Brodies LLP has established a pre-eminent fraud and financial crime practice in Scotland, consistently displaying a ‘deep understanding’ of not only traditional risks arising from fraud, bribery and corruption, but also emerging threats facing clients such as cyber-attacks, IP theft, and tactical disruption to businesses. Paul Marshall is an ‘outstanding lawyer’ and leads the team from Edinburgh, regularly sought after by boardroom executives for his extensive investigation and advocacy skills. The offering was considerably bolstered by the addition of Clare Bone from BTO Solicitors LLP in September 2022, a former prosecutor with a broad sector focus spanning construction, transport, chemical engineering and agriculture. Senior associate Ramsay Hall has experience advising large corporate organisations on high-value tax evasion and money laundering matters, while associate Lisa Kinroy has ‘formidable’ experience conducting investigations with international dimensions.

Leveraging a comprehensive network of specialists across the UK and internationally, the Scotland practice at Pinsent Masons LLP is notorious in the market for its strength in the energy, infrastructure, financial services, sports and public sectors. The practice is overseen by Tom Stocker and covers the gamut of financial crimes including corporate bribery, fraud, anti-money laundering, international sanctions, and tax evasion. Stacy Keen leads the sanctions and export control offering and also handles a number of significant anti-bribery risk assessments and investigations, while associate Alastair Wood specialises in self-reporting and anti-bribery compliance.

BTO Solicitors LLP offers 'a team of highly experienced criminal lawyers who are skilled in dealing with corporate clients’, acting for a particularly diverse span of clients in high-risk sectors such as banking, academia, construction, charities and accountancy. Practice head and solicitor advocate Vikki Watt specialises in the defence of regulatory crime, routinely handling proceeds of crime cases and has regular dealings with the National Crime Agency (NCA). Criminal solicitor advocate Alasdair Gillies is a key contact, having acted for high-profile individuals in the sport, music and business sectors.

The corporate crime team at Burness Paull LLP offers a deep bench of dedicated specialists in key areas of financial crime, providing contentious advice on regulatory investigations and on the non-contentious side, advising on compliance issues covering everything from whistleblowing and fraud to anti-bribery and corruption. The practice, which has developed a strong niche advising on sanctions arising from the Ukraine/Russia conflict, is led by the highly experienced Lynne Gray, whose particular expertise in the offshore energy industry is utilised when advising on crisis response management including dawn raids and international sanctions issues. She is heavily supported by director Lynne Moss, who has a formidable track record on a diverse range of regulatory and financial crime matters, from anti-bribery and corruption to exports and sanctions.

Utilising a strong domestic and international presence, CMS advises major private and public sector clients regarding internal investigations and recovery proceedings, particularly noted for its expertise concerning bribery, banking and insolvency-related fraud matters, and cases of theft of public funds. The practice, led by Colin Hutton from Edinburgh, has developed experience advising companies on self-reporting and also has recognised expertise in insolvency-related fraud.