Bribery and corruption: what to do when it strikes?

Ruby Hamid

Ruby Hamid is a partner in our dispute resolution practice. She specialises in global investigations, white collar crime, compliance and risk management. Her technical expertise in bribery and corruption, money laundering, serious fraud and tax evasion supports her practice.

Ruby advises clients across a broad spectrum of regulatory and criminal issues. She is a former prosecutor and spent 13 years at the independent Bar before joining a Magic Circle firm in 2015. She spent a decade leading investigations and prosecutions for the FCA, the National Crime Agency, HMRC, the CPS Specialist Fraud and Serious Crime Units, the FRC and the Environment Agency. She was Panel Counsel for the SFO, General Medical Counsel and the Office of Rail Regulation. She is a highly experienced trial lawyer, having acted as sole advocate in courts of first instance, appellate courts and before a variety of tribunals. This experience underpins the advice she provides and the strategies she employs on behalf of her clients.

She has particular expertise in the financial sector and in oil, gas and mining and infrastructure. She spent 6 years acting for the Financial Conduct Authority, investigating and prosecuting their most serious market abuse and insider dealing cases. She has acted for a number of multinational oil, gas and mining companies facing criminal investigation for corruption in multiple jurisdictions.

A key part of Ruby's practice is compliance and risk management, and she recently spent 6 months seconded to a Fortune 500 company as Head of International Compliance. She advises on financial crime prevention, compliance and corporate governance programmes, responses to new legislation, modern slavery and supply-chain control.

Anupreet Amole

Anupreet Amole is a partner in the Firm's White Collar Defense & Government Investigations Practice Group. Anupreet advises companies and individuals on business crime and corporate compliance issues. He handles sensitive investigations in a range of multi-jurisdictional matters, focusing upon allegations of bribery and corruption, fraud, tax evasion and money laundering.

Anupreet has particular experience of advising companies on financial crime compliance and risk management, including as to diligence in M&A deals. Past and present clients include various FTSE 100 companies, senior executives, investment advisory firms, professional services firms and high net worth individuals. In addition, Anupreet is leader of the Firm's Cybersecurity Group, advising companies both before and after a data incident.

The Legal 500 UK reports that Anupreet is ‘particularly impressive and has excellent industry awareness.’

Client comments regarding Anupreet include, ‘a deep specialism across a range of financial investigations and key legal and regulatory compliance requirements – the type of issue that can have an existential impact. At the same time he is aware and understanding of the in-house agenda, and how to leverage and accommodate this to achieve the best result.’

Chambers & Partners state that, ‘The team is also praised for its responsiveness and understanding of the in-house perspective.’

Mark Hunting

Qualified Solicitor-Advocate in England and Wales focusing on business-related criminal matters including anti-money laundering, anti-bribery and corruption, international sanctions and corporate investigations.

Experience includes advising on and conducting internal investigations, conducting corporate due diligence on business-related criminal matters, and litigating mass tort, international regulatory and product liability actions, including government enforcement actions.

Former Magistrate (Approved Chairman) for North London dealing with adult criminal matters.

Pro bono practice includes obtaining compensation for victims of violent crime and appearing in the High Court to secure non-molestation and occupation orders for victims of domestic violence.

Simon Taylor

Simon Taylor, CIPP/E, CIPM is a Partner and certified data privacy expert in FRA’s forensic accounting team with 20 years’ experience in investigations, financial crime and regulatory enquiries. He advises clients on the design, implementation and testing of compliance programmes across a range of industries and sectors, corporate governance and data privacy issues.

Simon’s areas of expertise include money laundering, bribery, corruption, sanctions abuse, tax evasion and corporate fraud. He works with both external and in-house counsel to corporations and financial institutions, bringing a multi-disciplinary approach to resolving complex matters. In addition to his investigatory expertise, Simon advises companies on the structure, design and testing of their compliance programs, helping them rise to best-in-class standards across key jurisdictions. His international experience extends to numerous geographies – including the UK, US, Switzerland, France, the Nordic region, Eastern Europe, Russia, India and China – and a variety of sectors.

Simon was part of the FRA team supporting Airbus in a multi-year forensic accounting and eDiscovery review within the context of the company’s multinational investigation, reporting to four investigative authorities: UK Serious Fraud Office (SFO), the US Department of Justice (DOJ), the US Department of State (DOS), and French Parquet National Financier (PNF). Simon supported the risk assessment and evaluation of the company’s global anti-bribery and corruption (ABC) compliance program.

Simon is a dual qualified lawyer (solicitor and barrister) and an editor of the leading academic textbook on the UK Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 – Mitchell Taylor & Talbot ‘Confiscation and the Proceeds of Crime’ published by Sweet & Maxwell – in which he writes the ‘Investigations’ chapter.

Prior to joining FRA, Simon gained invaluable experience as a trial lawyer with 15 years’ experience of jury, appellate and tribunal advocacy. He prosecuted cases on behalf of UK enforcement agencies, including the Serious Fraud Office, and defended corporates and individuals faced with complex white-collar crime, money laundering, tax and professional disciplinary matters. Simon has also served as head of Weil Gotshal & Manges’ London White Collar practice. Prior to qualifying as a lawyer, Simon worked in-house at a global investment bank.

Simon is based in FRA’s London office. He also provides in-house support to the firm on compliance, forensic accounting and data governance practices.