Business Crime, Regulation & Sanctions

• Account Freezing Orders
• Asset forfeiture and recovery
• Bribery & Corruption
• Civil fraud
• Confiscation and restraint orders
• Corporate governance
• Corporate investigations
• Criminal fraud and financial wrongdoing
• Cyber crime
• Data protection
• Deferred Prosecution Agreements
• Directors’ liability
• Freezing injunctions and search orders
• Information Law
• Investigations
• Judicial review
• Market abuse including insider trading and other anti-competitive behaviour
• Money laundering
• Multilateral Development Bank Sanctions and Debarment Regimes
• Privilege
• Sanctions and export controls
• Tax
• Proceeds of Crime
• Professional discipline
• Unexplained Wealth Orders

We advise and act for corporate and individual clients in investigations and proceedings in the UK and other jurisdictions, including for non-UK governments, foreign enforcement authorities and the UK’s leading enforcement authorities:

• Bank of England
• City of London Police
• Competition and Markets Authority
• Crown Prosecution Service
• Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
• Financial Conduct Authority
• HM Revenue & Customs
• Lloyd’s of London
• National Crime Agency
• Office of Fair Trading
• Serious Fraud Office
• The Pensions Regulator

Members of our Business Crime & Regulatory team are routinely instructed by banks, financial institutions, FTSE 100/250 & AIM listed companies and private individuals.

Examples of cases undertaken by members of the Business Crime & Regulatory team include:

• The Dame Linda Dobbs Review – Acting as specialist financial crime and financial services counsel to the review into whether the issues relating to HBOS Reading were investigated and appropriately reported to authorities at the time by Lloyds Banking Group
• Operation Braid – retained in respect of the largest ever financial investigation ever conducted in the Isle of Man
• Serco DPA – acting for the SFO
• Tata Steel – acting for the SFO
• Harlequin Investments prosecution – acting for the SFO
• SFO investigation into Autonomy Corporation – advising Dr Mike Lynch
• London Capital & Finance Plc – advising an individual following the London Capital & Finance Plc collapse
• SFO v Alstom UK Network – representing a former SVP of Alstom Network UK charged with conspiracy to corrupt
• SFO Libor & Forex investigations – advising Barclays PLC

Member of Business Crime & regulatory team are ranked in both Chambers & Partners and Legal 500.
The team includes a trustee of Transparency International UK and a host of editors and contributors to practitioners texts including:

• The Practitioner’s Guide to Global Investigations (GIR)
• Blackstone’s Criminal Practice
• Lissack and Horlick on Bribery and Corruption
• Millington and Sutherland Williams on the Proceeds of Crime
• The Government’s Public Sector’s Counter Fraud Journal

Members of the team are regularly invited to speak at ABC, AML and asset recovery conferences. Amongst others, these have included the AMLP Annual Anti-Bribery and Corruption Forum; the FLA; POCLA and the YFLA. The team also contributes to regular training and discussions on this subject and has authored headnotes for Oxford University Press on the Sanctions Procedures of the African Development Bank Group, the World Bank Sanctions Procedures and the Enforcement Policy and Procedures of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development.

“Members are experienced across a range of areas, including regulatory enforcement proceedings, both for and against regulators such as the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). Silks such as Michael Bowes KC also offer strong support on the overlap between criminal, regulatory and civil issues. James Counsell KC is also highly experienced and was involved in The Council of Lloyd’s v Equity Syndicate Management Company Limited and Others.” Legal 500, Outer Temple Chambers.

“A heavy-hitting silk whose prowess in handling some of the most significant financial regulatory cases of recent times, including Libor, forex and other instances of pan-European financial litigation, is highly praised. His criminal law background stands him in particularly good stead when he is representing individuals and managers. He is noted for his knowledge of EU sanctions and their impact on financial services.” Chambers & Partners, Michael Bowes KC

“A barrister who offers pragmatic advice and understands the commercial and practical implications of serious financial crime cases. Further experienced in financial services and regulatory matters, he acts for corporations and individuals, and has broad experience of representing parties affected by allegations of rate manipulation, corruption and insider dealing. He also wins recognition as a highly capable prosecutor.” Chambers & Partners, Michael Bowes KC

“A phenomenal advocate, both in his written and oral presentation… A master tactician with a wonderful court presence, he manages the team expertly – simply the real deal.” Legal 500, Nick Johnson KC

“He has a very analytical eye, and communicates well with clients. Very hard-working and diligent.” Legal 500, Oliver Powell

“Very diligent, enthusiastic and personable. Instils you with confidence that they know the law and relevant material well and have sensible comments on how it can be applied in practice.” Legal 500, Oliver Powell

“She is an excellent junior. Reliable, hardworking and focused. She is a very good lawyer and extremely competent to handle any task in case preparation. She has an engaging, charming personality and ability to get on with everyone. Neither her advocacy nor her written work can be faulted. She is an impressive operator in all aspects of criminal law.” Legal 500, Sophie O’Sullivan