Zulfi Meerza

"Bright and with a great future." - Legal 500

Managing Associate, Global Investigations
London

Expertise

Zulfi Meerza specialises in all aspects of financial crime, sanctions and export controls, with a particular focus on advising / representing companies, senior executives and high net-worth individuals in complex investigations (both internal and external), covering a broad spectrum of alleged misconduct, including fraud, bribery & corruption, money laundering and sanctions / export control violations.

Zulfi’s previous experience as a financial crime prosecutor for the UK Serious Fraud Office (SFO) is invaluable for clients in the most complex, cross-border investigations that often involve engagement with multiple enforcement agencies, including the NCA, HMRC, OFSI, OTSI, FCA and the US DoJ. Additionally, he has strong experience of acting for high net-worth individuals in challenging extradition requests, Interpol Red Notices, account freezing orders and unexplained wealth orders.

Zulfi also maintains an advisory practice that involves assisting corporate clients across a range of business sectors with implementing, updating and maintaining their financial crime compliance frameworks, and draws on his specific knowledge of the UK sanctions / export controls regime to advise clients on compliance, preparing licence applications and responding to information requests from domestic and overseas regulators.

Experience

Financial Crime

Represented two high net-worth individuals in a HMRC criminal investigation in relation to alleged overseas bribery and fraud offences.
Advised a special administrator in relation to the POCA confiscation regime and money laundering reporting obligations flowing from a sensitive data information request sent by UK law enforcement.
Lead case lawyer in the investigation and prosecution of Barclays Bank and former senior executives in relation to allegations of fraud connected to the GBP 11.8 billion recapitalisation of Barclays in 2008 (Barclays / Qatar case)**.
Lead case lawyer in the investigation and prosecution of three individuals for alleged fraud and money laundering offences in relation to the collapse of the Cayman Islands based Axiom Legal Financing Fund, which had raised GBP 100 million from investors**.
Case lawyer in the investigation of a global FMCG company regarding allegations of serious wrongdoing, including bribery of foreign public officials and anti-competitive practices in numerous countries**.

Sanctions and Export Controls

Acted for a retail and consumer standards body in relation to its legal and reputational risk arising out of global members continuing to engage in business in Russia and/or retaining ownership of business or assets in Russia.
Advised a leading European airline on urgent UK and EU sanctions compliance regarding dealings with designated Russian oil majors, requiring direct engagement with OFSI on licensing to ensure lawful continuation of fuel supply arrangements.
Acting for a specialist IT distributor of dual-use software and technology in an internal investigation to identify any potential exposure to UK export controls.
Acted for a UK specialist software design and manufacturing company operating in different industries (including aerospace and semi-conductor) on compliance with UK sanctions and export controls in relation to software sales and the provision of services.
Advised a leading European financial institution on strategic compliance with UK financial sanctions in relation to complex loan facilities involving designated persons, including responding to regulator enquiries and assessing UK enforcement risk.

** notable prosecution experience as a senior case lawyer at the SFO.

Education

De Montfort University - PG Certificate in Sports Law and Practice, 2016.
The University of Law (formerly The College of Law) - Legal Practice Course (LPC), 2010.
School of Oriental & African Studies (University of London) – LLB Law, 2006 – 2009.

Languages