Naureen Shariff

Naureen is a solicitor in the Dispute Resolution Team.

Naureen specialises in defending those embroiled in white-collar crime, complex money laundering, fraud, bribery and corruption, confiscation proceedings and restraint orders.

Naureen also has a successful practice defending those in the Royal Navy, Army and Royal Air Force, at Court Martials, who face the full spectrum of criminal allegations ranging from driving offences to GBH, drug supply and importation, rape and sexual offences.

She often advises early in an investigation, aiming where possible to avoid criminal charges and either secure no further action or alternative disposal. She has a track record defending clients in complex and often high profile prosecutions, securing numerous acquittals.

Naureen works closely with individuals, large corporations and Government departments. She is part of a team that is often instructed to defend very high net worth individuals who have complex, multi-jurisdictional financial arrangements.

Naureen has spoken at an international conference in Los Angeles on the use of e-discovery platforms in Court cases focussing on Operation Dougal as a case study.

• What the directories say

  Rising Star, Legal 500 2023

  • “Impresses to a level beyond her years.” Legal 500, 2023
  • “A fantastic lawyer, hardworking, pursuing all avenues for a client.” Legal 500, 2022
  • “Unflappable, good humoured and with exceptional client handling skills. Her work is of the highest quality and she has proven herself time and time at being adept at taking on new areas of law and doing so capably and effectively. Naureen is definitely one to watch for the future. An up and coming superstar.” Legal 500, 2021
  • “Highly experienced, approachable and hardworking” Legal 500, 2020

• Notable Cases

  • Operation Larkshot (2022) Leeds Crown Court. Successful defence of a client in R v James Stunt and Others, the largest money laundering case in UK legal history. NatWest bank, prosecuted by the FCA, had already pleaded guilty to money laundering offences arising out of the facts of the case prior to the trial of eight individuals. The cash deposited into the NatWest bank was approximately £264m over five years. The client was acquitted by a unanimous jury verdict following an eight month trial.

  • R v FJL, Kingston Crown Court. FJL was charged with multiple counts of fraud.   Prosecution of accusations of multiple fraud stayed as a, rare, ‘limb two’ (Bennett) abuse of process. The Met police, Kingston Borough Council and the BBC all heavily criticised by the Judge for improperly motivated and seriously inappropriate conduct relating to the involvement of a BBC film crew for ‘Britain on the fiddle’ when executing two search warrants against a private individual. Owing to the conduct amounting to an affront to the integrity of the criminal justice system, the case was struck out. This resulted in the Director of Editorial Policy and Standards publishing new guidance on the use of body-worn cameras with specific reference to the issues of privacy and consent http://downloads.bbc.co.uk/bbctrust/assets/files/pdf/appeals/esc_bulletins/2017/apr.pdf

  • R v R and OTHERS, Blackfriars Crown Court. Representing the first defendant, a businessman, in a multi-handed high value alleged Money Laundering conspiracy. The trial, which was expected to take six weeks, collapsed on the third day as a result of successful legal arguments run by the first defendant and persistent disclosure requests which caused the prosecution to offer no evidence. All defendants acquitted
  • R v K and Others (Operation Vex) Represented the Company Secretary of a freight forwarder in a large Missing Trader-Community Fraud (MTIC). HMRC alleged losses of more than £50m. The case involved complex international trading operations and multi-jurisdictional issues involving the First Curacao International Bank (FCIB). The case alleged serious complex fraud charges including cheating the public revenue and money laundering. The Prosecution were persuaded to eventually offer no evidence against this defendant

  Court Martials

  • R v G, Court Martial Catterick. G, a senior serving officer, was charged with a single count of Rape. G was acquitted after trial
  • R v Glassford, Court Martial Portsmouth. This was a high-profile case widely reported in the media. Glassford was accused of raping a fellow sailor. The issue was one of consent. Glassford was found not guilty after trial

  https://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/news/scottish-news/988154/stuart-glassford-rape-cleared-royal-navy-dumbarton/

  http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4491272/Royal-Navy-submariner-says-rape-claims-total-lies.html

  • R v P, Court Martial, Germany. P was charged with Assault by beating of a German National.   P was found not guilty after trial
  • R v C, Court Martial, Colchester. C was charged with 2 Counts. Count 1 – digital penetration – a half time submission was made and a not guilty verdict returned. On count 2 – sexual assault – not guilty after trial

  Appeals

  • B v R, Court of Appeal – Criminal Division [2016] EWCA Crim 700 The appellant (B) appealed against his conviction for perverting the course of justice (count 1) and against a sentence of 12 months’ imprisonment and a five-year disqualification from driving imposed following his conviction for dangerous driving (count 2). Appeal Upheld: Count 1 – Conviction and sentence quashed. Count 2 – The sentence was reduced to six months’ imprisonment and the disqualification period was reduced to three years