The Dame Linda Dobbs Review
Dame Linda Dobbs DBE has been appointed by Lloyds Banking Group ("LBG") to consider whether the issues relating to HBOS Reading were investigated and appropriately reported to authorities at the time by LBG, following its acquisition of HBOS.
The independent legal assessment will cover the period following HBOS’s acquisition by LBG, in January 2009, through to the conclusion of criminal proceedings commenced against six individuals in connection with the HBOS Reading fraud. In addition, the Review will examine relevant evidence from before 2009 in order to assess what LBG knew or should reasonably have known about what happened at HBOS Reading by the time of the acquisition.
Dame Linda's appointment was announced by LBG on 26 April 2017. LBG's announcement is available here.
A message from Dame Linda Dobbs to Witnesses – September 2026
The Review has made significant progress since my last update.
This week, the final witness evidence was at last received. The evidence-gathering phase is therefore complete. This is an important milestone. It reflects sustained work over a considerable period.
There are still a number of steps that the Review must carry out before completion, not least conducting the final analysis and ensuring that any procedural requirements, including natural justice considerations, are properly addressed.
I know that this has taken much longer than anyone would have wished. I remain acutely aware of the importance of completing this work as soon as possible. My team and I are focused on bringing the Review to a conclusion without avoidable delay. However, the final Report must be thorough and comprehensively address the questions I have been tasked with answering.
It is important to remember that I am not empowered to award any financial compensation. That is the remit of a separate independent review being conducted by Sir David Foskett, which is considering compensation for those impacted by the Reading fraud. My Review has no input into the Foskett Review nor any bearing on the question of compensation.
I am grateful to all of you who have engaged with my Review and for the significant contribution you have made. Your patience and assistance have been invaluable. We will continue to work with urgency to complete the remaining steps and deliver the Report to Lloyds Banking Group as soon as possible.
Dame Linda Dobbs
Scope of the Review
Dame Linda will assess whether, between 19 January 2009 and 30 January 2017, information about issues relating to HBOS Reading which LBG knew, or should have known about through reasonable diligence, was properly investigated and appropriately reported to the relevant authorities. As part of this assessment, the Review will examine relevant evidence from before 2009 in order to assess what LBG knew or should reasonably have known about what happened at HBOS Reading by the time of the acquisition.
Further detail as to the Scope of the Review is available here.
Guide to the Review
To view a copy of the guide, click here.
Contact the Review
The Review welcomes comment and submissions from interested parties. Evidence or information relevant to the inquiry should be submitted directly via email to info@dobbsreview.com.
A copy of Dame Linda's announcement inviting submissions is available here.
Announcements
A message from Dame Linda Dobbs to Witnesses - May 2022 and previous messages can be found here.
NDAs and Confidentiality Agreements
LBG’s clear position is that anyone with relevant information can provide it to the Review. The confirmation letter is available here.
About Dame Linda Dobbs
Dame Linda was the first non-white High Court judge to be appointed in the UK and before that she was a leading barrister and QC, specializing in fraud and white collar crime cases. Her professional biography is available here.
Media enquiries
All media enquiries concerning the Review should be addressed to:
Peter Wilson-Smith +44 (0)20 7043 4604 or +44 (0)7979 526152
pws@meritusconsultants.com
Jimmy Chen +44 (0)20 7043 4606 or +44 (0)7787 492922
jchen@meritusconsultants.com