Justin McClelland > Stephenson Harwood > London, England > Lawyer Profile
Stephenson Harwood Offices
1 FINSBURY CIRCUS
LONDON
EC2M 7SH
England
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Justin McClelland
Work Department
Commercial litigation
Position
He is described as “knowledgeable, astute and empathetic” and “‘excellent’ at handling multi-jurisdictional investigations,” where his “structured, calm and thorough” approach has proved invaluable in resolving the most challenging matters for clients, whether corporate or individuals. The Directories have noted that “Justin McClelland is the main selling point as he brings considerable experience, expertise and judgement in the field’.” and that “Justin McClelland is the stand-out practitioner. He has considerable cross-over experience, excellent judgement and secures great results.”
Justin’s practice is international and covers a number of sectors, including financial services, transport, construction, pharmaceuticals and energy, in the following areas:
Regulatory investigations: Leading and managing the defence of corporate clients and individuals in complex, multi-jurisdictional investigations on issues such as market abuse, insider dealing, breaches of the FCA’s Principles and Rules, and cartel behaviour. The investigative agencies with which he has dealt include, in the UK, the FCA, the PRA, the FRC, the ICAEW, the MHRA, the NCA and the SFO and, overseas, the European Commission, the US DOJ, the NYAG, the US CFTC, the Dubai FSA and the Japanese FSA;
Regulatory advice: Managing interactions with regulators in supervisory environments to avoid or minimise the impact of regulatory breaches pre-enforcement. The agencies dealt with have included (in the UK), the FCA, PRA, MCA, ICAEW and MHRA;
Corporate investigations: Managing internal investigations involving POCA concerns, employment disputes, internal fraud allegations, export compliance/sanctions issues, bribery issues and data protection issues;
High-value litigation: Representing clients in commercial and financial disputes including cross-jurisdictional litigation, multi-party actions, appellate proceedings, and follow-on actions arising from regulatory investigations;
Compliance programmes: Providing assistance to clients in developing, implementing and reviewing compliance programmes.
Prior to his private practice, Justin served as a lawyer in the British Army, reaching the rank of Lieutenant Colonel and prosecuting cases spanning the criminal spectrum at Courts Martial, as well as advising and negotiating internationally and at the highest levels of government. Justin was awarded the MBE in June 1998.
Lawyer Rankings
London > Corporate and commercial > Financial services: contentious
(Leading individuals)The practitioners at Stephenson Harwood ‘make an extremely effective team‘, and are able to balance acting for both corporates and individuals in the most complex and high-profile cases, whether solely domestic or international. Practice head Sean Jeffrey brings a ‘razor-sharp, insightful and trustworthy‘ approach to significant FCA enforcement matters, including those regarding client money and retail products. Justin McClelland‘s broad practice covers the spectrum of contentious work, from criminal and regulatory investigations to the civil disputes which flow from them. The team has recently expanded its partner bench through the internal promotion of Alan Ward in May 2022, and the lateral hire of David Capps from Ashurst in March 2023.
London > Crime, fraud and licensing > Fraud: white-collar crime (advice to individuals)
With a ‘supremely talented team’, Stephenson Harwood specialises in the whole spectrum of financial crime activity, routinely handling money laundering, corruption, and fraud cases across many jurisdictions. The practice has expertise in dealing with a range of issues emerging from a criminal investigation, particularly managing the confiscation of assets, maintaining relationships with domestic and international regulators, and advising on civil and regulatory processes. Practice head Sean Jeffrey specialises in financial sanction matters and criminal litigation, while the ‘excellent’ Justin McClelland covers all aspects of criminal and regulatory investigations. David Capps focuses on finance-related disputes. Since being promoted to partner in May 2022, the ‘truly exceptional’ Alan Ward has continued to concentrate on corporate and financial crime issues.
