Michael Bowes QC and Oliver Powell appear in Alstom trials

Michael Bowes QC and Oliver Powell, instructed by Dechert LLP, appeared at Southwark Crown Court in Phase 3 of the SFO’s investigation into the French transport company Alstom.

Michael Bowes QC (trial at first instance and retrial) and Oliver Powell (trial at first instance) appeared on behalf of Terence Watson, Alstom Network UK’s former Senior Vice President for Europe and Central Asia.

It was the SFO’s case that: Terence Watson; Michael Anderson, a former Business Development Manager at Alstom Transport in Paris; and Jean-Daniel Lainé, Alstom Network UK’s former Senior Vice President for Ethics and Compliance, conspired with Alstom Network UK to make corrupt payments to public officials in Hungary in order to secure contracts for the Budapest Metro System. The SFO alleged that in 2006, payments were made to local consultants in Hungary to secure a €229 million contract.

Mr Anderson, Mr Watson, Mr Lainé and Alstom Network UK were first tried in May 2017. However, a jury at Southwark Crown Court was unable to reach a verdict and the parties were retried in September 2018. Mr Anderson, Mr Watson, Mr Lainé and Alstom Network UK, were all acquitted of the charge of conspiracy to corrupt.

Michael is Head of the Business Crime Group at OTC. He specialises in business crime, civil fraud, financial services and international sanctions. He acts for corporate clients and senior managers in global investigations and for the SFO, FCA, CMA and Lloyd’s of London. He is instructed in several current major financial cases, both civil and criminal and in several substantial cross-border corruption investigations. He advises companies in respect of US and EU sanctions. He is a co-author of the Practitioner’s Guide to Global Investigations (GIR, 2nd ed.2018).

Oliver is a contributor to Millington & Sutherland Williams on the Proceeds of Crime (Fifth Edition), OUP, writing the chapters on Investigations and Bribery & Corruption. His practice encompasses: asset recovery (civil and criminal), bribery & corruption, sanctions and matters involving financial wrongdoing. He is routinely invited to talk at events in the ‘White Collar Space’, recent engagements of note include: chairing a conference panel at AMLP 7th Annual Anti-Bribery and Corruption Forum; and speaking on behalf of SanctionsAlert.com.

Should you require further information about Michael and/or Oliver, or if you would like to instruct either of them, please contact Dave Scothern, Business Development Director.

News 21 Dec, 2018