Financial Crime Legal Services

Financial crime is under the spotlight now more than ever, and the increasing global reach of businesses means that prosecutions often involve authorities in multiple jurisdictions.

And as it continues to make its mark on a variety of industries, senior management and boards must continue to acknowledge financial crime as a critical risk to their business.

We have a truly international reach. Working collaboratively, across borders with our international team of experts in the Middle East, Asia and Europe means we are well placed to advise and protect your interests.

Our clients range from corporates and company directors to high-net-worth individuals and family offices. We can advise and represent you on complex and sensitive issues, such as those relating to fraud (including cum-ex and cum-cum investigations), bribery and corruption, sanctions, money laundering and extradition/INTERPOL. Our expertise extends to associated regulatory proceedings and internal investigations.

UK

From defending high-profile fraud and bribery cases brought by the Serious Fraud Office (SFO), to guiding businesses and individuals through regulatory and internal investigations initiated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC), we have expertise in all aspects of financial crime.

Middle East

We are uniquely placed in the Middle East to offer business and financial crime advice and representation to corporates and individuals. Our lawyers have been at the forefront of legal developments in the Middle East for two decades. We have key offices operating out of the UAE, Qatar and Bahrain staffed by a combination of internationally and regionally qualified lawyers, with expertise in both regulatory and criminal law. Our lawyers, many of whom are Arabic speakers, have a strong understanding of and established working relationships with governmental and quasi-governmental bodies across the region. We operate in both the civil (onshore) and common law (offshore) jurisdictions that exist within the UAE.

Europe

With offices in Switzerland, France and Luxembourg, we cover some of the region’s most important financial centres and provide advice and representation across the full range of financial crime. This includes experience in acting in white collar crime investigations and mutual assistance proceedings on behalf of large financial institutions and high-net worth individuals, and regulatory proceedings involving the Swiss Financial Market Authority (FINMA), Autorité des Marchés Financiers (AMF) and the Commission de Surveillance du Secteur Financier (CSSF).

Asia

Our Hong Kong and Singapore offices contain experts in the region’s regulated sectors and on financial and white-collar crime. We are able to advise clients on investigations and proceedings brought by a number of enforcement authorities, including the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC), the Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) and the Commercial Crime Bureau of the Hong Kong Police Force. Our Singapore office has expertise in advising clients on investigations throughout the Asia Pacific region on a diverse range of matters, including bribery and corruption, fraud, sanctions, financial services regulatory investigations, whistleblowing and tax investigations.

Our Financial Crime expertise covers:

• Criminal investigation and prosecution
• Fraud
• Bribery and corruption
• Money laundering / proceeds of crime
• Sanctions
• Tax investigations
• Sports investigations
• Financial services regulatory investigations
• Whistleblowing
• Extradition
• Mutual legal assistance
• Cross-border evidence gathering and co-operation between state investigative arms
• INTERPOL Red Notices
• Restraint and confiscation
• Account freezing and forfeiture orders
• Civil recovery and unexplained wealth orders

We will bring a deep understanding of both technical and legal requirements of multiple jurisdictions and the practical concerns and investigative methods used by government regulators and criminal prosecutors and embed ourselves in your business to ensure the best possible outcomes at every stage. 

Our Financial Crime experience

Internal Investigation

Advising a company accused of tax fraud by a former employee. We are advising on the internal investigation and other potential criminal offences, as well as providing specialist advice relating to the potential involvement of HMRC.

International bribery and corruption

Successfully representing  former employee of a subsidiary of Royal Dutch Shell against allegations of international bribery and corruption int eh Nigerian OPL 245 affair, securing a “no case to answer” acquittal and withdrawal of the criminal appeal made by the Italian Prosecutor.

Norway’s largest bankruptcy

Successfully obtaining the seizures and confiscation for the benefit of the bankruptcy estate of the proceeds of crime transferred out of Norway to Switzerland in Norway’s largest bankruptcy. 

Fraud, breach of trust and forgery

Advising a Geneva based independent asset manager who has been accused of fraud, breach of trust and forgery of documents, to cover the losses and embezzlement of their investments in Forex trading. The scale of this “Ponzi scheme” is significant, as it also involved a Swizz custodian bank as well as a dozen of business referrals in different countries.

INTERPOL Red Notice

Advising a UHNWI on INTERPOL and related extradition to Mexico. Successfully obtained deletion of INTERPOL Red Notice and avoided execution of a UAE arrest warrant. Involved collaboration between South American, Spanish and Swiss lawyers.

Extradition

Successfully challenging a Bulgarian extradition request on behalf of a UNHWI before the Abu Dhabi Federal Court of Appeal. This was the first time a UAE Court upheld a challenge to an extradition request on both technical and substantive grounds.