Sarah Hitchins
Partner
London

Sarah Hitchins
Partner
London
Contact Details
Sarah specialises in representing firms and senior individuals involved in internal and regulatory investigations.
She has significant experience of advising on UK and cross-border investigations involving a broad range of issues, including market abuse, insider trading, financial crime, cyber and data security breaches, individual accountability, operational resilience, misselling, systems and controls failures, whistleblowing, cultural issues and non-financial misconduct.
She has also represented a number of clients in regulatory investigations concerning compliance with UK listing and Takeover Code requirements. Sarah frequently represents clients that are involved in regulatory investigations, including investigations by the UK Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) and Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), where she previously completed a secondment in its Enforcement Division.
In addition to her investigations experience, Sarah has also advised over 75 firms (including banks, building societies, insurers, asset and fund managers) on the implementation of the UK Senior Managers and Certification Regime (SMCR), as well as a variety of post-implementation issues. In particular, Sarah has significant experience advising clients on the individual accountability aspects of investigations, including assessments of fitness and propriety and potential breaches of the FCA and PRA Codes of Conduct.
Sarah was previously selected by Global Investigations Review (GIR) as one of the top 100 women in investigations.
Expertise
Practices
Litigation, Arbitration and Investigations
Investigations, Enforcement and Business Crime
Sectors
Qualifications
Professional
Admitted as a solicitor, England and Wales, 2011
Academic
BA and MA, Law, University of Cambridge (Gonville & Caius College), 2008
LPC, BPP Law School (London), 2009
Related articles

Blog Post: 18 May 2022
What the FCA’s Business Plan and Strategy really means: a brave new world
The UK Financial Conduct Authority’s (FCA) shift towards consumer protection is intensifying. At the same time, it is gearing up to become a more assertive regulator, intervening more frequently,…
Blog Post: 17 May 2022
What the FCA’s Business Plan and Strategy really means: financial crime
Blog Post: 11 May 2022
What the FCA’s Business Plan and Strategy really means: collection and use of data
Blog Post: 03 May 2022
What the FCA’s Business Plan and Strategy really means: digital markets

Expertise
Practices
Litigation, Arbitration and Investigations
Investigations, Enforcement and Business Crime
Sectors
Qualifications
Professional
Admitted as a solicitor, England and Wales, 2011
Academic
BA and MA, Law, University of Cambridge (Gonville & Caius College), 2008
LPC, BPP Law School (London), 2009
Published work
Regular contributor to Practical Law Company’s contentious regulatory materials.
Editor of Allen & Overy’s Investigations Insight blog, which focuses on the latest trends, risks and developments in financial services investigations.