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Francesca is a criminal litigator with more than a decade of experience advising individuals, senior executives and corporates on complex financial crime investigations, serious criminal matters and high-profile crisis situations.
Recognised for a pragmatic and commercially focused approach, Francesca combines technical legal expertise with sound judgement to help clients navigate sensitive, high stakes matters where legal, reputational and commercial risks often intersect. Clients value Francesca’s calm and strategic approach, and her ability to identify and navigate the best route in a criminal investigation has led to her being the first choice of many high-net-worth individuals, senior business figures and professionals in cases where reputations are at stake.
Financial and Corporate Crime
Francesca advises clients facing investigations and prosecutions involving bribery and corruption, complex fraud, money laundering, tax evasion, market abuse and other financial offences. She has acted in some of the most significant and high-profile financial crime matters of recent years, including investigations and prosecutions conducted by the Serious Fraud Office, National Crime Agency, Crown Prosecution Service and HM Revenue & Customs. Many of these matters have involved multi-jurisdictional investigations and parallel proceedings across jurisdictions.Recent experience includes leading the defence of a Nigerian oil and gas magnate in a landmark prosecution brought by the National Crime Agency’s International Corruption Unit - R v Alison Madueke, Agama and Ayinde (2026). The case arose from a decade-long international investigation linked to Nigeria’s former Minister for Petroleum Resources and concerned allegations of historic bribery in connection with the award of major oil contracts in Nigeria.
Serious Crime and Crisis Management
Alongside a substantial financial crime practice, Francesca advises individuals accused of a wide range of criminal offences, with particular experience in cases involving serious violence, harassment, blackmail, drugs, and firearms offences. She represents clients throughout the criminal justice process, from arrest and investigation through to trial. She also engages with authorities before charges are brought, making representations that can prevent charges, narrow the scope of investigations or bring matters to an early conclusion.Francesca also has significant expertise in matters involving surveillance and investigatory powers. She has represented journalists in several of the UK’s most significant phone-hacking and payments to public officials investigations (Operations Weeting, Elveden and Tuleta).
In addition, Francesca has an interest in advising and representing individuals who expose wrongdoing, including corporate and public-sector whistleblowers, as well as investigative journalists facing criminal scrutiny arising from their reporting and disclosures.
Track Record
Acquittal in high-profile bribery trial concerning alleged corruption in the Nigerian oil and gas sector (R v Alison-Madueke, Agama & Ayinde, 2026)
Francesca acted for the owner of several Nigerian oil and gas companies in a landmark prosecution brought by the National Crime Agency’s International Corruption Unit, arising from a complex, decade-long international investigation linked to Nigeria’s former Minister for Petroleum Resources. The case concerned allegations of historic bribery of foreign public officials in connection with the award of major oil contracts. The defence involved analysis of extensive financial evidence and complex disclosure issues arising from international Mutual Legal Assistance requests, alongside politically sensitive issues concerning whistleblowers, government informants and source protection. The matter also required extensive engagement with Nigerian government and law enforcement authorities on cross-border and international comity issues. Following a five-month trial, the client was acquitted of all charges in June 2026.
Confiscation enforcement
Represented a large engineering company that had been the victim of a significant fraud perpetrated by a former employee. Acted on the company’s behalf as an interested third party in confiscation proceedings, advancing its claim to recover the losses arising from the fraud and securing a six-figure compensation award in its favour.
Cross-border police investigation (kidnap and sexual offences)
Advised the son of an ultra-high-net-worth industrialist in connection with parallel UK and Italian investigations into allegations of kidnap and serious criminal offences. Francesca's pre-charge representations addressing evidential gaps and appropriate lines of enquiry resulted in the investigation being discontinued.
Government of South Africa v Shrien Dewani [2014] EWHC 153 (Admin)
Assisted in high-profile extradition proceedings concerning an application to resist extradition to South Africa to face a murder charge.
HMRC regulatory investigation, cash seizure and detention, and judicial review – R (Kingdom Corporate Ltd & Anor) v Commissioners for HMRC & Anor [2023] EWHC 3315 (Admin)
Acted for two UK-based money service businesses and their high-net-worth proprietor in a complex HMRC regulatory investigation concerning compliance with the Money Laundering, Terrorist Financing and Transfer of Funds (Information on the Payer) Regulations 2017. Advised throughout HMRC’s exercise of its supervisory and enforcement powers and in related cash seizure and detention proceedings under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002. The matter concerned the interaction between HMRC’s regulatory powers and the statutory regime governing the seizure and continued detention of cash, giving rise to significant procedural and public law issues. The cash detention proceedings ultimately led to judicial review proceedings.
Talks
- ThoughtLeaders4 Disputes Conference (panelist) - 'Enhancing Practical Responses to Mitigating Corporate Crime. Panel entitled ‘Building Effective Whistleblowing Protections and Compliance’ (March 2025).
- ThoughtLeaders4 Disputes Conference (panelist) – 'Corporate Crime: Detection & Reaction'. Panel entitled ‘The Protection on Offer for Whistleblowers’ (February 2024).
External Publications
- Law360 (quoted in) ‘Saudi Bribery Trial Defense Wins After Failed Dismissal Bids’ (March 2024).
- FT Adviser (author) ‘Swiss authorities are playing catch-up on financial crime reforms’ (September 2023).
- FT Adviser (author) ‘Corporate liability proposal could be huge win in fight against crime’ (June 2023).
- Global Investigations Review: The Practitioner’s Guide to Global Investigations (6th edn) (co-author). Chapter entitled ‘Extraterritoriality: The UK Perspective’ (2022).
- Chambers and Partners: Chambers Global Practice Guides - Anti-Corruption (co-author). Chapter entitled: ‘UK: Law and Practice’ (2022).
Admissions
- England and Wales, 2021 (Fellow of CILEX)
Education
- City Law School - Bar Vocational Course (BVC) 2010
Languages
- English
Memberships
- Chartered Institute of Legal Executives (CILEX)
- The Honourable Society of the Inner Temple
- Fraud Lawyers Association
- Women in Criminal Law
- European Criminal Bar Association
- Female Fraud Forum
- London Criminal Courts Solicitors' Association
- Francesca is the former Chair of the Young Fraud Lawyers Association.
Withers History
- Joined 2026