

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
Investigations Insight

A&O's blog highlighting the current issues
Focusing on the latest trends, risks and developments in business crime and financial services investigations.
News and insights

Blog Post: 26 May 2022
An important development in the articulation of criminal antitrust intent has, in many ways, evolved to frustrate the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) Antitrust Division’s ability to secure…

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: 17 May 2022
What the FCA’s Business Plan and Strategy really means: financial crime
Financial crime has been a key area of focus for the UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) for a number of years, attracting some of the highest financial penalties, and this looks set to continue.…

Blog Post: 11 May 2022
What the FCA’s Business Plan and Strategy really means: collection and use of data
The requirement for firms to collect and report quality data has never been more important, with the UK Financial Conduct Authority’s (FCA) outcome driven strategy looking to rely on firm data to…
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