England - London • Risk advisory
HFW
With specific sector specialities including commodities, shipping, aerospace, and energy, the global investigations and white-collar defence department at HFW is chosen by clients largely due to its ‘deep experience of SFO investigations’. The practice routinely represents corporates seeking to mitigate criminal and regulatory risk on corporate transactions, with practice head Barry Vitou bringing vast expertise in global money laundering investigations and grand corruption issues to the team. The ’standout’ Anne-Marie Ottaway has over 20 years’ experience in economic crime-related matters, and Daniel Martin is a sanctions specialist. Cindy Laing joined the group as an associate from BCL Solicitors LLP in April 2022, focusing on bribery and corruption affairs.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
‘Organised, with the human touch - thoughtful, objective, clear and collaborative.’
‘Barry Vitou and Anne-Marie Ottaway are truly experts in corporate crime, particularly SFO prosecutions.’
‘Barry Vitou has great intuition regarding what a prosecutor will do in any given circumstances and advises boards with real clarity regarding their options.’
‘The team's strength lies in its deep experience of SFO investigations. When it comes to commodities and internal, external regulatory and criminal investigations, this is the team to go to. The team does their homework and knows how to interact with the SFO.’
‘Anne-Marie Ottaway is a standout individual. Her experience while a prosecutor at the SFO means she knows the right questions to ask, does not get fazed and rolls up her sleeves when things are tricky. Her judgement and tactical advice, as well as her ability to understand the SFO's next move are all key to getting investigations discontinued.’
‘The team is led by Anne-Marie Ottaway and Barry Vitou, who have worked together for many years. Barry has worked in commercial law firms for 30 years and Anne-Marie is a criminal law expert.’
‘Anne-Marie Ottaway brings a decade of defence experience on top of her previous SFO career and is one of the most successful former SFO prosecutors in practice. An excellent lawyer and strategist, she has a proven track record of getting law enforcement investigations discontinued. Anne-Marie is particularly active in the commodities space.’
Key clients
- KBR, Inc. and KBR, Inc.’s UK subsidiaries
Work highlights
- Representing a commodities client in connection with suspected sanctions breaches - undertaking internal investigation to ascertain the facts, advising the board and engaging with the regulator.
- Advising a client in relation to damaging allegations concerning its ESG claims following an investigation conducted by well-known news agencies and not for profit organisations principally in the UK and Germany.
- Representing a FCA regulated firm in connection with suspected breaches of sanctions - supervising the conduct of a forensic review of the internal systems and controls and engaging with the regulators.
Lawyers
Hall of Fame
The lawyers at the very top of the profession, widely known and respected by peers and clients for their longstanding involvement in market-leading work.
Leading individuals
Practice head
The lawyer(s) leading their teams.
Barry Vitou