Overview
I am a Partner in the Commercial & Regulatory Disputes team, specialising in contentious regulatory work focusing on international financial regulation and white collar crime.
I am a barrister, King’s Counsel and a part-time judge sitting in civil/commercial and criminal cases. I joined Michelmores from the independent bar in 2011 and previously held a number of senior government roles as independent counsel including the Attorney-General’s A list of counsel, standing counsel to HMRC and the SFO’s list of counsel. I was the Firm’s Senior Partner between 2017 and 2021.
Since 2017 I have been a member of the Legal Advisory Council to the Astana International Financial Centre in Kazakhstan reviewing legislation and providing strategic legal advice. I led the team which drafted many of the financial regulations for the AIFC. I am a leading specialist in AIFC law.
I regularly act for financial institutions and other regulated firms as well as leading firms of accountants and lawyers on complex issues relating to AML/CTF, sanctions and anti-corruption. I frequently act for firms facing regulatory intervention by the FCA.
I am also one of the leading lawyers in the country on maritime and fisheries regulation. My maritime practice includes complex marine licensing and planning issues, port and harbour governance, collisions at sea, onboard accidents and pollution.
My broader regulatory practice includes health & safety, environmental protection, transport, product liability & recall, competition and consumer protection. I have successfully defended in high profile corporate manslaughter prosecutions.
I am listed as a ‘Leading Individual’ for General Crime and Fraud by the Legal 500.
Recent experience
Advising AIFC bodies and authorised firms on AIFC law, including drafting the corporate governance code.
Representing a leading defined benefit pensions advice provider during a Sct 166 investigation and subsequent regulatory intervention by the FCA
Acting for a leading worldwide trust & corporate services provider in relation to regulatory investigations into complex AML issues in offshore jurisdictions
Representing a landed estate and a fishing fleet facing investigation and prosecution for corporate manslaughter
Acting for Bijou Weddings and the wider wedding industry in consumer protection enforcement action by the Competition & Markets Authority relating to weddings cancelled due to the pandemic
Advising the Duchy of Cornwall on their marine governance of the Isles of Scilly
