Alex Irvine
Of Counsel
Alex is a regulatory and criminal investigations lawyer who guides clients through the most complex and challenging of investigations with a sharp focus and assured approach.
Of Counsel
Alex is a regulatory and criminal investigations lawyer who guides clients through the most complex and challenging of investigations with a sharp focus and assured approach.
Language - English
Jurisdiction - England & Wales
Alex specialises in helping companies and senior individuals navigate complex and high-stakes regulatory supervisory matters and investigations, including those conducted by the FCA, PRA and SFO, and internal investigations. His clients are the focus of his work and include, banks, insurers, asset managers, energy providers, public and private companies across sectors and senior individuals. He supports clients in relation to the full range of supervisory matters, from section 166 reviews to VREQs and contested Senior Manager applications, and enforcement and criminal investigations. He has supported clients in relation to allegations concerning systems and controls failures, customer conduct issues, market abuse, client money failures, non-financial misconduct and bribery and corruption. Alex brings clarity and calmness to even the most high-stakes situations.
He is committed to understanding each client’s unique needs and circumstances, providing tailored guidance and advice that instils confidence, even in the most challenging circumstances, helping clients to overcome their toughest challenges.
Having spent two years as a Senior Legal Counsel at an international bank—where he was responsible for managing all contentious regulatory matters and internal investigations—Alex has a first-hand understanding of the pressures that in-house advisers face. This experience enables him to deliver advice that is both practical and empathetic to the realities of corporate environments.
Senior executive of an overseas bank
Successfully represented a client in a reference to the Upper Tribunal of a decision by the FCA to impose a prohibition order for an alleged lack of integrity.
Global bank
Advised client in relation to a PRA-led section 166 review relating to risk management practices, culture and governance.
UK asset manager
Advising client in defending a series of complaints made to the Financial Ombudsman Services concerning the operation of an unregulated collective investment scheme.
Cryptocurrency trading platform
Advised client in relation to a VREQ, successfully negotiating the provisions of a private undertaking to the regulator and thereby avoiding a public outcome.
Chair of a global bank
Advised client who appeared as a witness in relation to a high-profile FCA enforcement matter.
Senior executive of extractive industry company
Successfully represented the CFO of a FTSE 100 company in an investigation by the FCA into alleged breaches of the Disclosure and Transparency Rules.
Senior trader of an overseas bank
Represented a senior trader in a SFO investigation into allegations of fraud relating to the submission of EURIBOR.
Market abuse
Successfully advised three energy traders in a listed energy firm alleged to have committed market abuse in contravention of REMIT.
Compliance advice
Advising organisations across different sectors on the development, implementation and review of their compliance structures and on the application of relevant regulatory rules to all aspects of the conduct of their businesses.
