On Monday 21 May 2018, Mr Justice Jay handed down a judgment in Southwark Crown Court dismissing the SFO’s charges against Barclays PLC and Barclays Bank PLC relating to their 2008 Qatar capital raising.

There were three charges: two charges of conspiracy to make false representations, one in respect of each 2008 capital raising in which Barclays was said to have conspired with certain former senior officers and employees and one charge of unlawful Financial Assistance under section 151 of the Companies Act 1985 relating to a loan of £3 billion made to Qatar in November 2008. Richard Lissack QC, with Crispin Aylett QC and Ben FitzGerald, represented Barclays PLC and Barclays Bank PLC, instructed by Willkie Farr & Gallagher partner Peter Burrell and Nick Benwell,  head of Simmons & Simmons’ Crime, Fraud & Investigations group.