Business Details
50+ Years
experience
Expert Legal Services in London
Established in 1938, we are a leading law firm specialising in heavyweight international disputes where reputation, livelihood and liberty are at risk. Our Business Crime & Investigations team is acknowledged as the outstanding financial crime practice and one of the earliest firms to establish itself in this field. We work closely with our Fraud & Commercial Disputes team, recognised as London's best civil fraud litigation boutique. With a history spanning over 85 years, we have built a reputation for managing complex domestic and multi-jurisdictional cases. Our team of 70 international experts speaks 20 major languages and collaborates with a global network of specialists. We have advised on landmark cases including the Guinness, Blue Arrow and Madoff Ponzi frauds. Our commitment to justice extends beyond client representation to community impact and environmental responsibility. We maintain formal accreditations through industry-recognised awards and rankings. Our approach combines deep legal expertise with practical commercial understanding to deliver exceptional outcomes.
Services
Commercial Litigation
Criminal Fraud
International Arbitration
Asset Tracing
Tax Investigations
Extradition
Money Laundering
Private Prosecutions
Trust Litigation
Bank Account Freezing
Details
- Year established: 1938
Highlights and features
- We have over 85 years of experience in complex international legal disputes
- Our team includes 70 international experts speaking 20 major languages
- Awarded Chambers & Partners Commercial Disputes Team of the Year 2025
- Recognised as London's best civil fraud litigation boutique by Chambers
- We maintain a global network of specialist lawyers and investigators
What people say
Outstanding financial crime practice
Exemplary team performance
Exceptionally high standard
Delivered on time
Inspired by winning
Services
Commercial Litigation
We handle complex commercial disputes for international clients, combining legal expertise with strategic business understanding. Our team specialises in resolving high-value cross-border conflicts through litigation and alternative dispute resolution. With Chambers-recognised practitioners, we deliver practical solutions for corporate clients facing commercial threats.
Criminal Fraud
Our award-winning financial crime team defends clients in serious fraud cases globally. We provide representation in regulatory investigations, asset recovery and compliance matters. With deep experience in complex fraud schemes, we protect clients' interests in high-stakes criminal proceedings while maintaining professional standards.
International Arbitration
We represent clients in international arbitration cases across multiple jurisdictions. Our multilingual team handles complex disputes under various arbitral rules, providing culturally sensitive representation. With global reach and local knowledge, we secure favourable outcomes in commercial and investment treaty arbitrations.
Asset Tracing
Our specialists locate and recover misappropriated assets through sophisticated tracing techniques. We work with international networks to identify hidden assets and enforce judgments globally. With expertise in complex financial structures, we maximise recovery for clients in fraud and insolvency cases.
Tax Investigations
We defend clients in tax investigations and prosecutions by UK and international authorities. Our team handles complex tax evasion cases, disclosure obligations and dispute resolution. With deep regulatory knowledge, we protect clients' interests while ensuring compliance with evolving tax laws.
People
Helen McDowell
Managing Partner
Leading the firm with over 30 years' experience in complex litigation. Specialises in cross-border disputes and corporate governance. Recognised in Legal 500 for strategic legal leadership. Committed to maintaining the firm's reputation for excellence.
Nick Vamos
Partner and Head of Business Crime
Former Crown Prosecutor with specialist expertise in financial crime. Leads high-profile criminal cases involving fraud, money laundering and regulatory breaches. Regularly appears in complex extradition matters. Recognised authority in business crime defence.
Jonathan Tickner
Partner and Head of Fraud
Award-winning civil fraud specialist with extensive trial experience. Recognised in Chambers for complex asset recovery cases. Advises major corporations on fraud prevention strategies. Maintains strong track record in high-value litigation.
Keith Oliver
Head of International
Coordinates global operations across 20 jurisdictions. Specialises in international evidence gathering and cross-border enforcement. Provides strategic oversight for multi-jurisdictional cases. Maintains extensive network of international legal contacts.
Neil Swift
Partner
Recognised expert in regulatory investigations and enforcement actions. Advises financial institutions on compliance frameworks. Handles complex banking disputes and regulatory breaches. Regular commentator on financial crime developments.
Questions
What areas of law do you specialise in?
We specialise in business crime, civil fraud, commercial litigation, international arbitration and related financial investigations.
Do you handle international cases?
Yes, we manage complex multi-jurisdictional cases with a team speaking 20 languages and global legal networks.
How experienced is your team?
Our 70+ legal experts have handled landmark cases since 1938, including Guinness, Madoff and Horizon scandals.
What recognition have you received?
We've won Chambers Commercial Disputes Team of the Year and The Lawyer Awards Litigation Team of the Year 2025.
What is your approach to justice?
We combine client representation with community impact initiatives and environmental responsibility through our 16-page sustainability report.
Reviews (1)
Alice B.
Feb 28, 2021
Report
P&P has a good reputation but it's recruitment procedures are unfair and opaque. The firm offers training contracts to external candidates but in reality almost all trainees are recruited internally (from the pool of paralegals). External candidates are not informed of this and the steps required to secure a TC. This leads to an unfair recruitment process which differs significantly from the procedure advertised on their website. Secondly, the policy of only hiring internally discriminates against candidates from poorer backgrounds.
All paralegals at the firm must have completed the LPC from their own pocket (the fees exceed 10,000). Candidates from poorer backgrounds cannot afford this and rely on law firms to sponsor the LPC. Therefore, the firm's hiring policies discriminate against candidates who cannot afford to complete the LPC at their own expense. The firm should review its HR and recruitment policies to address these issues.
All paralegals at the firm must have completed the LPC from their own pocket (the fees exceed 10,000). Candidates from poorer backgrounds cannot afford this and rely on law firms to sponsor the LPC. Therefore, the firm's hiring policies discriminate against candidates who cannot afford to complete the LPC at their own expense. The firm should review its HR and recruitment policies to address these issues.