The Panamanian law firm under international scrutiny for helping wealthy people avoid tax has a British offshoot with a former Hasmonean High School pupil as a director.
Emmanuel Cohen was revealed by the Times to be one of the directors of Mossack Fonseca & Co (UK) based in Hitchin, North Hertfordshire.
In a statement, Mossack Fonseca UK explained that it had “a licence to distribute services under the brand Mossack Fonseca” and was “an entirely separate legal entity from the Panamanian law firm whose records have been leaked to the media”.
Mossack Fonseca would not comment on the flood of stories which have emerged in the international press in recent days following the leak of millions of documents.
Mr Cohen is also a director of another company, RM Company Services Ltd, which is registered as the company secretary of Mossack Fonseca UK and shares the same office address.
In his Linked-In profile, which refers to him as “Emmanuel (Manny) Cohen” his listed areas of expertise include helping clients with due diligence, credit checks, brand protection and company registration. “I am also an expert on anti money laundering regulations,” he says.
Mr Cohen’s lawyer described him as “an active participant in Jewish life” who “contributes to a number of charities, including those relating to specifically Jewish causes”.
He is also a director of British Bobsleigh, the governing body of the winter sport, and until last year chaired Southern Premier League football team Arlesey Town for several seasons.
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