Crime, fraud and licensing
‘Helpful and available under pressure, always looking for solutions and very collaborative’, the team at Stephenson Harwood is well-placed to act for a diverse client base on complex contentious mandates, including Skilled Person Investigations, FOS matters, regulatory investigations, and remediation schemes. Practice head Justin McClelland is widely recognised for his deep experience across regulatory, criminal, and civil matters, leveraging his dual background, including as a former prosecutor, to inform his handling of investigations involving market misconduct, cartel behaviour, and internal corporate issues. Sean Jeffrey, frequently instructed by leading financial institutions facing serious enforcement issues, has experience spanning large-scale redress schemes, FCA enforcement proceedings, and regulatory matters involving culture, governance, and client money. David Capps is a trusted handler of a wide range of regulatory issues, including market conduct, anti-money laundering, whistleblowing, sanctions, SMCR, and consumer duty obligations. Other key figures are experts in UK and EU regulatory frameworks, William Robertson and Christophe Boucherie.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Profile
Work Department
Commercial Litigation
Position
Justin leads the specialist Regulatory and Investigations team, and co-heads the Global Commercial Disputes Practice Group.
A former prosecuting advocate, he guides clients through complex, multi-jurisdictional investigations (both criminal and regulatory) in a practice spanning the financial services, energy, construction, pharmaceuticals, and transport sectors. The breadth of his practice encompasses such diverse regulators and prosecutors as the FCA, PRA, NCA, MHRA, FRC, ICAEW, HMRC, CMA and SFO.
He has advised and represented companies and senior individuals in such cases as market abuse, insider dealing, market announcements, cartel and anti-trust conduct, money laundering, and bribery and corruption, often extending internationally to include investigations by the US, European, Japanese, Dubai and Australian authorities. That work includes leading cross-disciplinary teams in negotiations with regulators and ultimately defending at Court or Tribunal.
He has been involved in some of the most high-profile matters of recent years - and also matters which never receive public attention.
His experience is used to advise organisations on compliance programmes (e.g. regarding the Bribery Act 2010, Modern Slavery Act 2015, Criminal Finances Act 2017, and Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023) and in leading and managing significant, sensitive and complex corporate internal investigations, and the handling of self-reporting, where appropriate.
Justin is a member of the City of London Law Society Corporate Crime and Corruption Committee and the Pensions Administration Standards Association (Cybercrime and Fraud Working Group).
Justin was appointed MBE in 1998 for his legal work in the British Army.
Content supplied by Stephenson Harwood
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
‘Alan Ward and Sue Miller are both outstanding. Alan is a fantastic advocate, really on top of his brief and very persuasive. Sue is a great tactician and very robust, she really fights for her clients.’
‘Sean Jeffrey takes the time to really understand his clients' business needs, carefully crafting his approach and strategy to meet client priorities. Maeve Mohan pays careful attention to detail, is diligent and hardworking.’
‘Alan Ward is pretty much an ever-present in the leading contentious financial services cases and is always a charismatic and reassuring presence for any clients, even those facing the most difficult situations. Sean Jeffrey is a consummate professional.’
‘The regulatory team at Stephenson Hardwood is second to none. It is exceptionally organised with a group of brilliant individuals of the highest intelligence, integrity, legal knowledge and work-ethic, from partner to the most junior person in the team. They are efficient, thrive in complexity, have a great mix of individuals with different qualities, they are superbly eloquent, outstanding in their legal work and presentation and also have a great manner. The team's dedication to the client is extraordinary, and they are always on top of every detail and prepare thoroughly. Top team, a luxury to have as a client.’
‘Of special note are Justin McClelland and Anisha Sandhu who are a very trustworthy pair of hands. They are specialists in their field and are able to bring comfort to our team that they know how best to shepherd us through the challenges we were facing as an organisation.’
‘Justin McClelland is excellent. He is very knowledgeable, carefully considered and with good judgment. He is exceptionally good at handling corporate clients. He is also easy to work with and brings clarity to difficult and complex cases. A suburb practitioner and well-supported by his associates.’
Work highlights
Advised Gustavo Raitzin, a former member of the Executive Board of Bank Julius Baer, following on from achieving the most significant victory in recent times against the FCA on a case regarding extensive allegations of fraud in corporate transactions.
Acted for Jorge Lopez Gonzalez, a senior bond trader who was under investigation for market abuse by the FCA.
Instructed by Chris Ashton, former head of global spot FX at Barclays, in relation to the Reuters FX Spot Fix manipulation investigations conducted by the United States Department of Justice and the Federal Bureau of Investigations in conjunction with the United Kingdom Financial Conduct Authority and Serious Fraud Office.