187 Chambers

Anna Keighley is a leading expert in the recovery of criminal assets, with a specialised focus on proceeds of crime arising from financial and organised crime. Her practice spans both national and international legal landscapes, providing expert counsel in complex cases involving serious financial crime, civil fraud, and asset recovery.

With a strong reputation for her work in criminal, civil, and appellate courts, Anna regularly acts as counsel for key agencies such as the CPS and SFO. She is also a trusted advisor and advocate in restraint, confiscation, variation, enforcement, and receivership proceedings under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (POCA), the Criminal Justice Act 1988 (CJA), and the Drug Trafficking Act 1994 (DTA). Additionally, she represents clients in judicial review proceedings related to proceeds of crime.

Anna is a member of the Attorney General’s B Panel of Counsel and is frequently instructed to advise and represent government departments in a range of cases.

Anna is frequently instructed by a diverse range of clients, including prosecutors, foreign governments, defendants, receivers, and third parties in high-stakes litigation. She is also a specialist appointed Counsel for the CPS and the SFO in the field of proceeds of crime and has earned recognition for her niche expertise. Her extensive experience also includes intervening in civil fraud and family proceedings and representing clients in proprietary claims.

A respected contributor to legal scholarship, Anna is a contributing author to Mitchell Taylor and Talbot on Confiscation and the Proceeds of Crime (Sweet & Maxwell) and has lectured on proceeds of crime law both in the UK and internationally, contributes to the Home Office development in this field of law and formerly ran education events for the Female Fraud Forum.

She is frequently called upon to offer legal insights and strategic guidance in complex legal matters, including those involving disclosure and legal professional privilege. Anna has advised on issues of privilege and waiver including as on-site LPP counsel and in cases involving large-scale document reviews, such as Operation Steamroller, a £70m share sale fraud investigated by the SFO.

From 2015 to 2020, Anna served as a Financial Ombudsman, resolving and making legally binding decision in complex banking and credit disputes.

With a career marked by high-level legal expertise, a track record of successful outcomes, and a commitment to upholding the integrity of the law, Anna Keighley is one of the leading figures in proceeds of crime litigation, trusted by clients and agencies alike for her comprehensive legal acumen and strategic counsel.

Proceeds of Crime Lawyers Association Female Fraud Forum – Standing Committee Member South Eastern Circuit Criminal Bar Association Middle Temple

Awards, Qualifications & Other: Appointments: Ombudsman at the Financial Ombudsman Service in the areas of banking and credit. Visiting Lecturer: University of Law, Bloomsbury, London delivering training in criminal litigation and advocacy. Trained Mediator: through London School of Mediation for ADR in civil litigation and, previously, in work-place mediation. Anna also experienced the role of ‘instructing solicitor’ in 2010-2011 when seconded to the Proceeds of Crime Unit, CPS, responsible for the running and conduct of complex, high value proceeds of crime cases in the Court of Appeal, High Court and Crown Court.