Johanna Walsh

Johanna Walsh is head of Mishcon de Reya’s White-Collar Crime and Investigations Group. She has experience in domestic and international serious fraud, corruption and money laundering cases, acting for senior individuals in investigations and prosecutions brought by the Serious Fraud Office, Financial Conduct Authority, National Crime Agency (NCA), Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs and the Crown Prosecution Service. Johanna has also acted for a range of corporates, from small and medium-sized businesses to FTSE 100 companies in relation to allegations of fraud and corruption, conducting internal investigations, advising on remediation and representing them in external investigations and prosecutions. She has experience in negotiating deferred prosecution agreements and civil recovery orders.

Johanna is experienced in advising in connection with proceeds of crime investigations, particularly those brought by the National Crime Agency. She represented the respondents to three unexplained wealth orders (UWOs) obtained by the NCA in what was the first successful challenge to UWOs since their introduction in 2018.

Johanna is an editor of Global Investigations Review's Guide to Compliance which examines financial crime compliance requirements and enforcement across the world with specific practical advice for companies and their lawyers and a consideration of emerging compliance fields such as ESG and crypto currency.

Johanna is recognised as a leading individual in white-collar crime and corporate crime and investigations in all of the major directories, where she is described as “an outstanding lawyer and investigator who stands in the front rank of her profession.” She has been named as a Global Leader in Investigations by Who's Who Legal, and described as “a real standout player in the market” who is well regarded by peers for her “innovative thinking and unique solutions". In 2021, Jo was named by Global Investigations Review on its Women in Investigations list – a global list of 100 women who are leaders in the field of investigations.

Key Experience

• Acting for the Respondents to three Unexplained Wealth Orders in the first successful application to discharge such Orders

• Acting for Tesco Plc in an SFO investigation into accounting irregularities

• Advising a gambling operator in respect of its compliance with anti-money laundering and social responsibility controls in its retail and digital businesses, including conducting a critical review of these controls and reporting to the company and the Gambling Commission
• Acting for a company subject to a section 7 Bribery Act investigation in respect of failure to prevent bribes being paid to domestic public officials
• Advising a company in respect of questionable payments made to agents in Russia and the Middle East, including making disclosures to the SFO and DOJ
• Acting for a multi-national company under investigation by the SFO for global bribery and corruption offences
• Acting for Johnson & Johnson in relation to an SFO investigation into legacy corruption involving DePuy International Ltd
• Assisting in a corporate internal investigation arising out of an SFO investigation into suspected facilitation payments in the shipping industry
• Defending Andy Coulson in relation to allegations of conspiracy to intercept telecommunications and conspiracy to corrupt public officials whilst Editor of the News of the World
• Defending the Group Financial Accountant of Torex plc who was prosecuted by the SFO for conspiracy to defraud and false accounting following the collapse of Torex
• Representing a former director of compliance facing prosecution by the SFO for bribery and corruption
• Representing a senior trader under investigation by the FCA and CFTC for alleged manipulation of Libor

Career History

Partner, Mishcon de Reya LLP
Partner, Kingsley Napley LLP

Articles and Publications

• Financier Worldwide - Strengthening AML protection through AI - 1 July 2018
• Expert Guides: Rising Stars 2018, 4th edition
• Practical Guide: Anti-Money Laundering for Remote Casino Operators in the UK, February 2018
• Global Investigation Review 40 under 40, September 2017
• Volkswagen Under Siege: Unprecedented Search, Unanswered Questions April 2017, Forbes
• Directors face criminal charges and unlimited fines under new regulation, April 2017, Financial Director
• New law forces big firms to come clean on gender pay gap, April 2017, The Times
• Companies to be on the hook to reveal details of how they pay suppliers, April 2017, City A.M.
• Global focus on bribery remains on the individual, October 2015, Solicitors Journal
• DPA corporate monitorships in the UK, September 2015, Global Investigations Review