
LEGAL
Investigations
Navigating your organisation through global and domestic regulatory and corporate investigations.
Search our PeopleWe understand you face an ever-evolving regulatory and social landscape, where businesses are under more scrutiny than ever, from regulators, shareholders, employees, customers and the communities in which we live.
Our global team of experts has extensive experience in conducting and responding to investigations about all forms of corporate and employee misconduct in that environment whether investigations are initiated by the business, or by regulators or law enforcement agencies.
Our extensive experience also allows us to assist you to minimise commercial, legal and reputational risks relating to investigations and their subject matter.
Depth of experience
Our team of experts frequently deals with regulators and enforcement agencies across the globe on a wide range of complex investigations and enforcement activity. That experience enables us to help you navigate regulatory investigation and to mitigate and manage risks and outcomes.
Multi-jurisdictional
Where an investigation crosses borders, we provide a coordinated, global response, with a team of multi-lingual expert investigators across various jurisdictions, who are also expert in the subject matter of concern.
Looking beyond the investigation
We know that an investigation is just one part of a broader picture. Before, during and after any investigation, our team provides incisive advice considering all relevant legal, reputational, commercial and disciplinary issues and consequences.
Rapid response
We understand that the need to investigate, or to respond to an investigation, can arise at unexpected and often inconvenient times. We regularly assemble experienced teams at short notice to respond to your urgent needs, and can provide ongoing support where you need assistance in triaging and managing investigations at volume.
Remediation and improving compliance
Together with our Risk Advisory team, we will work closely with you to execute remediation efforts where an investigation reveals that's required; and to identify trends that may require action or offer opportunities to improve internal systems and controls.
How we can help
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Anti-bribery & Corruption
Facing a local or cross-border bribery and compliance investigation requires advisers who know the law and can also offer broader reputational and crisis management expertise
Read moreAnti-bribery & Corruption
Comprehensive support
Facing a local or cross-border bribery and compliance investigation requires advisers who know the law and can also offer broader reputational and crisis management expertise, including dealing with investor and public relations, insurance and employment issues, as well as disciplinary proceedings and ensuing litigation brought by enforcement authorities or third parties.
Expertise in investigations and compliance
Our expert investigation teams across the globe partner with clients to investigate bribery and corruption, whether revealed by whistleblowing, an issue spotted through a routine audit, or prompted by a regulator or prosecutor. We also assist companies with embedding an anti-bribery and corruption compliance culture by developing a workable international framework, and providing internal audit and monitoring programmes and training. We advise on proportionate risk-based due diligence of contractual partners and the inclusion in contracts of tailored anti-bribery and corruption warranties and indemnities as well as audit, investigation and termination rights.
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Anti-money Laundering
Businesses are facing increasing and changing anti-money laundering (AML) enforcement.
Read moreAnti-money Laundering
Increasing AML enforcement
Businesses are facing increasing and changing anti-money laundering (AML) enforcement. The effect of international and supra-national agencies, which support governments in their efforts to control money laundering, is increasingly visible. Our team has extensive experience working with and advising clients on the strict rules surrounding money laundering and the financing of terrorism. We think hard about the money laundering risks which are particular to our clients’ industries and sectors, and work with them to mitigate risks, including by advising on the design and implementation of strong AML programmes, training programmes and controls testing.
Advising on navigating investigations
We are also experienced in the investigation and prosecution of money laundering offences and our criminal litigation expertise helps us to advise clients on navigating such investigations and prosecutions, whether domestic or cross-border mandates. In doing so, we keep front of mind the strategic and commercial implications of suspected money laundering.
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Cartels & Antitrust Investigations
Our global team has decades of experience advising clients worldwide on domestic and international cartel investigations
Read moreCartels & Antitrust Investigations
Experience across market sectors
Our global team has decades of experience advising clients worldwide on domestic and international cartel investigations and prosecutions across the full spectrum of market sectors.
