PROCEEDINGS: US authorities to be contacted over Fielding

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) is planning to extradite Michael Fielding, the former London-based lawyer who went to Florida nearly two-and-a-half years ago, leaving behind allegations that he had stolen client money (see [2001] Gazette, 21 June, 5).

After Mr Fielding's departure to the US, his former firm Lawrence Graham lodged an official complaint with the Metropolitan Police, believed to relate to a sum of around 2 million alleged to be missing from client funds.

The police then launched an investigation.

Earlier this year, a spokeswoman for the CPS said that it was involved in the process of investigating, asking a number of foreign jurisdictions for evidence through formal letters of request.

She said that dependent on the evidence, the CPS would seek to extradite Mr Fielding.

This week, a spokesman for the CPS said an official request for extradition had not yet been lodged with the US authorities, but that the CPS planned to do so.

He also said Mr Fielding is still thought to be in Miami.

A spokeswoman for London practice RadcliffesLeBrasseur said the firm was still acting for Mr Fielding, but that it was 'not in a position to comment'.

Gillian Benning, a partner with Radcliffes who acts for Mr Fielding, said of her client after his original departure in 2001 that he was unwell, and would return 'if requested to do so, or when he has recovered from a stress-related condition'.

Jeremy Fleming