Brexit deal: UK takes step back in cross-border enforcement - Louise Hodges quoted in GIR

Louise Hodges, Partner & Head of the Criminal Litigation team, has been quoted in GIR following the UK's Brexit deal and the potential impact on cross border enforcement.

Louise quoted on various issues in the article including:

It's good that we have a deal. But it's never going to be as close as it was while the UK was a member of the EU, with cooperation and trust built up over a number of years."

Although there will be continued sharing of data, it won't be the EU's main information sharing mechanism, so there will be a time lag when the UK and the EU want to exchange data."

There will still be willingness to cooperate and share, but it won't be access to the EU's primary security information system that they use day in and day out."

Obviously this is less of an immediate problem with the travel restrictions related to COVID-19. However longer term, these constraints may change the dynamic for when an investigator conducts a face to face meeting rather than a remote interview and the need to involve a local legal team as part of the wider investigation team. Failure to comply with the rules could taint the investigation."

This article was first published by GIR on 14 January 2021 which you can read in full by clicking here (subscription required).

Further information

For further information on the issues raised in this news post, please contact a member of our criminal team.

About the author

Louise Hodges is a specialist in corporate crime, financial crime, FCA investigations, and serious and complex fraud. She is widely recognised as a leader in this field and leads Kingsley Napley LLP's cross practice financial services team and internal investigations team.

Louise has particular experience in advising corporates on issues of corporate crime, bribery and corruption and fraud offences including advice in relation to internal investigations. These cases tend to be multi-jurisdictional, complex and of high value and frequently involve support from KN's employment and dispute resolution teams.