A solicitor has appeared before Southwark Crown Court and pleaded not guilty to five charges of insider dealing relating to share purchases made while he was working on a proposed corporate acquisition.
Richard Bloomfield, aged 38, appeared before the court on 11 September 2026. He confirmed his identity before entering not guilty pleas to each of the five charges.
Bloomfield, who was admitted as a solicitor in September 2012, is accused of using confidential information obtained during his work on a proposed acquisition involving maternity wear company Seraphine Group plc.
The prosecution alleges that he used information concerning a securities issuer to acquire more than 580,000 shares whose value was affected by that information.
The five charges relate to transactions allegedly carried out between 28 March 2022 and 10 January 2023.
At the hearing, His Honour Judge Baumgartner, Recorder of Westminster, considered a request concerning the timing of the trial. The court granted the request for the trial to be listed for 11 September 2028.
Bloomfield denies all five allegations. The charges remain allegations and have not been proven in court.
The case will now proceed towards trial, where the allegations against Bloomfield will be considered.
