Alexandra Melia

Partner at Steptoe & Johnson

Speaker

Alexandra Melia's practice focuses on international financial crime compliance, investigations and enforcement defense related to the UK Bribery Act, other countries' anti-corruption laws, UK sanctions and export controls and anti-money laundering legislation. She regularly conducts internal investigations, financial crime compliance audits and risk assessments for clients operating in Africa, the Americas, Asia and Europe across a wide range of industries, including financial services, manufacturing, mining, oil and gas, pharmaceuticals and technology. Alexandra also defends clients in investigations and enforcement actions brought by the UK's Serious Fraud Office, Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation, Financial Conduct Authority and other law enforcement and regulatory agencies.

Alexandra has significant experience in advising clients on the design, implementation and evaluation of global compliance programs. She also helps clients develop effective financial crime compliance strategies, including establishing internal policies and procedures. Alex has extensive experience in conducting pre-investment financial crime due diligence and devising post-investment compliance integration plans for asset managers and private equity firms investing in high-risk sectors and countries as well as for companies as part of mergers, acquisitions, joint ventures and other strategic transactions. She gained valuable in-house experience during a year-long client secondment acting in the capacity of a de-facto Chief Compliance Officer for an oilfield services company. Alex's responsibilities included devising practical, business-focused solutions to a range of strategic and tactical compliance issues in a number of high-risk markets.