Advice on full lifecycle of investigations
Our team also has extensive experience, and an exceptional track record, advising on the full lifecycle of investigations; from the first investigatory step through to final decision and subsequent damages claims. We provide pragmatic, client focused advice to help navigate the many challenges raised by these complex and often long running matters.
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Abuse of Dominance Investigations
Companies with strong market positions are facing increasing scrutiny
Read moreAbuse of Dominance Investigations
Increased scrutiny
Companies with strong market positions are facing increasing scrutiny from anti-trust and sector regulators and prosecutors around the world.
Navigating investigations across concentrated industries
We draw on our depth of experience in this area both from defending the strategies of dominant companies and protecting the commercial interests of their competitors and customers. Through investigative work and expert advocacy, we have successfully assisted many clients in navigating investigations across concentrated industries. Our multi-jurisdictional and multi-disciplinary team works together to advise clients on strategy development, providing robust, commercial advice on addressing and managing this important area of risk.
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Market & Sector Investigations
Market and sector investigations are increasingly a tool being added to the armoury of anti-trust and sector regulators
Read moreMarket & Sector Investigations
Increasing scrutiny
Market and sector investigations are increasingly a tool being added to the armoury of anti-trust and sector regulators to enable a wide review of markets that may be perceived not to be working well for customers and consumers. Those investigations often involve a complex mix of competition, regulatory and policy consideration, and confer on authorities very significant remedial powers.
Multi-disciplinary expertise
This has long been an area of expertise and our team has the in-depth knowledge to guide and support clients facing potentially industry-changing investigations in any sector, wherever they arise. Our integrated team of expert competition lawyers and economists offers multi-disciplinary expertise at each stage of an investigation, mirroring the teams fielded by regulators and aiming to deliver the best and most efficient outcomes for clients.
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Financial Regulatory Investigations
When facing regulatory investigations and proceedings, clients need advisers with a depth of knowledge of financial regulators and regulations in order to react and respond in the most impactful way.
Read moreFinancial Regulatory Investigations
Depth of knowledge
When facing regulatory investigations and proceedings, clients need advisers with a depth of knowledge of financial regulators and regulations to help them to react and respond in the most impactful way.
Offering the full range of services
We work hand in hand with our dispute resolution and contentious regulatory practice, as well as our global finance practice, to deliver the complete picture on how clients should respond to and investigate financial regulatory investigations. This collaboration provides the foundation for helping develop effective strategies for clients in enforcing rights, recovering money or assets, defending claims and assisting with internal or regulatory investigations.
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Sanctions
International sanctions regimes and trade wars continue to evolve and create compliance challenges, particularly for cross-border business relationships.
Read moreSanctions
Ever evolving international regimes
International sanctions regimes and trade wars continue to evolve and create compliance challenges, particularly for cross-border business relationships. Each client's sanctions risk exposure depends on many factors, including jurisdiction, industry, company structures, product offerings and supply chains, as well as ability to manage compliance.
Experts in international sanctions
Our sanctions team draws on our Corporate Crime practice's investigatory and criminal law expertise. Our team has handled cases before OFAC, OFSI, HMRC and the UK National Crime Agency, including both voluntary disclosures of breach and investigations. We monitor legal and political developments to provide up-to-date responses to help navigate the continually changing sanctions framework. We work with clients from diverse sectors, including financial services, retail, commodities, oil and gas, infrastructure, transport, telecommunications and media.
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Market Misconduct
Regulators and prosecutors around the world are increasing the enforcement of misconduct which affects markets.
Read moreMarket Misconduct
Global focus
Regulators and prosecutors around the world are increasing the enforcement of misconduct which affects markets. Open markets play a fundamental part in supporting the economy, and in times of economic pressure, regulatory authorities take an even firmer stance against conduct which abuses normal market operations.
Global expertise
Ashurst can help companies, their boards of directors and senior executives in corporate crisis to navigate issues such as the management of inside information, market disclosures, and the prevention, investigation and enforcement of insider dealing and market abuse. Our global team provides the required insight, advice and support to clients in all industries, across multiple jurisdictions and at every stage of the investigative and prosecution process. Our team also works with clients on proactive risk identification and mitigation, reputation management, as well as advising on remediation, training and improvements to internal systems and controls.
