Stephen Pollard
Stephen Pollard
Partner
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Stephen Pollard is a seasoned litigator with more than 30 years of experience in the full spectrum of business crime and securities enforcement work. During his career, Mr. Pollard has been involved in most of the significant business crime investigations and prosecutions brought by the UK authorities. Mr. Pollard has particular experience in representing senior individuals from public and private companies, including those from the financial services sector. In addition, Mr. Pollard is regularly instructed to advise national and international companies facing complex and sensitive issues relating to criminal, regulatory or reputational matters.
Mr. Pollard is widely regarded as one of the leading lawyers in London advising clients in proceedings brought by the Serious Fraud Office (SFO), Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and National Crime Agency (NCA). These matters predominately relate to financial services fraud, multi-jurisdictional white collar crime allegations, corruption, competition/cartel allegations, insider trading, market manipulation, market abuse and internal investigations. He also has extensive experience in handling high-profile matters requiring press and reputational management.
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UK White Collar Defense and Investigations
Multinational companies, corporate executives, high-ranking public officials and in-house counsel rely on our preeminent practice and depth of experience when facing complex and challenging criminal and regulatory investigations.
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WilmerHale Ranks No. 1 on Global Investigations Review's List of Top Investigations Practices
WilmerHale has climbed to the top of Global Investigations Review's list of the world's 30 leading investigations and compliance practices.
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United Kingdom: Anti-Corruption Enforcement and Investigations
An extract entitled United Kingdom: Anti-Corruption Enforcement and Investigations by Christopher David, Alison Geary, Lloyd Firth, Anna Gaudoin and Fred Saugman from GIR’s The European, Middle Eastern and African Investigations Review 2018.
JULY 12, 2018Read More
Experience
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Representing clients over the course of more than 30 years in criminal and securities enforcement matters, including Nick Leeson in relation to the collapse of Barings Bank and other high-profile clients and landmark cases.
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Representing a number of individuals in the SFO/DOJ LIBOR and FX investigations, and in a number of DOJ/SEC investigations into alleged corruption, including representing Rohan Ramchandani, Citigroup’s former head of European spot foreign exchange trading, who was acquitted of allegations of manipulating the FX market.
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Representing clients in the current SFO investigations into Glencore (alleged corruption), Rio Tinto (alleged corruption), Balli Group (alleged fraud), ENRC (alleged corruption in Africa) and various companies connected to the Unaoil investigation (alleged corruption).
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Representing clients before the FCA and the PRA in relation to allegations of market abuse, market manipulation and issues under the Senior Managers Regime.
Recognition
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Global Thought Leader, Investigations
Who's Who Legal, EMEA
2022
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Star Individual
Chambers UK
Financial Crime: Individuals2019-2024
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Lawyer of the Year
Who's Who Legal Global Awards: Business Crime Defence
2019-2020
- Recognized in Who's Who Legal - Investigations 2024 guide.
- Named a “Star Individual” in Chambers UK. Market commentators say that “he is in a league of his own,” “the best current white-collar crime lawyer that there is” and “the person whom most white-collar lawyers would least like to find on the other side from their own clients.” He is praised for his “strategic nous, his tactical acumen and his brilliant timing.”
- Ranked Band 1 in the 2019–2020 Chambers High Net Worth Guide for financial crime, with one source saying, "He looks after clients very well and he has built a brilliant practice. He would be at the top of my list because he combines immense experience, very good client relations and good judgement, and he is calm under pressure, which is essential.”
- Inducted into The Legal 500 UK Hall of Fame, Mr. Pollard is recommended in the 2013–2024 editions of The Legal 500 UK and described as "in the top category of lawyers for work for both white-collar crime defence and investigations," "outstanding," "very experienced in dealing with SFO and FCA investigations" and "simply the best man to have in a crisis."
- Recognized in the 2024, 2023 and 2022 editions of Best Lawyers in the United Kingdom for financial services, fraud and litigation.
- Commended in The Times “Best Law Firms” 2019–2021 guide for financial crime, fraud and regulatory.
- Named "Global Thought Leader, Investigations" in the 2022 edition of Who's Who Legal, EMEA.
- Recognized as a Global Elite Thought Leader in the 2022 edition of Who's Who Legal: Investigations; named among the world's most highly regarded investigations lawyers in the 2015–2020 editions.
- Named the 2019 "Business Crime Defence Lawyer of the Year" and recognized in the 2020 and 2023 editions of The International Who's Who of Business Crime Defence Lawyers.
- Selected by clients and peers as Global Investigations Review's 2018 Investigations Lawyer of the Year.
- Recognized in the 2018–2023 editions of Global Investigations Review's Who's Who Legal: Business Crime Defence—Global Elite Thought Leaders for corporate defense, and ranked first in 2018.
Insights & News
Credentials
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Education
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LPC, University of the West of England, 1982
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BA, Jurisprudence, Pembroke College, Oxford University, 1980
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Admissions
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England and Wales, Solicitor
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Languages
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French
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German
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Spanish
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Credentials
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Education
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LPC, University of the West of England, 1982
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BA, Jurisprudence, Pembroke College, Oxford University, 1980
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Admissions
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England and Wales, Solicitor
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Languages
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French
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German
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Spanish
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