A&O Shearman

The contentious team at A&O Shearman represents leading financial institutions through complex, sensitive, and high-stakes regulatory, criminal and investigative matters. The firm’s stellar roster of clients spans a myriad of sectors, from traditional financial institutions such as banks, building societies, insurers, and asset managers, to more specialised and emerging entities including credit reference agencies, cryptocurrency exchanges, wealth management firms, and tech companies. Practice co-head Mahmood Lone, newly appointed as London Head of Litigation & Investigations, has standout experience in cross-border investigations into market abuse and benchmark rate manipulation. Fellow co-head Calum Burnett is a go-to adviser for high-stakes regulatory investigations, acting for the world’s leading financial institutions on contentious matters spanning market abuse, insider dealing, financial crime, and cultural failings; he is particularly sought after for his expertise in navigating FCA enforcement actions, internal investigations, and the SMCR. Eve Giles is a seasoned criminal defence lawyer with a standout practice in financial crime and cross-border regulatory investigations, advising major financial institutions and senior executives on matters ranging from market abuse and insider dealing to tax evasion and misconduct in public office. Lauded as a ‘safe pair of hands and very client friendly’, Sarah Hitchins is a trusted adviser to top-tier financial institutions, specialising in high-profile regulatory and internal investigations involving financial crime controls, consumer misselling and breaches of VREQs. Thomas Donegan has a broad practice, advising global banks and financial institutions on enforcement actions, financial services disputes, and investigations into anti-money laundering, sanctions breaches and cyber incidents. Arnondo Chakrabarti maintains a high-profile regulatory investigations and banking litigation practice.