Employment
Kingsley Napley LLP maintains a leading position in the defence of individuals involved in complex, often multi-jurisdictional white collar crime cases. The team advises clients across a wide range of industries, from energy and infrastructure to financial and professional services, and regularly acts in cases involving bribery, corruption, tax fraud, false accounting, insider dealing, and sanctions breaches. The firm is experienced in representing clients under investigation by agencies such as the SFO, CPS and City of London Police, and has a strong track record in POCA and asset forfeiture matters. Louise Hodges heads the department, bringing extensive expertise in financial crime and FCA regulatory investigations. Caroline Day leads the cross-practice investigations group and is noted for her skill in advising on legal privilege and data privacy issues. Nicola Finnerty, Jonathan Grimes, Jill Lorimer and Alun Milford are all standout practitioners in financial crime, while Rebecca Niblock and Sophie Wood add further strength in cross-border investigations, extradition, and international sanctions work. Ed Smyth has extensive white collar crime experience with particular knowledge in dealing with law enforcement applications to freeze or seize assets under the POCA and challenging the exercise of search and seizure.
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Profile
Work Department
Criminal litigation.
Position
Jonathan is an experienced criminal lawyer specialising in serious and complex cases. A leader in the field of Proceeds of Crime work, he has particular expertise dealing with law enforcement applications that seek to freeze or seize assets. His business crime practice includes all areas of financial crime and regulatory matters, including corruption, money laundering, anti-competitive behaviour, insider dealing, market manipulation, and fraud, often for HNW individuals. Jonathan also represents companies and individuals during the initial police and Health and Safety Executive investigation, through to the conclusion of cases at inquests or in the criminal courts. He has extensive trial experience over many years across all areas of crime.
He acts as independent legal adviser in investigations of all kinds, many in the banking sector, attending numerous interviews with employers and regulators both in the UK and abroad. A number of his cases have involved advising individuals following requests from overseas authorities for UK assistance under Mutual Legal Assistance treaties. He is also Kingsley Napley’s Money Laundering Reporting officer.
Career
Trained Claude Hornby and Cox; qualified 2002; partner Kingsley Napley 2009.
Memberships
The Law Society; Health & Safety Lawyer's Association; Proceeds of Crime Lawyers Association; and International Bar Association.
Education
King’s School, Canterbury; Leeds University (1993 2(1)); College of Law (2000 CPE commendation; LPC distinction).
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Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
‘Louise Hodges leads a fantastic team.’
'Kingsley Napley is one of a small number of go-to firms providing this service. They have a well-deserved great reputation.'
'Brilliant, hard-working team that brings expertise and experience to the representation.'
'Jonathan Grimes is a brilliant strategist and advocate. Also, a great team player who complements any defence team.'
'Kingsley Napley combines relevant experience, domain expertise and thorough analysis of any situation. The advice given is clear, concise and based upon the facts as presented. It is specific and represents the best way forward.'
'A simple combination of domain expertise and experience, combined with detailed analysis as a result of thorough examination of pertinent materials and searching questioning of the client.'
'Probably the top white collar crime team in the country. Stand-out performers.'
'The team at Kingsley Napley are all calm hands in a crisis. I would turn to any one of them without hesitation if I had a problem.'