London > Risk advisory > Regulatory investigations and corporate crime (advice to corporates)
(Leading individuals)With a considerable ‘spread of corporate crime experience’, Stephenson Harwood’s practice has specialists in civil fraud and corporate law, as well as expertise representing corporates facing multi-jurisdictional criminal investigations. The team has extensive knowledge of dealing with complex financial disputes, ranging from market manipulation to anti-money laundering matters. Practice head Sean Jeffrey routinely acts on behalf of corporates in white-collar crime proceedings and sanctions issues, Justin McClelland is an expert on civil disputes and cartel activity, while Philip Clarke handles actions brought by the FCA against banks and insurers. The ‘intelligent, strategic’ Alan Ward regularly advises corporates on regulatory and criminal-law compliance. Ellen Gallagher is also noted.
Lawyer Rankings
- Leading individuals London > Corporate and commercial > Financial services: contentious
- Leading individuals London > Risk advisory > Regulatory investigations and corporate crime (advice to corporates)
- Financial services: contentious London > Corporate and commercial
- Regulatory investigations and corporate crime (advice to corporates) London > Risk advisory
- Fraud: white-collar crime (advice to individuals) London > Crime, fraud and licensing
Top Tier Firm Rankings
- Private client > Art and cultural property
- Dispute resolution > Commodities disputes
- Corporate and commercial > Equity capital markets – small-mid cap
- Crime, fraud and licensing > Fraud: civil
- Investment fund formation and management > Listed funds
- Dispute resolution > Tax litigation and investigations
- Employment > Pensions: dispute resolution
- Private client > Personal tax, trusts and probate
- Transport > Rail
Firm Rankings
- Transport > Aviation
- Dispute resolution > Commercial litigation: premium
- Private client > Contentious trusts and probate
- Corporate and commercial > Financial services: contentious
- Dispute resolution > Group litigation: Claimant
- Employment > Pensions (non-contentious)
- Insurance > Professional negligence
- Transport > Shipping
- Finance > Trade finance
- Finance > Transport finance and leasing
- Dispute resolution > Banking litigation: investment and retail
- Corporate and commercial > Commercial contracts
- Employment > Employers
- TMT (technology, media and telecoms) > Intellectual property: patents (contentious and non-contentious)
- TMT (technology, media and telecoms) > Intellectual property: trade marks, copyright and design
- Industry focus > Life sciences and healthcare
- Corporate and commercial > M&A: Lower Mid-Market Deals, £100m-£750m
- Corporate and commercial > Private equity: transactions - mid-market deals (up to £250m)
- Real estate > Property litigation
- Dispute resolution > Public international law
- Risk advisory > Regulatory investigations and corporate crime (advice to corporates)
- Employment > Senior executives
- Corporate and commercial > VAT and indirect tax
- Real estate > Commercial property: investment
- Real estate > Construction: contentious
- Corporate and commercial > Corporate tax
- Risk advisory > Data protection, privacy and cybersecurity
- Employment > Employee share schemes
- Crime, fraud and licensing > Fraud: white-collar crime (advice to individuals)
- Projects, energy and natural resources > Infrastructure: Project finance and development
- Insurance > Insurance and reinsurance litigation
- Dispute resolution > International arbitration
- TMT (technology, media and telecoms) > IT and telecoms
- Projects, energy and natural resources > Oil and gas
- Projects, energy and natural resources > Power (including electricity, nuclear and renewables)
- Real estate > Property finance
- Investment fund formation and management > Real estate funds
- Public sector > Administrative and public law
- Real estate > Commercial property: development
- Real estate > Construction: non-contentious
- Finance > Corporate restructuring & insolvency
- Insurance > Insurance: corporate and regulatory
- Investment fund formation and management > Private funds
- Finance > Bank lending: investment grade debt and syndicated loans
- Corporate and commercial > EU and competition
- TMT (technology, media and telecoms) > Sport
- Dispute resolution > Tax litigation and investigations
- Real estate > Commercial property: corporate occupiers