Associate
Olivia Dwan is a barrister in the Business Crime department who works on the most serious fraud and corruption related matters: often her cases straddle jurisdictions.
She is currently instructed on a cross border investigation involving both the Serious Fraud Office and the US Department of Justice. She is also acting for a client in the vast “cum-ex” investigation centred in Germany. She is also part of the team defending the Italian prosecution of a former senior director within a large UK telecoms company, and the SFO prosecution of former directors of G4S.
Before joining Hickman & Rose, Olivia completed her pupillage at a leading criminal chambers, where she represented clients in court on a daily basis.
Olivia has a Law degree from the University of Sheffield. She was awarded an advocacy scholarship to study the Bar Professional Training Course. She has undertaken voluntary work teaching debating skills in prisons across London, and has worked with RCJ Advice, preparing asylum, human rights and entry clearance appeals. She was called to the Bar in 2017.
Dealing with allegations of serious fraud, corruption and bribery is Olivia’s primary professional focus. A former SFO employee, Olivia has experience of working inside large-scale bribery and corruption investigations. She has assisted in reviewing evidence, the preparation of section 2 interviews, Mutual Legal Assistance and Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act requests.
Prior to joining Hickman & Rose, Olivia completed pupillage at a leading criminal chambers, where she drafted submissions relating to large-scale bribery prosecutions, benefit fraud and possession of articles for use in fraud. She also appeared on behalf of clients charged with a range of fraud offences. She received recognition for her careful advocacy and drafting skills, as well as for her compassionate approach to clients.
Owing to the fast pace of a criminal practice at the junior bar, Olivia has developed an ability to digest large volumes of information and to evaluate the strengths of a case within a short period of time. As a barrister at Hickman and Rose, she applies this skill to technical and long-spanning investigations.
Olivia is currently instructed in three major cross border investigations between the UK and America, Germany and Italy. Olivia is gaining significant experience of collaborating with lawyers overseas and working with clients to prepare the case for consideration in a foreign jurisdiction.
Within this context, Olivia has also advised clients on complex sanctions laws spanning back several years. Again, this demonstrates Olivia’s ability to dismantle complex legal concepts and to give clients clear and pragmatic advice.
When she was a Barrister in self-employed practice, she also advised the FCA on disclosure matters relating to enforcement action against a company domiciled abroad.
As many of her clients have a background in the financial services industry, Olivia often considers issues surrounding FCA authorisation and parallel investigations running alongside criminal matters. Olivia also has experience of representing clients accused of misconduct by their employer, giving way to an internal investigation with the possibility of a referral to the Financial Conduct Authority.
11 May 2022
The Cum-Ex scandal has prompted criminal and regulatory investigations – and civil law actions – around the world. In a blog, Olivia Dwan and Ben Rose analyse how these are impacting individuals.
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21 Mar 2022
As the Financial Conduct Authority uses its powers of criminal prosecution for the first time in a money laundering case against NatWest, Olivia Dwan, barrister in our Business Crime department, sets…
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