Corporate Investigations

Our corporate investigations, risk and compliance lawyers advise clients on a wide spectrum of compliance and advisory matters, from safety prosecutions and corporate tax‑offence risk assessments to bribery‑risk analysis, complex regulatory obligations, and global compliance‑programme design. They deliver practical, sector‑specific guidance across high‑risk jurisdictions and heavily regulated industries.

• Acted for a well-known food business in safety prosecutions brought as a result of accidents in the retail and distribution environments.
• Represented a major supermarket group at Coroner’s Inquests touching on the work-related deaths of employees and members of the public.
• Acted for William Hill in the successful defence of criminal charges arising from the collapse of a shop sign and the resulting death of a pedestrian.
• Conducted a corporate tax offence advisory and risk assessment for multi-jurisdiction football representation agreements.
• Designed compliance policies for a football club.
• Advised on bribery risks involving complex structures for payments to player agents.
• Advised on managing conflicts of interest in relation to interactions with HCPs and government officials.
• Designed a compliance programme for a global chemical company with operations in high-risk jurisdictions in the Middle East and Asia.
• Advised a global medical devices company on post-diligence mitigation approach and strategy in its China business.
• Conducted a bribery risk controls gap analysis for a global pharmaceutical company.
• Advised a cable and telecoms business in East Africa on relevant compliance issues.
• Advised a French-owned logistics business on its UK-facing compliance programme.
• Advised a UK-based international tech and robotics company on financial crime aspects of its compliance programme.
• Advised a Canadian retail client on ABC and tax evasion compliance issues.
• Advised a FTSE 100 company on managing anti-tax evasion risk in order to comply with the Criminal Finances Act.
• Advised a NYSE-listed company on an internal investigation and on self-reporting obligations under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002.
• Advised a consumer hire business on potential failings of regulatory obligations connected to the delivery of its business. Advised on engagement with the FCA and also on remediation steps to bring the business in line with regulatory expectations.
• Advised a company on whether its business fell within the scope of FCA-regulated insurance activity. Advised on perimeter issues and structuring of the business.
• Advised an international financial institution on financial regulatory matters arising in relation to the migration of its banking businesses from Jersey to the Middle East. Successfully negotiated the cessation and migration of the banking business.
• Acted for a major financial institution on a section 166 skilled person regulatory investigation in respect of the sale of interest rate derivative products.
• Acted for a major financial institution on a contentious regulatory investigation into the sale (and any potential mis-selling) of mortgage products, advising on liability and redress.

Our lawyers advise on a wide range of corporate governance matters, from acquisitions and director‑related issues to the development of governance frameworks and cross‑border governance projects. They support businesses through complex structural changes and regulatory reviews, helping to embed robust, practical governance across diverse organisations.

• Advised Getech Group plc on its acquisition of Exprodat Consulting Limited and related corporate governance matters.
• Advised Snowsport England on corporate governance issues.
• Developed and implemented an extensive corporate governance framework and was instrumental in developing a governance-focused culture within the business.
• Developed a new chapter relating to private company corporate governance for practical commercial precedents (covering (1) legal, ethical and compliance matters, and (2) operational checks and balances for the directors and senior executives).
• Acted as legal counsel for The Gentlemen Baristas on corporate governance issues relating to an investor director.
• Advised over a three-year period a well-known multinational group which was downsizing its operations as it transitioned into the ownership of the PPF, comprising company and corporate governance advice across a range of issues, due diligence and commercial advice in over 20 jurisdictions.
• Advised a well-known airline on a post-deal integration project involving combining two airlines by way of a complex business transfer within a single entity with associated new corporate, funding and governance structure in order to achieve cost efficiencies and improved corporate governance.
• Advised the EU Commission on a review of corporate governance codes across Europe.

Our corporate investigations, risk and compliance lawyers provide decisive support in crisis management and criminal or regulatory proceedings, guiding clients through dawn raids, law enforcement engagement and complex investigative processes. Their experience spans major multinational matters, employment and data privacy implications, and strategic responses to high‑stakes regulatory scrutiny.

• Managed many crisis situations for Barclays, Bank of America and McKinsey including preparation for dawn raids and then responses when they happened.
• Managed relations with stakeholders and the external law enforcement authorities responsible for the dawn raids on Barclays, Bank of America and McKinsey.
• Advised a global industrial/manufacturing business on employment and data privacy law implications of a multinational anti-bribery investigation.
• Advised a global construction sector business on employment and data privacy law implications of an internal and regulatory investigation into bribery and anti-competition activities.
• Represented a major supermarket group at Coroner’s Inquests touching on the work-related deaths of employees and members of the public.
• Represented a well-known publishing house from initial crisis management during police searches to negotiated resolution of the corporate case with both the SFO and the World Bank.
• Advised transport operators under investigation by the Traffic Commissioner.
• Represented a tech business accused by a UK government agency of criminality in its applications for funding.
• Advised companies and company directors facing the threat of criminal prosecution from Companies House for late filings.
• Appeared as an advocate defending companies and individuals facing serious criminal charges, including complex fraud, bribery and corruption.
• Represented an individual named as a co-conspirator in the Airbus Deferred Prosecution Agreement.
• Represented a key suspect in the investigation of Johnson & Johnson/De Puy, culminating in a decision of no further action by the SFO and the DOJ against the client.
• Coordinated the response to the SFO raids at multiple premises of a well-known French-owned infrastructure multinational, taking the lead role in advising the client on legal issues and directing all crisis management processes.
• Coordinated the worldwide defence of criminal charges and civil claims for a HNWI accused of fraud, abuse of political office and ‘organising a criminal organisation’ by a foreign government.
• Advised individuals in respect of SFO investigation and subsequent proceedings.
• Advised insurers and insureds on policy issues arising from theft of funds/irregular transfer of bank account proceeds; breaches of anti-money laundering laws; breaches of bribery laws; allegations of anti-money laundering legislation; and allegations of negligence against boards of directors.
• Led a large legal and forensic team in response to high-profile arrests and investigation by the SFO, which was subsequently withdrawn after successful judicial review proceedings.
• Advised clients on obtaining freezing orders and/or search and seizure orders and clients who have been served with such orders.

