Former Burges Salmon partner Roger Hawes is facing a three week trial at Southwark Crown Court charged with conspiracy to conceal criminal property, The Lawyer understands.
This trial is understood to relate to charges brought by Reading Magistrates’ Court in 2013, when nine people were charged in connection with business loans of up to £35m made through a high street bank.
A BBC article from 2013 stated that Hawes was accused of “facilitating the acquisition, retention, use or control of criminal property”.
A Burges Salmon spokesperson said: “We are aware of the trial of former partner Roger Hawes, who left the firm in 2011, which is starting today [27 November 2017].
It is important to stress that at no point has Burges Salmon or anyone else at the firm been the subject of this criminal investigation and prosecution.
As legal proceedings are now in progress, we are not able to provide any further comment.”
The delay to this article was caused by earlier reporting restrictions in the case, which the court confirmed today have been lifted.
