Herbert Smith Freehills (HSF) and Willkie Farr & Gallagher are among a line-up of firms advising Barclays and four former executives following the Serious Fraud Office's (SFO) announcement of fraud charges relating to the bank's capital raising arrangements with Qatari investors during the 2008 financial crisis.

The SFO announced today (20 June) that it was charging the bank and four individuals with "conspiracy to commit fraud and the provision of unlawful financial assistance", after an investigation that began in August 2012.