England - London • Crime, fraud and licensing
Howard Kennedy LLP
Representing senior traders, CEOs, and business leaders, Howard Kennedy LLP has been praised by clients for having ‘considerable experience in all areas of financial crime’, with the team showing strength advising on market manipulation, money laundering, and tax fraud investigations. The group routinely handles cross-border proceedings led by European and US enforcement agencies, along with assisting victims of serious fraud in private prosecutions. The practice is headed by Ian Ryan, who ’instils complete confidence’ in clients. Kyle Phillips ‘works tirelessly’ for individuals on bribery and corruption claims, while Jonathan Huth has advised on asset recovery and cross-border investigations since arriving as a partner from Kobre & Kim LLP in January 2023. Barrister Angharad Hughes covers confiscation and dishonesty matters, while Jennifer Harper and Chloe-Jane Belton are other key members of the team.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
'Ian Ryan has seen it all and instils complete confidence. Jen Harper is a senior associate who is always the best informed in the room.’
‘Ian Ryan - a perfect foil to any prosecution. At times gentle, at times savage. A really powerful weapon to have on your side. Lives cases day-by-day and hour-by-hour. He is supported by a knowledgeable and savvy team'
‘Howard Kennedy's white-collar crime team are excellent. They have considerable experience in all areas of financial crime, including alleged market fixing and fraud.'
‘Kyle Phillips is quality. His analytical ability is first-rate, and he works tirelessly for his clients.
- 'Chloe Belton is conscientious and engaging. She is hard-working and effective.’
- 'Jennifer Harper is an experienced and tenacious lawyer. She is very bright, always across the case and engages fully with counsel in the preparation of written argument.’
Lawyers
Rising stars
Leading individuals
Ian Ryan is a Partner and Head of the Business Crime and Regulatory team. He is a white-collar crime lawyer specialising in serious fraud and acting in serious and high-profile matters both domestically and internationally. Ian heads the firm's well regarded Business Crime team. Ian has over 25 years' experience dealing with a full range of business crime and serious fraud investigations. This includes investigations by the Serious Fraud Office (SFO), the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), the Competition Markets Authority (CMA), the National Crime Agency (NCA) and the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS). He advises on investigations from the early stages through to and including contested jury trials. His primary focus is acting for clients in SFO investigations. He is representing senior individuals in SFO investigations into Euribor, Patisserie Valerie, Amec Foster Wheeler, and ENRC (Eurasian Natural Resources Corporation). Ian successfully represented Achim Kraemer, the only defendant acquitted in the first Euribor trial in June 2018. He has previously acted on the SFO investigations into Rolls Royce, GSK, Tesco, Harlequin and represented Vincent Tchenguiz on his arrest by the SFO and subsequent search of his business premises. Ian also acts for corporates on production orders, dawn raids, confiscation proceedings, warrants and the extent of legal professional privilege. He has represented both multi-nationals and individuals in numerous internal investigations. Ian has specialist experience in solicitors' disciplinary work and SRA investigations and is skilled at representing General Counsel caught up in SFO investigations. Ian has a niche specialism in money laundering and was previously a member of the Law Society's Money Laundering Taskforce. He is a member of the Law Society's AML directory providing advice to solicitors. Ian continues to represent high-net-worth individuals (celebrities, politicians and sports people) in general criminal matters.
Practice head
The lawyer(s) leading their teams.
Ian Ryan