

Investigations, Enforcement and Business Crime
Government regulators and criminal prosecutors around the world continue to increase their focus on the activities of banks and corporations, wherever located, along with their senior officers, directors, and outside advisors.
Successfully managing the risks arising from this increased focus requires a deep understanding of both the technical legal requirements of multiple jurisdictions and the practical concerns and investigative methods used by government regulators and criminal prosecutors.
A&O’s market-leading global investigations, enforcement and business crime practice advises clients on a wide range of high-profile criminal and regulatory investigations, particularly cross-border matters.
Our global team comprises lawyers with extensive experience of working together in multiple jurisdictions and includes former prosecutors in the U.S. and Europe. We provide a ‘one stop shop’ to clients dealing with multiple regulators and other international government bodies, reducing the complexity involved in managing complex investigations and enforcement issues.
We advise on the full range of business crime issues, ranging from internal and regulatory investigations to high profile disputes. As well as having extensive experience in handling regulatory investigations and associated employee issues, we have leading criminal defence capability covering anti-corruption and bribery, anti-money laundering, fraud (financial and tax), antitrust, sanctions and insider dealing.
We bring a deep understanding of both the technical legal requirements of multiple jurisdictions and the practical concerns and investigative methods used by government regulators and criminal prosecutors.
We advise clients across the world before, during and after any regulatory investigation. Prioritising the need to avoid enforcement action, we seek to guide clients through practical processes such as data analysis, data transfer, interviews, requests for information, producing preliminary and final reports and all employee-related issues.
Explore our services

Cross-Border White Collar Crime and Investigations Review 2022
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Investigations Insight
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News and insights

Blog Post: 05 December 2023
UK Criminal Justice Bill proposes further reforms to the identification doctrine
The UK government is already proposing further expansion to the basis on which companies can be fixed with criminal liability.

Publications: 21 April 2021
FCA fines and imposes prohibition order on trader for market manipulation
The UK Financial Conduct Authority (the FCA) has fined a trader for committing market manipulation under the Market Abuse Regulation (596/2014) (MAR). It also issued a prohibition order banning the…

Blog Post: 26 October 2023
No need to seek DAML in two new pay-away situations
As part of the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023, there are two new 'pay-away' exceptions to the need for a firm in the regulated sector to file a Defence against Money Laundering
Recognition
They have a really good team spirit in coordinating international cases across different jurisdictions, as well as understanding different legislations.
Chambers Global-wide 2020, Corporate Investigations
They are incredibly responsive and their instincts as lawyers are so spot-on. Nothing is too much trouble and everything is done immediately to a very high level of quality. They are excellent and a joy to work with.
Chambers Global-wide 2020, Corporate Investigations
They're incredibly responsive and their instincts as lawyers are so spot-on. Nothing is too much trouble and everything is done immediately to a very high level of quality. They are excellent and a joy to work with.
Chambers UK 2020, Financial Crime: Corporates
Their commitment to excellence and client service is second to none.
Chambers Global-wide 2019, Corporate Investigations