Distrust, bias and incompetence: how two UK Serious Fraud Office investigations went badly wrong

The highly anticipated reports into Serious Fraud Office (SFO) failings in its Unaoil and Serco investigations, by Sir David Calvert-Smith [1] and Brian Altman QC [2], respectively, were published on 21 July [2022]. As Lisa Osofsky, Director of the SFO, observed, they make for “a sobering read”. Shula de Jersey and Matt Davies of BCL Solicitors examine the findings.

Shula de Jersey (+44 (0)20 7430 2277, sdejersey@bcl.com) is a partner and Matt Davies ((+44 (0)20 7430 2277, mdavies@bcl.com) an associate in the economic crime team at BCL Solicitors LLP, specialising in business crime and regulation.

The highly anticipated reports into Serious Fraud Office (SFO) failings in its Unaoil and Serco investigations, by Sir David Calvert-Smith [1] and Brian Altman QC [2], respectively, were published on 21 July [2022]. As Lisa Osofsky, Director of the SFO, observed, they make for “a sobering read”. Shula de Jersey and Matt Davies of BCL Solicitors examine the findings.