Crime, fraud and licensing
Particularly active in the life sciences and technology sectors, Simmons & Simmons advises on high-stakes corporate crime matters, with expertise spanning SFO-led corruption investigations, sanctions compliance and cross-border internal investigations. Camilla de Silva leads the firm’s global investigations group and corporate crime practice, drawing on her experience as a former SFO prosecutor and criminal barrister to advise on the full breadth of criminal risk. Nick Benwell brings seasoned insight into handling SFO investigation mandates, while Emily Agnoli supports on internal investigations and a range of enforcement actions by external agencies, regularly supporting the firm’s international client base. Cherie Spinks is particularly adept in AML and sanctions-related matters, an area also covered by managing associate Alexandra Webster.
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Disputes and Investigations
Position
Camilla is a partner in our Disputes & Investigations team based in London. She brings a unique perspective as a former SFO prosecutor, including experience of settling corporate resolutions from both positions, previously on behalf of the SFO, and now for corporate clients. As an investigations specialist with high quality prosecutorial experience and strong commercial insight, Camilla provides practical legal advice partnering with international corporate clients in the FI, AMIF, Telecoms, Media, Technology, Oil and Gas, Industrial and Lifesciences, sectors to understand their business objectives and wider interests.
Camilla advises on all aspects of financial crime, cybercrime and ESG risks that Boards and businesses face in the UK and internationally. This includes managing regulatory and criminal law risk from the start of a process, for example a whistle blower account to the endpoint of an enforcement process and potential satellite shareholder actions. Camilla is instructed to conduct internal investigations, compliance and remediation reviews, and to assess potential investment opportunities for financial crime risks. Her work includes advising corporates and individuals in relation to alleged financial misstatements, modern slavery and supply chain issues, money laundering, facilitation of tax evasion, bribery and corruption, and sanctions breaches and, how to judge and control the dynamic and engagement with domestic and international enforcement agencies.
Career
Camilla joined the firm in May 2020 from the U.K. Serious Fraud Office where she was Co-Head of Fraud and Corruption and a key member of the SFO’s Senior Management Team holding operational responsibility for the most-high profile, complex multi-jurisdictional fraud, bribery and corruption investigations. At the SFO she led investigations into some of the largest international and British companies and senior individuals. Camilla was involved in the UK’s first landmark global DPA with Rolls Royce plc and recently led the negotiations for the SFO in relation to the global Airbus landmark DPA alongside the DoJ (USA) and PNF (France) which was the largest international anti-bribery enforcement settlement to date. Prior to joining the SFO, Camilla spent her career as a trial advocate at the U.K. independent criminal bar, where she specialised in defending and prosecuting serious economic crime.
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Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
‘Level-headed team with great depth of domestic and international experience.’
‘Camilla de Silva. She has years of experience at the Bar, at the SFO and now in private practice as a senior solicitor.’
‘Emily Agnoli is an absolute pleasure to work with. She combines great technical knowledge with good judgment and a warm approach to clients. A real star.’