Francis Bond Senior Associate

Senior Associate

DD +44 (0)20 7849 2041 T +44 (0)20 7831 9222 Email Francis Download vCard Francis on LinkedIn

Francis is a member of the firm’s corporate crime and investigations team.

He advises clients on white collar defence, investigations and prosecutions conducted by agencies such as OFSI, the NCA, the SFO, the FCA and the CPS.

Francis previously lived and worked in the United States, and assists on multi-jurisdictional investigations involving agencies such as the US Department of Justice, the US Securities & Exchange Commission, the Office of Foreign Assets Control and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. He has particular expertise regarding international enforcement and assists clients on issues of national security, Mutual Legal Assistance, overseas confiscation and restraint orders, and Interpol Red Notices.

Francis is a leading practitioner on international sanctions & export control matters, and is currently helping clients adapt to dramatic recent shifts in the global sanctions framework. He is the co-founder of the City Sanctions Network, and has recently contributed to government debates about the future of UK sanctions policy.

Francis has been ranked as an "Associate to Watch" in the Sanctions category of the Chambers UK Legal Guide 2024 and as a “Leading Associate” in the Regulatory Investigations and Corporate Crime (advice to corporates) category of Legal 500.

Professional Memberships

UK Finance Working Group on Sanctions (Chair)
City Sanctions Network (Co-Founder)
Law Society Working Group: Russia Sanctions
The Association of Certified Sanctions Specialists
The Fraud Lawyers Association

Expertise

Recent work

Private prosecution

Prosecuting a high-profile and politically-connected individual accused of perverting the course of justice.

SFO investigation

Acting on an SFO investigation into bribery and corruption concerning contracts in the Middle East. The matter involved a Crown Court trial and negotiations as to immunity from prosecution under the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005.

Sanctions licences

Successfully obtaining sanctions licences from the UK Government on behalf of a large European financial institution, and advising on the application of those licences in the course of business.

INTERPOL Red Notice

Representing an individual subject to an INTERPOL Red Notice in proceedings with the Commission for the Control of INTERPOL's Files.

Compliance policies and procedures

Drafting a full suite of compliance policies and procedures, including money laundering, fraud, bribery and financial sanctions procedures for a new UK pension fund.

Judicial review

Representing a company subject to raids and document seizures by the NCA via Mutual Legal Assistance requests from the United States, including a High Court judicial review of the validity of the warrants underpinning the seizures.

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The UK Legal 500 2025