Richard Fisher KC and Philippa Eastwood secure acquittals
Richard Fisher KC and Philippa Eastwood have secured acquittals for two owners / Directors of a services and accounting corporate accused of large-scale tax fraud, prosecuted by HMRC. Operation Campus commenced in 2015, and concerned an investigation and prosecution into the services which the company provided to thousands of self-employed HGV drivers, engineers and others. It was alleged that the defendants formed and operated a tax avoidance structure which was then exploited; inflated deductions were said to have been made to clients’ earnings, corporate tax returns dishonestly prepared, and tax due not paid to HMRC.
They and other family members were accused of secreting in excess of £5 million in the course of their directorships, building up a portfolio of properties and investments for their own benefit, but leaving their clients at risk of civil action from HMRC for the tax which the service company had allegedly failed to pay on their behalf. The family’s legal fight spanned 10 years, including judicial review of the search and seizure processes and outcomes before charge; the case was due to be tried in September 2025 for several months. Richard and Philippa’s work however exposed such failings in the Crown’s disclosure processes that on 19th December 2024, the Prosecution offered no evidence in the case, recognising that they would not be able to rectify the failings in the 8 months remaining before trial.
Richard Fisher KC represented PH and Philippa Eastwood represented JH, they were instructed by Andy Brown and Chris Young of Kennedys LLP.
