Richard Alderman
Director, Serious Fraud Office

Richard Alderman is a barrister. His recent role as Director of National Teams and Special Civil Investigations in HM Revenue and Customs has involved responsibility for 3000 staff who carry out specialised tax investigations. He has very extensive experience of complex financial investigations from this role and from his previous roles in Inland Revenue. As Director of the Revenue's Special Compliance Office from 2003 to 2005, he was responsible for all of the criminal investigations carried out by the Inland Revenue. These included very complex cases that are similar in weight and complexity to the workload of the SFO. Before becoming Director of the Special Compliance Office, Richard had been the senior lawyer in the Revenue's Solicitor's Office responsible for the conduct of criminal prosecutions. These roles have meant that Richard has great experience both in the investigation as well as in the prosecution of complex fraud.

Richard has also carried out other key roles in the Government Legal Service. In 2002, he was invited by the Attorney General and the Treasury Solicitor to work with the Home Office to set up the Assets Recovery Agency and subsequently became its first Legal Director. Richard was also seconded to the Legal Secretariat to the Law Officers between 1991 and 1993 and worked closely with the Law Officers in that role.

Richard is 55 years old and is married with one daughter.