With a broad client roster, ranging from traditional financial services companies, to alternative lenders and fintech providers, Osborne Clarke LLP fields an ‘insightful, tactful and incredibly skilled’ team capable of acting across complex, high-value regulatory investigations and enforcement actions, including anti-money laundering, whistleblowing, safeguarding, cyber issues, market abuse, and non-financial misconduct. Practice head Rachel Couter’s expertise spans complex issues such as market abuse, insider dealing, AML, governance failings, non-financial misconduct, and consumer finance, advising clients facing scrutiny from the FCA, PSR, NCA, and other regulatory bodies. Adept in crypto matters, Nick Price is a key contact for large-crypto asset exchanges. Charles Crowne has niche expertise in pensions litigation, with his focus extending to fraud, regulatory investigations, and disputes. Tom Frapwell excels in cross-jurisdictional civil disputes and regulatory investigations.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- 'In my view, Osborne Clarke has a top commercial litigation team which deals impressively with financial services and fraud work. Much of the work I do with them concerns employment litigation in the High Court, but that carries with it much in the way of fraud. A lot of the work is in the financial services sector.'
- 'OC are excellent at managing litigation in these areas. They always inspire client confidence and are very effective in managing cases. They provide great support to me as counsel, enabling us to work together well as a team.’
‘I would single out Tom Ellis and Tom Frapwell as two top practitioners who are just excellent at dealing with clients, explaining cases to them, advising and identifying the best means of resolving cases.’
‘Practical experience of acting for challenger and start-up financial services businesses.’
‘Charles Crowne is accessible and practical in the advice he offers.’
‘Exceptionally deep understanding of complex multinational issues based on the diffuse nature of evidence and documentation due to practical considerations. Highly practical economic thinking for the client and a solution-oriented approach for the benefit of the client.’
‘Insightful, tactful and incredibly skilled. We also benefitted from the team having hands-on experience at FOS.’
‘Charlie Crowne and Rebecca Darby handled one matter for us and delivered an outstanding success. They then went well beyond what we could reasonably have expected of a law firm to research data and to present a compelling case. They worked extremely well with us, getting up to speed on our business and processes as needed to build and present the case.'
'We find the team approachable and plain speaking and without any of the sanctimony that sometimes characterises lawyers.'
'A very user friendly team that gives clear practical advice. There is great technical expertise in the team.'
Key clients
- Financial Services Compensation Scheme
- ClearBank Limited
- Comune di Venezia / Citta Metropolitana di Milano
- Clearpay (UK) Finance Services Limited
- GoHenry Limited
- JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association (UK Branch)
- Morrisroe Limited
Work highlights
Advising various clients in relation to the Court of Appeal’s far-reaching decision in Johnson v FirstRand Bank, Wrench v FirstRand Bank and Hopkins v Close Brothers in relation to motor finance commission disclosure claims, handed down in October 2024.
Represented Clearpay in a claim brought against them by Westfield, the owners of the shopping centres, in respect of two brand partnership agreements, and their related licences for advertising and digital marketing at the Stratford and Shepherd's Bush Westfield shopping centres.
Lawyers
Leading partners
The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.
Next Generation Partners
Junior partners with significant recognition from clients and peers in the market and key roles on multiple matters.
Benedicte Perowne
Practice head
Rachel Couter
Other key lawyers
Charlie Crowne; Rebecca Darby; Tom Frapwell; Tom Ellis; Benedicte Perowne