James O’Hara, Director at iLaw, was instructed to advise a company facing severe operational disruption due to several Account Freezing Orders (AFOs) obtained without notice by HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC). The Freezing Orders paralysed the company, making it impossible to pay staff wages or continue trading normally. This drastic action had significant repercussions, potentially bringing the company’s business to a halt.
Within days of accepting instructions, James O'Hara and his team made detailed submissions pointing out the serious failings in HMRC’s application for the AFOs. James swiftly highlighted flaws in the legal basis of the freezing orders, presenting compelling arguments that the AFOs had no lawful basis and should be set aside.
The strength of the case was clear. Two days before the hearing and just thirty minutes before their skeleton argument was due for submission, HMRC conceded that the AFOs should indeed be set aside. The company’s operations were allowed to resume, and the financial restrictions were lifted.
James was assisted by the always excellent Sarah Wood of 5 St Andrews Hill and iLaw’s Lucie Tauveron, whose contributions were invaluable in securing this favourable outcome for the client.
If your business is facing an Account Freezing Order, it’s crucial to seek expert legal advice immediately. A wrongful freezing order can cause severe disruption to your operations, as seen in this case. With iLaw’s expertise, we can help challenge unlawful freezing orders and ensure your business can continue to operate as usual.
Contact us today for advice and legal support in navigating the complexities of Account Freezing Orders and other asset protection issues.
