICLES
Grosvenor warns historic London homes could lose their appeal without planning reform
Great estate pushes for shake-up to help Mayfair & Belgravia properties cope with rising temperatures.
In Pictures: Inside Oliver Burns Studio’s £21.25mn show apartment at The Bryanston
3,872 sq ft turnkey residence is the latest designer collaboration at Almacantar’s 54-unit super-prime scheme overlooking Hyde Park.
My Property Career: Quickfire Q&A with Residence One’s Ben Wilson
Recruitment guru Barry Collins chats with prime resi industry leaders & entrepreneurs, distilling decades of experience & career highlights into 60 seconds.
Top-end London renters go shopping in the sales market
Agency reports 34% uplift in lets across the prime postcodes over the last year - and a ‘strategic shift’ in the £5,000-per-week-plus sector.
Land Reg adds extra data to transaction records
UPRNs will be added to HM Land Registry's Price Paid Data from this week.
By PrimeResi