Sidley Austin London partner Matthew Cahill is one of ten individuals to have been charged with tax fraud in relation to a £134m film investment scheme.
Cahill, who has now “withdrawn from the firm”, according to a Sidley spokesperson, has instructed Corker Binning for his defence.
The finance lawyer has been charged with conspiracy to cheat the revenue following an investigation by HMRC into a company called Zeus Partners. The group is alleged to have sold film investment schemes that generated tax relief for investors.
Cahill appeared at a hearing at Birmingham Crown Court in March alongside a number of other former directors of Zeus Partners.
The next hearing will take place in July. A trial date has not yet been set.
Cahill joined Sidley Austin from Clifford Chance in 2012, where he had worked for more than two decades. While at the magic circle firm, Cahill also held positions in both Abu Dhabi and Tokyo where he led the capital markets practice for eight years.
A spokesperson for Sidley Austin said: “Matthew Cahill has withdrawn from the firm for personal reasons. The personal reasons are not related to the business of the firm or any legal work performed by Matthew while at the firm.”
Film investment schemes have come under scrutiny from HMRC in recent years, with a number of cases making their way through the courts.
Corker Binning declined to comment. Matthew Cahill could not be reached for comment.