Serious Fraud OfficeLegal Advisor, Rolls-Royce Prosecution
May. 2014 - Dec. 2014In this role I worked as a legal consultant at the Serious Fraud Office, on a large and complex bribery and corruption case (SFO v Rolls-Royce Plc); a domestic and overseas joint investigation brought under pre-Bribery Act charges. This involved investigation and prosecution of offences including conspiracy to corrupt, false accounting and failure to prevent bribery. I worked on Mutual Legal Assistance on this blockbuster case, as well conducting consultations, interviews of suspects and providing advice to investigators and forensic accountants on the legal framework of the investigation and prosecution. The role required me to have an excellent knowledge of the law but also a good eye for the evidence needed to meet the evidential burden, as well as excellent interpersonal skills. The conduct spans three decades and involves Rolls-Royce’s Civil Aerospace and Defence Aerospace businesses and its former Energy business and relates to the sale of aero engines, energy systems and related services. The conduct covered by the UK DPA took place across seven jurisdictions: Indonesia, Thailand, India, Russia, Nigeria, China and Malaysia. Rolls Royce agreed to pay £497.25 million in fines plus the SFO prosecution costs of £13 million. This is thought to be the first use of a DPA for a prosecution of this kind in UK history and the agreement was approved by the President of the Queen’s Bench Division of the High Court, Sir Brian Leveson.