Cadogan Holidays

Nabarro has acted for us for some years. This particular case concerned fraud at Cadogan Holidays amounting to over £6m. If you’re looking at something like this, which could end up in court, as indeed it did, you have to work with the lawyers as a team from day one. Upfront, it’s a more expensive way of doing it, because you don’t know where it’s going to go, but if it ends up in court, then it’s by far the cheapest way.

In effect I became an extension of the Nabarro team and we worked extremely well together. It wasn’t just about finding the evidence. It was about building the case, dealing with the staff, working out how to get as much back as possible, dealing with the insurance company. It was 16 months from the start of the investigation to the trial, which I’m reliably informed is very quick!

I’ve worked with other firms on other disputes and I have to say Nabarro is the best. It’s the simple things. For example I never received a bill without first receiving an explanation and opportunity to comment. So you never felt you were just being sort of screwed into the ground - as you do sometimes with lawyers, and I have to say accountants as well, having been one!

I’ve pulled their leg about it, but I actually think Nabarro's statement that clarity matters is very clever, because it is something that lawyers are not renowned for. And Nabarro do practise what they preach. For the first six months of the investigation and building the case, I was kept constantly up to date. To me that’s clarity - when a lawyer keeps you abreast of everything they’re doing and saying, what they mean, what a piece of paper means.

It’s always worse when something hits your desk and you haven’t got a clue what it’s about and you have to get someone to explain it. Nabarro were exceptional at making things clear. I’ve worked with lawyers who will pat you on the head and say don’t worry your little head about that, that's just the legal process.

Nabarro went out of their way to explain the legal process, to admit that it was a complete mess, but that we’ve got to do it this way. Therefore leaving me frustrated with the legal process, but not with them!

Everything was explained. That was priceless. It might have cost a bit, but the amount of time it saved was huge!