CPS probes Fielding

The Crown Prosecution Service is seeking further information on Michael Fielding, the former partner at City law firm Lawrence Graham who went to Florida in June last year, before deciding whether to try and extradite him, it has emerged.

Mr Fielding flew to the US from his City job leaving behind allegations that he had stolen client money (see [2001] Gazette, 21 June, 5).

He is still believed to be in Florida, and has since been declared bankrupt in the UK.

After Mr Fielding's departure to the US last year, Lawrence Graham lodged an official complaint with the Metropolitan Police, believed to relate to missing client funds of around 2 million.

The police then launched an investigation.

A spokeswoman for the Crown Prosecution Service said: 'The police are still in the process of investigating, We are involved in asking a number of foreign jurisdictions for evidence through formal letters of request.'

She said: 'If the evidence is strong it is likely that we will seek to extradite him.'

Mr Fielding's lawyer, Gillian Benning, a partner with London firm RadcliffesLeBrasseur, declined to comment.

She said of her client after his departure last year that he was unwell, and will return 'if requested to do so, or when he has recovered from a stress-related condition'.

Jeremy Fleming