Kathryn Hughes

Kathryn is a highly respected junior who specialises in corporate and financial crime, international arbitration, private prosecutions, and financial regulation.

Overview

Kathryn has developed a practice focused primarily on corporate and financial crime and financial regulation, in which she is regularly instructed by both top-tier law firms and financial institutions. Kathryn has an acute understanding of the complex law in this area, as well as the specific legal, financial, and reputational concerns of corporate clients facing allegations of financial crime, bribery, and corruption.

Experience

Kathryn has experience beyond her years. She is frequently sought after by market leaders for her particular expertise in the field. 

In particular:

• Kathryn successfully represented a company and its Director facing allegations under the Bribery Act 2010. Both the Company and the Director were acquitted in what was the first acquittal for an offence under Section 7 of the Bribery Act 2010.
• Kathryn has been instructed to act for a number of listed companies and individuals under investigation by the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) and other international agencies such as the Parquet National Financier (PNF) and the US Department of Justice (DOJ) and Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
• Kathryn has also been instructed by the SFO in an investigation into allegations of corruption.

Kathryn has particular experience in advising companies on internal investigations into issues of data protection, fraud, money laundering and bribery and corruption. In 2022, Kathryn led an investigation into allegations of fraud in connection with a company’s activities in Qatar. She has also previously advised on the treatment of whistleblowers, conducted interviews and advised on specific issues of LPP in connection with internal investigations. 

Kathryn has advised a number of global financial institutions on Sanctions, Anti-Money Laundering and Anti-Bribery and Corruption compliance procedures. In particular, she has advised on Source of Wealth and Source of Funds procedures, third party risk, transaction risk and gifts and hospitality. Kathryn has designed and delivered training to high-risk third party consultants, stationed in high risk jurisdictions, on issues of bribery and corruption. Kathryn also has experience in advising financial institutions on Suspicious Activity Reporting and tipping off risks.

Kathryn regularly advises company directors in connection with prosecutions brought by Companies House. She is uniquely familiar with the strategic nuances applicable to these cases and has had considerable success in persuading Companies House to discontinue its prosecutions. Kathryn is also experienced in advising both companies and directors and officers in criminal investigations being conducted by the Insolvency Service.

Arbitration

Kathryn also has experience in international arbitration. For example, in 2018 Kathryn worked with a leading Chinese oil and gas company and its overseas subsidiary as claimants in a multi-billion-dollar arbitration administered by the Singapore International Arbitration Centre (SIAC) related to their investment in a European oil company. Kathryn is able to quickly understand and digest a high volume of technical information, a skill which has proved invaluable in the context of arbitration cases. Kathryn was also instructed in an arbitration in London dealing with a high-profile employment dispute involving allegations of dishonesty. 

Other

In addition to her busy corporate and financial crime practice, Kathryn also takes time to contribute to various publications. She has particular expertise in relation to Deferred Prosecution Agreements, and she writes regularly on this topic. Kathryn understands how DPAs operate in various different jurisdictions, having undertaken a detailed comparative analysis of several different legislative frameworks

Recent Work

• In 2023, Kathryn has represented a number of directors across five separate entities facing prosecution by Companies House for failing to file company accounts in the relevant time period. In each case, the Prosecuting Solicitor has been persuaded to discontinue its prosecution.
• In July 2023, Kathryn successfully prosecuted an individual for fraud offences totalling in excess of £200,000. The case involved an individual who used false identity documents to gain access to the bank accounts of individuals in a number of different bank branches in and around London. The money was then used to make a string of luxury purchases in high-end retailers.
• In March 2023, Kathryn advised an energy company on compliance with sanctions legislation during a multi-million pound contract negotiation.
• In August 2022, Kathryn successfully persuaded Companies House to drop the prosecution of a company director in connection with an alleged failing to fail company accounts.
• R v R and others (2022) – Kathryn successfully represented an individual charged with fraud in connection with a grant application to the Rural Payments Agency.
• FRC v KPMG and others (2022) – Mark Ellison QC and Kathryn Hughes act for the FRC in 'The Executive Counsel to the FRC v KPMG, Peter Noel Meehan, Alistair Wright, Richard William Kitchen, Adam David Bennett, Pratik Paw, Stuart Peter and James Smith (alongside Nicholas Medcroft QC and Daniel Carall-Green of Fountain Court Chambers)'
• In February 2022, Kathryn led an internal investigation for a company based in the middle east in connection with allegations of fraud and corruption in connection with the Qatar world cup.
• JAMS arbitration (2019): Kathryn was instructed as junior counsel to William Boyce QC in a multi-million dollar employment dispute involving claims of dishonesty. 
• In 2018, Kathryn worked with a leading Chinese oil and gas company and its overseas subsidiary as claimants in a multi-billion-dollar arbitration administered by the Singapore International Arbitration Centre (SIAC) related to their investment in a European oil company. 
• In 2017-2018, Kathryn was instructed by a former FTSE 100 company in relation to an SFO investigation into potential issues of bribery and corruption.
• In 2017, Kathryn acted as Independent Counsel to make determinations of LPP in relation to an SFO investigation into a private company. 

Reviews

Legal 500 2023: Financial Services Regulation - Tier 3 

Legal 500 2023: Business and Regulatory Crime and Global Investigations - Tier 3

‘Excellent attention to detail and quick to grasp complex issues in cases. Understands her clients' needs and strategic approach to defending them.’ Legal 500 Financial Services (2023)

Legal 500 2022: Financial Services Regulation - Tier 3

'Kathryn is extremely hard-working and diligent. A fantastic team player who quickly grasps complex points.' Legal 500 Financial Services (2022)