Alan Ward
Partner
Alan is a leading regulatory litigation lawyer, guiding clients through complex multi-jurisdictional investigations with strategic insight.
Partner
Alan is a leading regulatory litigation lawyer, guiding clients through complex multi-jurisdictional investigations with strategic insight.
Languages - English
Jurisdiction - England & Wales
Alan Ward is a partner at Stephenson Harwood specialising in regulatory litigation and investigations. He advises financial institutions and corporates in navigating high-profile investigations commenced by agencies such as the Serious Fraud Office ("SFO") and Financial Conduct Authority ("FCA"), along with internal, non-public investigations into allegations of financial and non-financial misconduct and irregularity.
His client base includes major banks, asset managers, and trading houses, corporates across sectors and high-profile public bodies, who value his ability to handle their most sensitive and business critical matters.
Alan has represented firms, directors, senior managers and traders in many of the most high-profile and significant investigations of the past two decades. He has represented individuals in two of the largest insider dealing prosecutions commenced by the FCA and acted for senior traders and manager in relation to the global LIBOR and foreign exchange investigations, including successfully representing clients at trial. In 2025 he represented a trader and a corporate, in two separate regulatory actions concerning allegations of market manipulation.
Clients value Alan's collaborative and practical approach, which combines deep technical knowledge with a focus on identifying and managing risk in a proactive and proportionate manner. His experience in complex cases underscores his reputation as a trusted advisor in regulatory and corporate crime matters.
Regulatory investigations & enforcement
Acting for regulated firms and senior executives, directors and traders in the context of FCA and PRA regulatory investigations and enforcement. Our practice group is ranked in Band 1 of Chambers and Partners for representing individuals in contentious regulatory investigations.
Corporate / white-collar criminal investigations
Representing for a major automotive company in the context of multi-jurisdictional allegations of fraud and money laundering.
Corporate internal investigations
Conducting internal investigations for corporates into a range of serious, alleged impropriety and irregularities, including in the financial services, pharmaceutical and life sciences, technology, and hotels and leisure sectors.
Market conduct
Representing the first Applicant in the Upper Tribunal proceedings, concerning allegations of market manipulation (spoofing) in bond futures markets.
Regulatory supervision
FCA / PRA supervision. Advising financial services firms in respect of engagement with regulators, including advice on section 166 skilled person reviews, AML on-site visits and desk-based reviews, responses to information requirements and the exercise of other, statutory powers.
Regulatory disputes
Advising a major public body in the UK in the context of an international dispute concerning the status of certain EU regulations post-Brexit. The dispute was resolved successfully for the client before the European courts.
Financial services regulation
Advising on the Money Laundering Regulations & Proceeds of Crime Act ("POCA").
Health and safety investigations
Details of Alan's health and safety investigations work can be found here.
Public Inquiries
Details of Alan's public inquiries practice can be found here.
Professional standards and discipline
Acting in contentious regulatory proceedings under Exchange Rules before the Exchange's Disciplinary Tribunal.
