Police investigate former Ince partner over alleged £3m fraud
Former Ince & Co partner Andrew Iyer is under investigation by Scotland Yard over £3m of client money that he allegedly moved into accounts under his name.
The firm suspended its former energy practice chief last July over what it called “irregular financial behaviour” (30 July 2010).
Ince & Co said it had referred the matter upon discovery to the SRA, which is currently conducting an investigation, and to the Metropolitan Police.
In a statement the firm said: “As reported in our July 2010 statement, Nathan Andrew Iyer was suspended on 22 July 2010 and subsequently resigned as a consequence of his irregular financial behaviour. No other members of staff were involved.
“We reported the issue to the police and the SRA at the time of discovery. We immediately took steps to ensure no clients would suffer any loss. The matter since then has been in the hands of the police and the SRA.”
It comes just weeks after Hogan Lovells dismissed long-standing litigation partner Christopher Grierson after discovering he claimed more than £1m in false expenses over a four-year period (17 May 2011).
The firm reported the matter to the SRA but is yet to inform police. Chief executive David Harris explained: “Once you go to the police there are limitations on what you can say. We put a huge emphasis on openness and didn’t want people to learn about this from elsewhere.” (23 May 2011)
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Readers' comments (22)
London Partner (alleged) Crime Wave | 27-May-2011 1:46 pm
Well done Mr Iyer - helping Ince & Co to outdo HogLov on the most amount a partner might ALLEGEDLY trouser. A real top ALLEGED performance.
But, remember partner-crime fans, the swag grabbing season has only just begun - who knows who will score the greatest haul by the end of the year?
Personally, I'm betting we'll see a £5m+ grab by an English partner before 2011 is out.
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Bored | 27-May-2011 1:46 pm
Oh do please give it a rest. This isn't news.
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Anonymous | 27-May-2011 1:53 pm
Bored @1:46
Erm, a partner being investigated for a £3m theft, how can you not think that is a story?
You should get back to reading about Cheryl and the X Factor....
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Have I Got News For You? | 27-May-2011 1:56 pm
@Bored | 27-May-2011 1:46 pm
You're trying a wind up, or you're living on another planet. If this isn't 'news' then what is?
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Anonymous | 27-May-2011 1:59 pm
Whilst they investigate the one, why not the other ??
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Anon | 27-May-2011 2:28 pm
GREED, GREED, GREED, GREED and a bit more GREED: welcome to Britain, 2011. Please leave your moral compass at the door.
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Anonymous | 27-May-2011 3:13 pm
As the tide of money recedes and lays the seabed bare, all manner of slimy creatures with interesting habits are uncovered.
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Anonymous | 27-May-2011 4:21 pm
I know Andrew well and he is a good chap who went to a decent school.
I can't imagine he would have done this deliberately and if he did, he probably had perfectly justifiable reasons. No need for the police to get involved, shouldn't they be focussing on real crime instead of paltry amounts of money like this etc.
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Anonymous | 27-May-2011 4:45 pm
Theft is a crime regardless of his intention (deliberate or otherwise). Of course the Police should be informed: "nice chaps" are not above the law.
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Anonymous | 27-May-2011 4:50 pm
I too knew Andrew from the Club and know that he attended a very sensible boys school indeed.
This must all be some sort of mistake.
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Lord Money-Stirling | 27-May-2011 4:52 pm
I agree with Anonymous 4:21 pm. What's more, he was a damn good Fives player.
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Henry Holland | 27-May-2011 4:52 pm
@Anonymous, 4.21pm. Greetings, A! Remember me from alma mater? Yes, he was a jolly nice chap and this really is a ridiculous invasion of his privacy. When one distributes any alleged loss among everyone who has to obtain PI, D&O or other insurance, it really is only one penny on their premium, so I really don't know what all the fuss is about. Innit?
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City Gent | 27-May-2011 4:56 pm
This is just typical victimisation of a chap who probably made a simple error. Who amongst us can say that after a rather good lunch one hasn't accidentally keyed in the wrong account number?
It seems to me that the Plod has got it in for what they absurdly see as `fat cats'. Why don't they concentrate on the real villains, those oiks who drive cheap and nasty cars with unpleasantly loud radios but without tax discs?
No, just concentrate on persecuting the decent, tax-paying middle classes, it's much less trouble!
I'm sure once a proper policeman gets involved it'll all be sorted out over a nice cup of tea and a couple of HobNobs.
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Tim Morgan | 27-May-2011 11:41 pm
I grew up with Nathan, from toddler to teens. Although I haven't seen him for years, I'll bet he's innocent and the real thieves still work @ the law firm!
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Anonymous | 28-May-2011 11:20 am
Some schools just produce good chaps therefore there must be a presumption in favor of the innocence of such fine fellows. An immediate investigation should be conducted into whether he was wearing the school tie at the point of arrest ... if no then clearly a case of mistaken identity.
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Anonymous | 29-May-2011 7:25 am
Greedy English lawyers excusing others...
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Anonymous | 29-May-2011 10:31 am
Bless the poor old bean. I have known him since school. We rode together. This is just an illustration of today's police force. No longer understand the class system and the immunity that it brings.
Scotland Yard do want to be careful about a rebellion. We do clay pigeon shoot you know.
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Anonymous | 29-May-2011 6:52 pm
A jolly nice chap too, apparently.
Might I also suggest that the scale of the thefts / misappropriatoins be scaled back a little ..... I mean, £1M from one, £3M alleged for another....
If true and proven, off to the Scrubs with him.
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Anonymous | 30-May-2011 7:26 am
Andy,
Can I please have that 5 quid back now?
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Anonymous | 31-May-2011 1:12 pm
I actually do know this guy and used to work with him at Ince. He was a pretty colourful fellow, quite literally sometimes when he arrived for work with his TV make-up still on having been on GMTV that morning with his latest showbiz girlfriend and all that. People really should presume him innocent until proven guilty and even then the SDT & Met Police are not exactly paragons of justice are they, so good luck to him and don't stint on the defence fees I say.
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