‘Concierge’ for super rich makes unusual sight at Nirav Modi's hearing

She specialises in organising shopping trips worth £100,000 and holidays for the super rich in London. And hence, Frances Hallworth-Noble’s appearance at Westminster Magistrates’ Court last week at ahearing of fugitive Indian billionaire jeweller Nirav Modi made an unusual sight.
Nirav Modi, wanted in India on fraud and money laundering charges amounting to $2 billion, has engaged Hallworth-Noble to run his personal affairs. Hallworth-Noble, owner of the London Concierge Company that she founded in 2013, specialises in providing a range of concierge services such as organising shopping trips, restaurant bookings, holidays, sourcing gifts, arranging VIP cars among other things.In 2015, Frances had helped her clients buy some of the most extravagant gifts and treats for themselves, from a £10,000 Chanel watch to a rare, silver LaFerrari worth £3 million.
Its company’s website states: “The London Concierge Company are experienced at looking after VIPs, UHNWIs (ultra-high net-worth individuals) and HNWI (high net-worth individuals) giving us a broad knowledge of luxury brand names that enable The London Concierge Company to provide a Lifestyle Management Service that offers you the freedom to enjoy your VIP moments.”
“We also offer a unique PA service for our clients that need additional support with the day to day running of their business or private life. We will create with you a service that ensures you are getting a bespoke Lifestyle Management Service suited to your personal needs.”
Her LinkedIn profile states: We provide a service that is bespoke for each of our clients. We maintain an intimate team to ensure that you are getting a truly added value service. (Sic)” The website does not specify that court appearances for clients are part of the package.
Seeking bail for Nirav during his first court hearing, his lawyer George Hepburne Scott said that the businessman is the “opposite of a flight risk”. “The home office has one of his passports and the other is with the DVLA (Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency). His personal assistant who is in court can give evidence. Once it is back, he will surrender it. These are the only travel documents he has,” he said In an interview in Business Insider magazine in 2016, Hallworth-Noble said she charged £1,000 a day to source Christmas presents and that her clients come from China, Russia and West Asia. At the time, she charged £3,600 for 36 hours of concierge support per year. “I have dropped clients in the past when they were difficult to work with,” she had said.
She moved into the concierge business after spending 20 years as a PA for wealthy financiers and businessmen working for the likes of HSBC, Deloitte etc.