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Johanna Walsh

Partner

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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

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

Services

I think she's brilliant. She didn't put a foot wrong when acting against me. She's a really good lawyer.
Chambers and Partners, 2025

Johanna is very effective and she's a really excellent leader of a team.
Chambers and Partners, 2025

She is brilliant with clients and is very thoughtful.
Chambers and Partners, 2025

She's one of the top lawyers for individuals involved in the most serious white-collar crime cases. She's rightly very confident and someone who's strategic and looks at the big picture.
Chambers and Partners, 2025

Jo is a superstar - fiercely intelligent, meticulously prepared and beloved of her clients. She's one of the very best around.
Chambers and Partners, 2025

Jo Walsh is a recognised leader in this field. The team has a high level of expertise and is very personable.
Legal 500, 2025

Johanna Walsh is an outstanding head of the White-Collar Crime and Investigations team. She is incredibly hard-working, very knowledgeable and the perfect lawyer to go to in a crisis.
Legal 500, 2025

Johanna Walsh is at the top of her game, which is at the very top of the market. She is innovative, tenacious, and absolutely never complacent.
Legal 500, 2025

Brilliant team from the top to the bottom. Jo Walsh, Matthew Ewens and others make this team able to handle any issue with professionalism and speed.
Legal 500, 2025

Johanna Walsh is highly regarded by colleagues, clients and opponents as being approachable, insightful and realistic.
Legal 500, 2025

Johanna Walsh is a leading criminal practitioner who has driven the development of the general criminal practice to the point of it being a market leading offer.
Legal 500, 2025

Johanna Walsh is at the top of her game, which is at the very top of the market. She is innovative, tenacious, and absolutely never complacent. She is a brilliant white-collar crime lawyer.
Legal 500, 2025

Jo Walsh is really able to reassure clients that she will achieve the best possible outcome for them. She is calm and insightful and works hard to fight for her clients.
Legal 500, 2025