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Zulfi Meerza

Managing Associate, Global Investigations
London, UK

Expertise

Zulfi Meerza specialises in all aspects of financial crime and sanctions, with a particular focus on advising / representing corporates, senior executives and high net-worth individuals in white collar and sanctions 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 experience as a financial crime prosecutor for the UK Serious Fraud Office (SFO) make him an asset for clients in the most complex, cross-border investigations that often involve engagement with multiple enforcement agencies, including the NCA, HMRC, OFSI, OTSI and the US DoJ.

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

Experience

Represented two high net-worth individuals in a HMRC investigation in relation to alleged overseas bribery and fraud offences.
Acted for an EU based raw materials supplier, its CEO and CFO in relation to challenging their UK designations under the Russia sanctions regime.
Advised a corporate client operating in the insurance sector in relation to UK financial and trade sanctions, including compliance with the maritime services ban and oil price cap exception.

Notable prosecution experience as a senior case lawyer at the SFO

Investigation and prosecution of Barclays Bank and former senior executives in relation to allegations of fraud connected to the £11.8 billion recapitalisation of Barclays in 2008 (Barclays / Qatar case).
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 £100 million from investors.
Investigation into British American Tobacco regarding allegations of serious wrongdoing, including bribery of foreign public officials and anti-competitive practices in numerous countries.

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.

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