Partner
Claire Wallace provides expert litigation advice to directors and senior executives facing the prospect of regulatory or criminal investigations, with a particular focus on investigations brought by the FCA, PRA or FRC. She is particularly adept at getting to grips with complex financial transactions, products and corporate structures.
Claire has previously represented individuals at risk of, or under, investigation by the Police, SFO, HMRC and SRA. She has experience of advising clients accused of serious financial crimes including fraud, bribery and corruption and who may be facing the prospect of parallel regulatory investigations.
She has also acted for clients in dealing with regulators such as the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), Care Quality Commission (CQC) and Ofsted, as well as professional and medical regulators such as the General Medical Counsel (GMC), Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) or Bar Standards Board (BSB).
Claire also advises on extradition and Mutual Legal Assistance-related issues.
A dedicated and dynamic lawyer who cares passionately about helping her clients achieve the best possible outcome, Claire’s experience of defending regulatory prosecutions means that she is quick to identify any regulatory difficulties which may arise from parallel proceedings.
She sits on the Executive Committee of the Financial Services Lawyers Association (FSLA) and is a member of the Young Fraud Lawyers Association (YFLA), Association of Regulatory and Disciplinary Lawyers (ARDL) and Women’s White Collar Defense Association (WWCDA).
Claire has a wide range of regulatory experience. She has a particular expertise in advising individuals in issues arising with the FCA or PRA and she is especially adept at understanding complex financial transactions, products or corporate structures, where needed. She has been instructed on one of the few joint investigations brought by both the FCA and PRA and has experience on advising upon misconduct proceedings, allegations of market abuse and insider dealing, and systems and controls failings under the Senior Managers regime.
Claire also specialises in representing professional clients who find themselves under investigation by their regulatory bodies. Prior to joining Hickman & Rose, Claire acted for a large professional medical regulator in conducting fitness to practise investigations into registrants, which involved interviewing witnesses, compiling evidence and drafting charges. This experience provided her with unique insight as to the approach regulators take when conducting their investigations. She has previously acted for clients under investigation by professional regulators such as the General Medical Council (GMC), Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) and Bar Standards Board (BSB).
Claire has previous experience in dealing with regulatory matters brought by investigatory bodies including the ICO, Health and Safety Authority (HSE), Food Safety Authority and Trading Standards.
A dedicated and dynamic lawyer who cares passionately about helping her clients achieve the best possible outcome, Claire’s experience of defending regulatory prosecutions means that she is quick to identify any regulatory difficulties which may arise from parallel proceedings.
Claire has worked on some of the firm’s most significant corporate crime cases, involving allegations of bribery and corruption, money laundering and fraud. She regularly deals with complex and high profile cases brought by the police, SFO, HMRC and FCA.
She has previously acted for an individual under investigation in a multi-jurisdictional SFO investigation regarding allegations of wide-spread money laundering, fraud and bribery. Other major cases have included acting for clients accused by HMRC of cheating the Revenue in a high profile tax avoidance film scheme, or advising clients on their UK exposure when under investigation by foreign investigators, such as the DoJ.
Claire also advises clients on concerns regarding the Bribery Act 2010 and Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 when going about their ordinary course of dealing and day-to-day business.
Claire works closely with Andrew Katzen in the firm’s extradition team. She has previously acted for an individual who worked for a global investment bank, in extradition proceedings brought by the United States in connection with high profile allegations of bribery and corruption.
She has also acted for individuals in their fights against extradition resulting from the issuance of European Arrest Warrants. Examples include successfully arguing against extradition of an international businessman to Italy on the basis of s.12A Extradition Act 2003 and Article 3.
Claire also played an important role in the firm’s advice to an ex-Managing Director of a global investment bank.
Claire has considerable experience in defending cases brought against individuals, companies and directors by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). She has represented clients in cases resulting from incidents such as falls from height, fire safety and asbestos concerns, accidents in care home settings and accidents at work.
She can also assist companies with the process of undertaking internal investigations and advice in the aftermath of an incidence. She can provide assistance with matters such as conducting internal interviews, and liaising with the HSE or other investigatory bodies in order to protect the best interests of the company and directors.
27 Oct 2023
Hickman & Rose has again been recognised by The Times newspaper in its annual list of the best law firms in the UK.
Hickman & Rose is included in the 2024 list as a leading firm operating…
4 Oct 2023
Hickman & Rose is proud to be recognised again as one of the country’s leading law firms by the Legal 500 directory.
The firm’s ‘outstanding’ Serious and General Crime…
30 Jan 2023
Whenever someone dies or is seriously injured in the workplace there are important legal and regulatory measures for the business concerned to consider. In a blog, Hickman & Rose partner Claire…
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