Corporate Investigations Solicitors

Navigating an increasingly complex enforcement landscape

The reputational, regulatory and criminal liability landscape for corporates and senior executives has changed significantly over the last 20 years. The continued relaxation of the rules governing corporate attribution has made the prospect of internal and external investigations and regulatory enforcement actions increasingly likely.

The changing enforcement landscape means no two investigations are ever the same. Each matter requires a tailored, adaptable and strategic approach, led by genuine experts who understand the legal, commercial and reputational pressures involved.

Meet our corporate investigations team

Our corporate investigations and white collar defence team is led by Satnam Tumani, a member of the Legal 500 Hall of Fame for white collar crime and investigations. Satnam is supported by a diverse, multidisciplinary team with experience across criminal law, corporate investigations, regulatory enforcement, financial crime and digital assets.

Along with former investigators from the SFO, FCA, CPS and MHRA, we have a dedicated in-house team with expertise in gathering intelligence and evidence, conducting money-flow reviews, assisting with document reviews, supporting interviews and carrying out evidential assessments.

We also have in-house specialist criminal law barristers who provide advocacy and advice on particularly complex areas of criminal law. In addition, we are one of the few practices with genuine and dedicated crypto and digital assets expertise, advising on cases involving cryptocurrencies, non-fungible tokens, exchanges and related investigations.

Corporate investigations, SFO investigations and regulatory defence

Our team has been significantly involved in many of the major SFO corporate investigations of the last two decades, including:

• Rio Tinto
• Airbus
• Rolls-Royce
• Petrofac
• Amec Foster Wheeler
• Unaoil
• GSK
• Standard Bank
• Innospec
• Alstom
• BAE Systems
• Mabey & Johnson

Along with the FCA, CPS and MHRA, we also have notable experience advising on investigations conducted by the:

• UK National Crime Agency (NCA)
• Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO)
• UK Financial Reporting Council (FRC)
• Department for Business, Innovation and Skills
• Department of Health
• General Medical Council (GMC)
• General Dental Council (GDC)
• Nursing & Midwifery Council
• Department for Work and Pensions
• HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC)
• and various police forces

Who we advise

Our experience spans a wide range of domestic and cross-border matters, including corruption, money laundering, investment fraud, corporate fraud, insider dealing and market manipulation.

Acting across these areas, we advise a diverse range of clients facing complex investigations, regulatory scrutiny and allegations of financial misconduct, including:

• nation states
• international and UK public and private companies
• asset managers and hedge funds
• sovereign wealth funds
• ultra-high-net-worth individuals
• senior executives
• compliance professionals
• in-house legal teams

Our corporate investigations solicitors work alongside leading criminal law specialists worldwide and have developed a trusted network of specialist law firms across Europe, the United States and Australia.

What clients say about our legal investigations team

Satnam Tumani has repeatedly been recognised and ranked by Chambers and Partners, The Legal 500 and Who’s Who Legal for white collar crime and investigations matters, including in the Legal 500 Hall of Fame.

He is described as:

“dominant in the sector. He’s an outstanding leader who knows precisely what to do and how to do it. He is a genuinely intimidating presence for any opponent and achieves results like no other as a result.”

Satnam is also: “incredibly diligent and has a practical approach to issues”, “an excellent operator. Very strategic but also across the detail and client-centric”, and “very thoughtful, strategic and provides very high-quality advice.”

Satnam’s teams have been recognised as: “among the very best of the best”, “they think of everything, in depth, many moves ahead of the opposition”, and “a leader amongst others and particularly suitable for the larger, thornier cases involving the Serious Fraud Office.”

Clients praise EMM Partners Kate McMahon and Andrew Marshall for their commitment, strategic thinking and ability to deliver results in challenging circumstances:

“Throughout a difficult investigation…been extraordinarily committed, resourceful and unwaveringly determined on our behalf.”

“Kate’s dynamism, commitment and drive have been instrumental in assisting us.”

“Andrew provides sensible and fearless advice which he is prepared to stand behind when the going gets tough. He is also very strategic”

Andrew has also been described as: “A legal genius.”

Client feedback highlights fellow partner Tamlyn Edmonds’ strengths in preparation, collaboration and advocacy: She is described as:

“Always on top of her brief”

“a very bright… fearless advocate (with) good forensic skills.”

And as someone who: “works collaboratively with other professional advisors and the end-client to adapt the legal strategy to a changing picture as an investigation proceeds.”

Examples of our corporate investigations and defence work

SFO, bribery and corruption investigations

• Representing a Caribbean country in multiple anti-bribery investigations
• Representing Rio Tinto in respect of internal and governmental investigations into alleged bribery and corruption conducted by the SFO, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), the U.S. Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC), the Australian Securities and Investments Commission, the Australian Federal Police and the French Parquet National Financier (PNF)
• Representing multiple senior executives in the SFO’s Unaoil investigation
• Representing a senior executive in the SFO’s Petrofac investigation
• Representing a senior executive in the SFO’s Amec Foster Wheeler investigation
• Representing a senior executive in the SFO’s GSK investigation
• Representing an international asset management company in an SFO investigation
• Assisting a global aerospace manufacturer in respect of corruption-related self-reports to multinational governmental authorities, including the SFO
• Acting for a FTSE 100 company in respect of multiple bribery and corruption investigations in Asia and Africa
• Advising a public company in respect of allegations of historic bribery and corruption in Europe
• Acting for a global medical device manufacturer in respect of an internal investigation into allegations of bribery, corruption and tax fraud

FCA, insider dealing and market misconduct investigations

• Representing multiple senior executives in the FCA’s market misconduct investigation into TFS-ICAP
• Representing a US financial services company in an FCA insider dealing investigation
• Conducting an internal investigation for a multinational financial services company in respect of alleged benchmark manipulation

HMRC, money laundering and tax investigations

• Defending an ultra-high-net-worth individual in respect of bribery and money laundering investigations conducted by the NCA, together with Swiss and African criminal investigation authorities
• Acting for a publicly listed company in successfully achieving a confidential settlement with HMRC in respect of alleged breaches of the UK money laundering regulations at three subsidiaries.
• Conducting an investigation and advising a multinational company in respect of compliance with the EU anti-dumping regulations and corresponding UK customs and tax legislation

Insolvency, data protection and public inquiry investigations

• Representing a senior executive in a confidential Insolvency Service criminal investigation
• Acting for the subsidiary of a global pharmaceuticals company in respect of a criminal and regulatory data protection investigation by the ICO into alleged misuse of personal data
• Representing an international public company in respect of a high-profile UK public inquiry

Internal corporate investigations

• Acting for a multinational chemical manufacturing company in an internal investigation and remediation programme relating to the EU Precursor Chemicals Regulations
• Advising the Audit Committee of an SEC-registered company in respect of an internal accounting investigation across a number of European subsidiaries
• Advising the Audit Committee of a global medical devices company in respect of internal investigations relating to sales practices and accounting matters
• Advising a sales and marketing company in respect of an internal corruption investigation in China
• Acting for a public manufacturing company in respect of an internal anti-corruption investigation across a number of Chinese subsidiaries

Criminal, regulatory and counterfeit goods investigations

• R v Gillespie and others – Europe’s largest counterfeit medicines case, concerning the importation of counterfeit, prescription-only, life-saving medicines which eventually reached the legitimate supply chain within the UK, leading to a rare Class 1 recall by the MHRA.
• Acting in a large-scale counterfeit tobacco case with multiple defendants linked to an overseas organised crime group