Kathleen Harris is head of the London office and helps steer the firm's Anti-Corruption practice where she represents companies and individuals in a wide range of regulatory/enforcement investigations and the related proceedings. Kathleen is recognised internationally as a leader in her practice area. She represents a FTSE 100 Company in relation to a financial fraud case and another FTSE 100 Company in relation to a global investigation. Her representations include GSK, Hewlett Packard, News UK and individuals in relation to investigations into Barclays, Rolls Royce, and Tesco. She is regularly instructed by companies and individuals in a range of other high-profile criminal matters. Kathleen also provides advice in respect of both compliance and enforcement relating to financial and trade sanctions. Kathleen is a highly respected practitioner in all areas of crime and her pro bono work includes acting for vulnerable individuals within the criminal justice system.
In The Legal 500 she is recognised as having a "very keen intellect." Chambers and Partners has recognised her as a leading individual in her field. She is an accomplished litigator with extensive knowledge of and experience in matters involving internal and external investigations and prosecutions under the full range of potential criminal offences and sanctions. Kathleen has broad experience advising government ministers on the development and implementation of policy and fraud strategy, and leading complex overseas enquiries and analyses.
Kathleen is a member of the Corporate Governance working group of the firm, and with her experience, clients, Board of Directors, and Special committees regularly rely on her counsel with respect to complex corporate governance issues.
She has written articles on the Deferred Prosecution Agreement and UK Bribery Act, as well as newsletters covering the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) and UK Enforcement updates.
Before joining the firm, Kathleen served as a Senior Civil Servant Heading the Fraud Business Group and Head of Policy at the Serious Fraud Office (SFO), Senior Strategic Policy Adviser in the Attorney General's Office, and held positions in HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC), The Revenue and Customs Prosecutions Office, and the Department of Works and Pensions in the United Kingdom.
Kathleen has led the prosecution of organisations involved in high-profile bribery investigations, complex financial crime, and tax evasion.
