Deferred Prosecution Agreements

A Deferred Prosecution Agreement is an agreement made between a company and a criminal prosecutor. These agreements are often used in cases that involve crimes like:

• Fraud
• Bribery
• Conspiracy to defraud
• Money laundering.

Deferred Prosecution Agreements stop legal proceedings against the company. In return, the company must cooperate with the prosecution and meet certain conditions. Meeting these conditions means you could avoid a trial and possible prison sentence.

If it’s possible for you to enter into a Deferred Prosecution Agreement, it’ll avoid you being convicted. A Deferred Prosecution Agreement can be hugely beneficial in avoiding reputational damage. Avoiding criminal prosecution means it’ll be far easier for you to save your career. 

In some cases, it could mean that you avoid serving a prison sentence or avoid paying a hefty fine. Entering into a Deferred Prosecution Agreement saves time and money involved in prosecution. So, any financial sanction is likely to be less than it would be had a criminal prosecution gone ahead.

We help companies facing prosecution for alleged involvement in crimes like money laundering or fraud. We’ll gather the facts and use our expertise to decide on whether a Deferred Prosecution Agreement is appropriate.

If your company is facing prosecution, we’ll discuss the pros and cons of a Deferred Prosecution Agreement with you. Our lawyers will also advise you on the likelihood of negotiating an agreement. If you then decide to proceed, we’ll fight to help you avoid a trial and maintain your reputation.

We work across all areas of Deferred Prosecution Agreements. We'll be there to advise and represent you every step of the way. If we think a Deferred Prosecution Agreement’s the best option for you, we’ll do all we can to secure it. The work we’ll do for you includes:

• Advising on whether a Deferred Prosecution Agreement would be appropriate for your case
• Advising you on how likely it is you’d be able to secure an agreement and what steps you should take
• Persuading prosecutors that a Deferred Prosecution Agreement would be appropriate for your case and beneficial for them
• Negotiating and agreeing suitable conditions for you, such as financial penalties or compensation
• Arranging for the agreement to be authorised and approved by the judge.