Profile
Alex is a shareholder in the London White Collar Defence & Investigations practice. He has extensive experience across a wide range of complex and high-profile white collar crime matters, including allegations of bribery and corruption, fraud, and money laundering. He regularly advises individuals and corporates at all stages of domestic investigations and prosecutions conducted by the SFO, the CPS, HMRC, the NCA, and the FCA (including in ancillary matters such as cash forfeiture, restraint and confiscation proceedings), as well as challenging the designation of individuals on sanctions lists.
Alex is often involved in complex cross-border matters, including domestic cases with parallel investigations or prosecutions taking place in other jurisdictions, such as France, Gibraltar, India, and the USA. He is skilled at managing the competing complexities of inter-connected proceedings and engaging with a range of law enforcement agencies, including the US DOJ, the SEC, the French PNF, and the Indian CBI and ED.
He is a qualified Higher Rights solicitor-advocate with experience of representing clients both at the police station and in court and has an array of advisory and litigation skills.
Alex is recognised in two chapters of The Legal 500 2024, Fraud White Collar Crime (Advice to Individuals) and Regulatory Investigations and Corporate Crime (Advice to Corporates). Sources say: “Alex Swan knows his cases backwards, has an almost encyclopaedic recollection of the law, and has excellent client handling skills,” adding that he is “a huge presence and as enthusiastic a solicitor as you could ever wish for. Bright, energetic and able to cut through the rubbish to get to the meat of the case.”. Other commentators note that “Alex leaves no stone unturned and is also an impressive advocate.”
Capabilities
Experience
- Advised a corporate in respect of UK export control laws relating to the export of dual-use items.°
- Acted for an individual in relation to the Serious Fraud Office’s Airbus investigation, with no charges being brought.°
- Advised an individual subject to an investigation of corruption and money laundering in India.°
- Advised a HNW individual in respect of the reporting of offences under the Financial Services Act 2012 and Fraud Act 2006 to the Financial Conduct Authority.°
- Acted for a corporate in respect of an internal investigation into allegations of price-fixing.°
- Advised a HNW family regarding mutual legal assistance matters arising out of allegations of corruption and money laundering in India.°
- Advised an individual in relation to regulatory proceedings in Gibraltar connected to the liquidation of an insurance company.°
- Successfully defended Tesco’s commercial director on charges of an alleged £250 million accounting fraud.°
- Acted for an individual charged with money laundering relating to funds defrauded from NHS trusts and educational institutions by various fraudsters.°
- Acted for an individual in relation to a Financial Conduct Authority investigation into market abuse.°
- Acted for an individual in relation to the Serious Fraud Office’s GSK investigation, with no charges being brought.°
- Acted for individuals in relation to the Serious Fraud Office’s Rolls Royce investigation, with no charges being brought.°
- Represented individuals interviewed as witnesses by the Serious Fraud Office under its compulsory powers.°
- Represented individuals interviewed as witnesses by the Financial Conduct Authority under its compulsory powers.°
- Successfully defended an individual accused of MTIC fraud relating to the trading of carbon credits.°
- Acted for an individual accused of MTIC fraud in connection with mobile phone trade.°
°The above representations were handled by Mr. Swan prior to his joining Greenberg Traurig, LLP.
Recognition & Leadership
- Listed, The Legal 500 United Kingdom, 2024
- Regulatory Investigations and Corporate Crime, 2024
- White-Collar Crime, 2024
- Website Officer, Business Crime Committee, International Bar Association
- Member, Anglo-Australasian Lawyers Society
- Member, Fraud Lawyers Association
Credentials
- LL.B., University of Westminster
- Bar Vocational Course, BPP Law School
- Qualified Lawyers Transfer Test, BPP Law School
- England and Wales
- Hindi
- Japanese