Simon Blanch

• Contributed to the team with a legal and financial compliance advisory based on my previous experience.
• Reviewed and supported drafting KYB/KYC process as per POCA 2002.
• Conducted research on compliance regulations in different countries.

I often represent clients arrested by the MET Serious Crime Team, Flying Squad, HMRC, NCA and SO15 counter terrorism. I have a large own client following in East and North East London.

I worked for a prestigious firm in London. I was assigned significant responsibility and a heavy case load. This included setting/updating cases on the cases management system and communicating with clients at various stages of the Criminal Justice System.

My primary role was to assist private clients on their fare evasions. This included requesting the transport organisations to grant extra time for the Single Justice Procedure Notice, allowing me to take detailed instructions from clients. I had to make the clients aware that not having a valid ticket is a strict liability offence and the ramifications of this may lead to a criminal offence. I advised my clients regarding a content of their apology letter addressed to the transport organisations and finding suitable character witness. I also provided the clients with the witnesses guidance for their letters and helped them to finalise the letters. Following the further procedure, I was sending my representations to the transport organisations in an attempt to deal with my client's matter outside the Court.

The most interesting part of my work for this legal firm was the full contested hearing of Stalking Protection Order 2019, for which culminated in the Metropolitan Police withdrawing the application.

Criminal defence of clients at the Police Stations and case management. This includes bail backs and assisting clients who have been charged with offences and arranging Advocates for charging hearings at the Magistrates Courts.

I worked on VHCC as a level C Fee earner due to my previous level of financial investigation experience. The highest point of my professional career is representing a client suspected of a terror related to the high profile murder. I assisted the client fully, from the time of detention to the date of charge under section 5 of the Terrorism Act 2006. I was the only member of my Legal Firm with experience of TACT. I continued to support the client at the Old Bailey and visited them at HMP Belmarsh to take their further instructions as I managed to build a trustful relationship with the client.

Attending Court for the case management hearing for Child Law cases. Participating in issue resolution hearings of the care cases, Directions on Secure Accommodation Orders, Emergency Protection Orders and Interim Care Order applications in case management hearings and final hearings. Amendments to care plans as directed by the Court.

Conducting research project for a Senior Advocate to deliver a training session on the Domestic Abuse Act 2021 (DAA 2021) to the Local Authority lawyers in the East of England. Researching judgements to the cases which are relevant to the issue of the DAA21 and articles pertinent to the implementation of the DAA21.

Various Law (Part-Time/Full-time Accreditations)

Full-time parent to two young children

Specialist Criminal Accredited Financial Officer. Responsible for Investigation of Organised Criminal Groups. Relating to fiscal crime both reactive to live intelligence and reactive at the frontier, such as airports and seaports.

Specialist investigator utilising surveillance, operational support, disclosure officer and financial officer in highest echelon of Organised Criminal Groups, both nationally and internationally. Disclosure Officer for Drug and Excise fraud.

Specialist Vessel Rummage officer.

Anti-paedophile and other indecent or obscene material, with different Police Constabularies Family Units.

Gathering and development intelligence packages of VAT fraud offences and disseminating to Investigation and enforcement teams.

Organised national training courses