Lorna Emson > Macfarlanes LLP > London, England > Lawyer Profile

The ’insightful, experienced, and effective’ Macfarlanes LLP corporate crime and investigations practice is highly recommended for defending clients in complex multijurisdictional criminal investigations brought by the SFO and DOJ. Counting entrepreneurs, politically exposed and HNW individuals in its client-base, the team has a growing presence in the financial sanctions space, along with long-established expertise in alleged tax fraud. Neill Blundell heads the group, using a ‘friendly, open approach’ to advise individuals on aspects of financial crime ranging from bribery and corruption to money laundering, while Lorna Emson has experience handling high-profile civil and criminal proceedings. Helen Harvey regularly designs and implements compliance programmes and  Max Hobbs focuses on general crime issues. Associates Francis Bond and James Reid are also noted.

With a diverse client-base that includes financial institutions, manufacturing companies, and luxury businesses, the corporate crime and investigations team at Macfarlanes LLP has long-established strength in the traditional financial crime sphere. The practice has a growing advisory support offering, with significant depth in the AML and sanctions space, alongside expertise on anti-bribery compliance and regulatory issues. The head, Neill Blundell , is ‘charming but tough as nails’, with more than 20 years’ experience dealing with fraud, bribery, and money laundering matters, while Dan Lavender regularly resolves major multi-jurisdictional investigations. Lorna Emson acts for banks and natural resources companies on complex commercial litigation issues, meanwhile Barry Donnelly focuses on prosecutions brought by the SFO, FCA, and US DOJ.