SFO to pay millions to settle ENRC legal battle

By the Editorial Team · Thursday, September 3, 2026

The Serious Fraud Office has settled a long-running legal dispute with Eurasian Natural Resources Corporation over a failed investigation into alleged corruption in the DRC. The resolution follows a critical court ruling against the SFO's conduct and marks the end of a costly and high-profile case that underscores difficulties in prosecuting international fraud.

The Serious Fraud Office (SFO) has reached a settlement with Eurasian Natural Resources Corporation (ENRC), concluding a legal dispute that spanned over a decade. ENRC, a Kazakhstan-based mining company, had pursued a £125 million claim against the SFO related to a failed criminal investigation into the company’s activities in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

The original inquiry, launched by the SFO, examined allegations that ENRC engaged in fraud, bribery, and corruption to obtain mining rights in the DRC between 2009 and 2012. ENRC consistently denied the accusations. The investigation ended in 2023 without any charges being filed, with the SFO citing insufficient admissible evidence to proceed with prosecution.

The legal battle included accusations against both the SFO and the law firm Dechert. ENRC alleged that Dechert’s former head of white-collar crime, Neil Gerrard, leaked confidential information to the SFO to benefit from increased fees. ENRC claimed the SFO encouraged these leaks and later sued the agency for inducing Gerrard’s actions. This development followed ENRC’s decision to report itself to the SFO in 2011 on Gerrard’s advice, and subsequent dismissal of the lawyer amid media leaks about the company.

A 2023 High Court ruling criticized the SFO, describing its conduct as “bad-faith opportunism” for allegedly prompting Gerrard to leak documents. This judgment influenced the trajectory of the legal dispute, ultimately leading to the settlement between the parties. The claims against Dechert and Gerrard were also resolved as part of the agreement.

Financial disclosures indicate the SFO allocated £15.4 million to cover costs related to ENRC’s lawsuit in its financial year 2025-26 accounts. The specific terms of the settlement remain confidential, with neither ENRC nor the SFO providing detailed public comment on the agreement.

This settlement effectively ends one of the most protracted and high-profile legal confrontations involving the SFO, highlighting challenges faced in prosecuting complex international corruption cases.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.