About
Francis is a member of the firm’s corporate crime and investigations team.
He advises clients on white collar defence, investigations and prosecutions conducted by agencies such as OFSI, the NCA, the SFO, the FCA and the CPS.
Francis previously lived and worked in the United States, and assists on multi-jurisdictional investigations involving agencies such as the US Department of Justice, the US Securities & Exchange Commission, the Office of Foreign Assets Control and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. He has particular expertise regarding international enforcement and assists clients on issues of national security, Mutual Legal Assistance, overseas confiscation and restraint orders, and Interpol Red Notices.
Francis is a leading practitioner on international sanctions & export control matters, and is currently helping clients adapt to dramatic recent shifts in the global sanctions framework. He is the co-founder of the City Sanctions Network, and has recently contributed to government debates about the future of UK sanctions policy.
Francis has been ranked as an "Associate to Watch" in the Sanctions category of the Chambers UK Legal Guide 2024 and as a “Leading Associate” in the Regulatory Investigations and Corporate Crime (advice to corporates) category of Legal 500.
He has been included in The Lawyer Hot 100 for 2025.
Professional Memberships
- UK Finance Working Group on Sanctions (Chair)
- City Sanctions Network (Co-Founder)
- Law Society Working Group: Russia Sanctions
- The Association of Certified Sanctions Specialists
- The Fraud Lawyers Association
Experience
- Prosecuting a high-profile and politically-connected individual accused of perverting the course of justice.
- Acting on an SFO investigation into bribery and corruption concerning contracts in the Middle East. The matter involved a Crown Court trial and negotiations as to immunity from prosecution under the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005.
- Successfully obtaining sanctions licences from the UK Government on behalf of a large European financial institution, and advising on the application of those licences in the course of business.
- Representing an individual subject to an INTERPOL Red Notice in proceedings with the Commission for the Control of INTERPOL's Files.
- Drafting a full suite of compliance policies and procedures, including money laundering, fraud, bribery and financial sanctions procedures for a new UK pension fund.
- Representing a company subject to raids and document seizures by the NCA via Mutual Legal Assistance requests from the United States, including a High Court judicial review of the validity of the warrants underpinning the seizures.