Supervising Director of the Confiscation and Restraints Department – Kevin Downes
Kevin has been involved in the Confiscation and Restraints Department from the outset. Kevin qualified as a Solicitor in 1997 and became a partner at Frisby and Co in 1999.
Kevin has a wealth of experience in both criminal defence and civil litigation, representing clients in both high value and high profile matters.
Kevin is an approved Grade A Litigator and Case Supervisor under the Legal Service Commission Very High Cost Case Scheme.
Kevin has headed the team of specialist Confiscation and Restraints Lawyers from its founding over 3 years ago. Kevin supervises all of the confiscation cases and has knowledge of all of the department’s client’s matters, currently between 50 and 100 ongoing files.
Manager of the Confiscation and Restraints Department – Katie McCreath
Katie set up the Confiscation and Restraints Department together with Kevin Downes in 2009 following her concern that this niche area of law required a specialised team in order to provide clients with a guarantee of the best service possible within these proceedings.
Katie joined the Serious Fraud Department at Frisby and Co in 2006 following completion of her Law and Business Degree. Katie undertook her training contract at Frisby and Co qualifying as a Solicitor and Higher Courts Criminal Advocate in early 2010. Katie has had conduct of various confiscation matters under the CJA 1988, DTA 1994 and POCA 2002, including some of the largest MTIC Frauds Confiscations and a unique cash machine fraud, which remains to date the only case of its kind in Europe. Katie became the Confiscation and Restraints Manager in 2011.
Katie still has a heavy involvement in Serious Crime Defence and has her own work load of complex confiscation matters, alongside managing the 15 strong team within the Confiscation and Restraints Department.
Katie has worked on all aspects of Confiscation matters both for defendants and third parties. Katie has also acted in High Court Civil Proceedings in relation to high profile and high value confiscation matters.
Moira joined the Confiscation and Restraints team in 2010. Moira qualified in 1975 and has prosecuted for Government Agencies including the Crown Prosecution Service and the Environment Agency. Moria has built up considerable experience defending confiscation matters over the last year, Moira brings a wealth of knowledge to the team having previously prosecuted.
Moira works on very high cost cases, as well as smaller confiscations and has day to day conduct of this aim which includes negotiating settlements with the prosecution.
Veena joined Frisby and Co in 2009 and subsequently joined the Confiscation and Restraints Department in 2010, Veena now works in both the Confiscation and Restraints Department and Serious Fraud.
Veena is a qualified solicitor with 5 years legal experience primarily in the London area.
Veena has worked on various Confiscation matters from drugs cases to MTIC frauds.
Simon joined the Confiscation and Restraints department in 2009 following a period of time working within the Serious Crime Department on Complex Frauds.
Simon commenced his training contract in 2009 and will qualify as a Solicitor in July of 2011.
Simon has had the day to day conduct of numerous Confiscation matters under the CJA 1988, DTA 1994 and POCA 2002; Simon has successfully gained leave for appeal on complex cases and currently has conduct of one of the department’s cases that is awaiting approval for referral to the Supreme Court.
Simon has a wealth of experience in drafting all documents within confiscation proceedings from variations of restraint applications to applications to vary confiscation orders.
Simon joined the Confiscation ad Restraints Department in 2010 and prior to this he was a case worker in the Serious Fraud Department. Following completion of his legal practice course, Simon worked as a paralegal for a firm of solicitors in Cheshire, finally joining Frisby and Co in 2009. Simon qualifies as a solicitor in the autumn of 2011.
Simon has had the day to day conduct of numerous confiscation cases from Trade Mark Offences to MTIC Frauds.
Michelle joined the Confiscation and Restraints Department in 2011 and is currently undertaking her training contract. Michelle was employed by Frisby and Co in 2009 as a Serious Fraud Case Worker and has a wealth of experience in general crime which has given her a good foundation for her future in the Confiscation and Restraints Department.
Michelle continues to undertake work within the Civil Department.
Jade joined the Confiscation and Restraints Department in 2010. Jade joined Frisby and Co working for the Serious Fraud department in 2006.
Jade has worked on many criminal matters including MTIC Frauds and High Value Drug cases, but has more recently specialised in Confiscation matters under CJA 1988, DTA 1994 and POCA 2002.
Lucy joined Frisby and Co in 2007 from Hammonds Solicitors having gained 7 years previous experience in serious and complex criminal; matters.
Lucy works in the areas of both Confiscation and Serious Fraud.
Lucy is Grade B Litigator on the Very High Cost Case Panel.
Lucy has worked on high value and high profile confiscation matters.
Case Worker – Julie Downes
Julie joined Frisby and Co in the Confiscation and Restraints Department in 2009. Julie specialises in Confiscation matters and is currently undertaking her training to become a qualified solicitor.
Julie covers the South of England prisons for the Confiscation and Restraints Department.
James joined Frisby and Co initially as a case worker in 2010 following his experience heading up a small Legal Services Department.
James joined the Confiscation and Restraints Department in late 2010 as a case worker and is currently involved in various confiscation cases.
Sarah joined Frisby and Co in 2010 as a case worker in the Confiscation and Restraints Department, having previously obtained her BSc and MSc in Environment Science and Management.
Sarah hopes to undertake her Graduate Diploma in Law in the Autumn.
Fiona joined Frisby and Co in 2009 as a case worker in the Serious Fraud Department and joined the Confiscation and Restraints Department in 2010.
Fiona is currently undertaking her Graduate Diploma in Law, which she hopes to finish in May.