Simon Airey

Partner at McDermott Will & Emery LLP

Speaker

Simon Airey is based in the London office of McDermott Will & Emery and is Co-Head of the firm’s Global Investigations & Compliance team. He focuses his practice on government, internal and defensive investigations, financial and regulatory crime, bribery and corruption, money laundering, sanctions, tax and fraud inquiries, data breaches, dawn raids, asset tracing, international enforcement and corporate compliance issues. He practiced as a barrister for the first portion of his career and has featured in several reported cases.

Simon has conducted a wide range of investigations and represented clients in many different sectors, including construction, defence, financial services, gambling, oil and gas, logistics, pharmaceuticals and telecommunications. He represents both companies and individuals in criminal and regulatory proceedings, and in associated civil litigation.

Simon advises a large number of multinational groups on their global compliance programmes and assists clients with corporate risk assessments, compliance audits and pre- and post- M&A due diligence. He conducts tailored training for boards and senior management and has lectured around the world on a range of topics including the UK Proceeds of Crime Act 2002, the Bribery Act 2010, the Criminal Finances Act 2017 and the recently implemented Economic Crime & Corporate Transparency Act 2023.

In addition to leading various major tax, fraud and bribery investigations, Simon has defended multi-party litigation in relation to a significant data breach in the UK and has advised a foreign government in relation to various tax and transparency issues. He has represented over 50 financial institutions served with data production orders by HM Revenue & Customs in the UK and recently advised a FTSE 50 company under investigation for failing to prevent bribery.