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Fraud & Asset Recovery
In the digital age, fraud risk has accelerated and it is critical to have fraud mitigation measures and continuous monitoring in place to address new challenges successfully.
Read moreFraud & Asset Recovery
Managing fraud risk
In the digital age, fraud risk has accelerated and it is critical to have fraud mitigation measures and continuous monitoring in place to address new challenges successfully. It is also imperative to act quickly when fraud is discovered.
Acting quickly
Our global fraud and asset recovery team advises multinational corporates, financial institutions and government entities in conducting internal investigations into fraudulent activity, facing enforcement authorities in criminal fraud matters and advising on litigation strategy in civil actions, as well as working to recover misappropriated company property. We can assemble an experienced team at short notice to conduct a fraud investigation or obtain urgent injunctive relief in jurisdictions all over the world.
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Worker Misconduct
Our global Employment lawyers can assist you to handle any internal alerts you may receive as soon as they are issued, throughout the implementation of an internal investigation.
Read moreWorker Misconduct
Delivering investigations you can rely on
Our global Employment lawyers can assist you to handle any internal alerts you may receive as soon as they are issued, throughout the implementation of an internal investigation, and take appropriate action based on the outcome of the investigation. Our team has in-depth experience in carrying internal investigations into alleged misconducts (moral harassment, sexual harassment, bullying etc.) by employees, contractors, managers and corporate officers whether as a result of grievances raised by other employees, whistleblowers, unions and/or employee representatives. We can also support you in implementing internal investigations on your own or with the involvement of employee representatives, e.g. the works council. We provide tailor-made documentation for these investigations (questionnaires, investigation reports, etc.) and, if necessary, interview the concerned parties.
As employment law experts, we understand the employment regulatory framework in your jurisdiction which is critical to conducting an investigation that you can use in any subsequent disciplinary action or litigation. In addition, as lawyers we can provide you privileged and confidential internal investigation reports.
Helping your internal experts to investigate
With decades of workplace investigations experience, we can also provide your people with the training and tools they need to conduct internal investigations themselves. This hands-on investigation training uses realistic case scenarios and skill building activities.
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Work Health & Safety
Where an issue is raised about work health and safety compliance, no one is better placed to assist than our team of specialist WHS experts.
Read moreWork Health & Safety
Available 24/7
Where an issue is raised about work health and safety compliance, our team of WHS experts can assist. We understand that investigations into safety concerns, whether of a physical or psychological nature, are often sensitive, urgent and reputationally critical.
A risk management approach
With an understanding of WHS risk management from decades of experience advising public and private sector clients on WHS compliance and incident response, we understand that these investigations are different to other forms of worker misconduct investigations.
Where expert technical input is required, we know who to engage to help quickly and comprehensively to identify any risk and we can advise you on how to eliminate it, or where that is not practicable, minimise it.
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Tax Controversy
Advising at all stages of domestic and cross-border tax disputes and contentious discussions
Read moreTax Controversy
Helping mitigate adverse impacts
Tax disputes can be highly complex and have significant implications for our clients' businesses, incurring significant costs, involving potential reputational damage and taking time to resolve. Resolving these disputes as swiftly and efficiently as possible is therefore essential to mitigate their potential adverse impact.
Technical experience with a commercial mindset
Our tax team has extensive experience advising at all stages of domestic and cross-border tax disputes and contentious discussions, providing our clients with comprehensive technical expertise with a commercial mindset to help navigate all stages of tax disputes efficiently and effectively. Our full service offering encompasses assisting with audits and reviews, the negotiation and settlement of disputes, case preparation and management, and advocacy in tribunals and higher courts as well as through alternative dispute resolution processes (whether through domestic ADR proceedings or those governed by international tax treaties and EU directives).
We understand your business
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