Our lawyers advise financial services clients on complex regulatory matters, including FCA compliance, change‑of‑control issues, sanctions, AML obligations, and investigations into market abuse or insider dealing. They support businesses through authorisations, regulatory queries, and high‑stakes reviews, ensuring robust, compliant operational frameworks.

• Advised multiple fintech and financial service provider startups on the FCA compliance status of their MVP/proposed financial products and assisted in structuring the business so that it complied with the appropriate international financial regulator.
• Acted for a significant FCA-regulated corporate on its change of control and sale of its financial services business to include obtaining all necessary authorisations.
• Acted for the administrators of a corporate group in relation to the sale and transfer of all its regulated financial services business and the subsequent cancellation of all its FCA authorisations.
• Advised a corporate administrator of a complex joint venture investment structure between two major countries, one of which is subject to complex sectoral economic sanctions. The structure involved a number of entities across a number of jurisdictions. Provided ongoing sanctions and AML advice on proposed transactions, in addition to responding to regulatory queries.
• Advised a diamond mining company during an investigation to ascertain whether it held proceeds of crime/funds derived from bribery and corruption.
• Conducted an internal review of a fiduciary company’s compliance with risk-based systems and controls obligations arising from AML requirements, pursuant to money laundering legislation and guidance.
• Advised on suspected insider dealing and market abuse by senior staff and officers at a national food retailer, conducted interviews and managed the internal investigation, liaised with the HR teams on the disciplinary dismissal process and with the FCA regarding the insider trading prosecution.

Our lawyers handle all aspects of internal and external investigations, advising on matters ranging from insider trading and market manipulation to bribery, misconduct, and cross‑border regulatory enquiries. They liaise with regulators and external counsel worldwide, providing guidance through complex, high‑risk scenarios.

• Advised Barclays and Bank of America on all internal and external investigations that arose in the Asia-Pacific region including insider trading, market manipulation, sponsor-related issues, rates issues, electronic trading, transaction reporting, and anti-trust (competition) issues. Liaised with regulators and external counsel in respect of these globally as and when required.
• Advised McKinsey & Company on anti-bribery & corruption issues, serious employee misconduct, government enquiries, potential tax issues, conflicts of interest, police matters, and privilege and disclosure-related issues.
• Advised a UK manufacturing business with international footprint in responding to an internal investigation commenced by the buyer during the sale of the business. Also advised its CEO.
• Led the internal investigation for an energy client relating to a House of Lords cash-for-influence scandal reported extensively in the press.
• Conducted internal investigations into bribery allegations across several high-risk jurisdictions.
• Instructed by a leading cricket club to conduct an independent investigation into allegations of racism and institutional racism raised by a former player.
• Conducted internal investigations in relation to football agency arrangements.
• Advised a global organisation in relation to corrupt practices in its business operations in China.
• Led an internal investigation into allegations of bribery of foreign officials across several high-risk jurisdictions.
• Advised a financial institution on cross-border investigation by ACPR into their AML/financial crime controls.
• Advised a corporate administrator on a trust structure with possible proceeds of crime from a suspected Russian fraudster.
• Collaborated with forensic accountants and officers during an insider trading and money laundering investigation by providing legal counsel and liaison with prosecution authorities in the UK and offshore.
• Advised on the prosecution of a financial institution for criminal failings in its money laundering systems and controls.
• Advised a bank during an investigation to ascertain whether it held funds derived from corruption in Africa.
• Conducted an internal review of a fiduciary company’s compliance with risk-based systems and controls obligations arising from AML requirements, pursuant to money laundering legislation and guidance.

Our lawyers advise on all aspects of supply chain risk management, conducting global ESG reviews, designing third‑party due‑diligence procedures, and assessing bribery and modern‑slavery risks across high‑risk jurisdictions. They provide clear, practical guidance to help businesses strengthen supply‑chain integrity and mitigate red‑flag exposures.

• Conducted a global ESG supply chain review for a US-listed retail company with a large global footprint.
• Designed a third-party due diligence procedure for a global retail company.
• Conducted a bribery risk assessment across global operations in high-risk jurisdictions.
• Conducted a modern slavery risk assessment focused on Asia-based operations.
• Advised a leading retailer on proportionate due diligence procedures and red-flag mitigation.