Kyle Phillips > Howard Kennedy LLP > London, England > Lawyer Profile

‘Adept at handling large scale financial fraud investigations and prosecutions‘, Howard Kennedy LLP is active in high-profile and complex money laundering and compliance proceedings, with standout involvements in cases relating to EURIBOR, as well as ongoing SFO investigations and cases relating to market manipulation, the Bribery Act, and regulatory issues. Clients include directors, executives, and financial services traders, both domestic and international, with the firm able to leverage in-house reputation management, private client, and commercial litigation expertise to represent a diverse range of clients in the full spectrum of white-collar cases. Practice head Ian Ryan ‘inspires confidence’, and has seen success in representing individuals in high-profile serious fraud proceedings, particularly SFO investigations, while financial crime and regulatory specialist Kyle Phillips is also a key name for international money laundering and market abuse cases. Senior associate Jennifer Harper represents clients in criminal fraud and regulatory proceedings brought by all major UK enforcement agencies.

Howard Kennedy LLP has a ‘highly respected and effective general crime department’ which acts for high-net-worth and high-profile individuals accused of criminal offences. The department works closely with the firm’s media and reputation team to provide high level service to those facing charges such as sexual assault, drug offences, or violent crimes. Lead partner Ian Ryan has more than 30 years’ experience in the field, and works with clients from the police station onwards. Kyle Phillips, who rejoined the firm in 2021 after two years with Fieldfisher, is a specialist in financial crime and regulatory law. Associate Jennifer Harper is another key name, and has experience handling allegations of sexual and physical assault.

Howard Kennedy LLP has experience both defending and bringing private prosecutions, acting for clients from a variety of sectors in proceedings arising from fraud allegations and investigations by the SFO, FCA, HMRC, and international enforcement agencies. As well as fraud and business crime proceedings, the firm is also regularly involved in private prosecutions arising from restructuring and insolvency proceedings, drawing on in-house restructuring and civil fraud expertise in coordinating these proceedings. The firm was also notably involved in a leading private prosecution in the retail space, which ended successfully for the firm’s client. Ian Ryan heads up the team, and represents a wide range of corporate and financial services clients in regulatory investigations resulting in private prosecutions,  Financial crime and fraud specialist Kyle Phillips and senior associate Jennifer Harper, who has advised on cross-border prosecutions, are also key members of the team.