Lorna Emson Partner

Partner

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Lorna is an experienced white collar defence and investigations lawyer, with a particular focus on matters involving fraud and financial crime and the overlap between civil and criminal procedures.

Lorna has been involved in several significant and high profile cases in these fields, working for banks, interdealer brokers, oil & gas companies and private individuals including senior executives, politicians and UHNW individuals based both in the UK and internationally.

Lorna is a Solicitor Advocate.

Professional Memberships

The Fraud Lawyers Association (FLA)
Financial Services Lawyers Association (FSLA)
London Solicitors Litigation Association (LSLA)
Women’s White Collar Defense Association (WWCDA)

Expertise

Recent work

Investigations

Representing various individuals in respect of investigations by regulators including the SFO, DOJ, SRA and FCA.

Tuna bonds litigation

Acting for one of the lenders involved in the “tuna bonds” litigation, concerning loans made to state-owned entities in Mozambique in excess of US$2bn which were challenged on the basis that they were procured by bribery and corruption.

Judicial review

Representing a company that was subject to raids and document seizures by the NCA under warrants including a judicial review of the validity of the warrants used.

Range of corporates

Advising a range of corporates on their anti-bribery and whistleblowing policies and procedures, including advising on risk assessments, drafting policies and providing advice on implementation and training.

SFO investigation into bribery

Acting for a UK corporate in relation to an SFO investigation into bribery allegations. This required a wide ranging internal investigation, review and disclosure exercise in response to a Section 2 notice, including preparing presentations and directly engaging with the SFO. The process resulted the company having its status as a suspect removed in less than a year from the start of the investigation.

Private equity and co-investment fund

Acting for an international secondary private equity and co-investment fund in relation to an SFO investigation (in support of a European Investigation Order) into allegations of bribery, including an extensive review and disclosure exercise in response to a Section 2 notice.

High profile investigation

Advising in relation to a high profile investigation into alleged financial irregularities within a UK plc. Including in connection with substantial claims against wrongdoers in a number of jurisdictions, defence of a s994 petition, a number of regulatory investigations commenced by UK and overseas authorities and freezing assets in different jurisdictions and overseas arbitration proceedings.

Dispute arising out of the insolvency of Lehman

Successful representation of a company in a $70m dispute arising out of the insolvency of Lehman, relating to non-payment on an open interest rate swap when Lehman went into administration. The case is the leading authority on the central provision in the ISDA Master Agreement.

See all

What people are saying

"Lorna is first class: she is super-smart, tactically astute, commercial and realistic, indefatigable and a pleasure to work with."

Chambers HNW 2024