Iskander Fernandez
Iskander.Fernandez@kennedyslaw.com
+44 20 7667 9777
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Profile
Iskander is a partner in Kennedys’ London office and leads the white collar crime and investigations team. He qualified in England and Wales in 2004.
Iskander specialises in advising and representing corporates and high-net-worth individuals in a variety of complex financial crime investigations and proceedings, including allegations of bribery, corruption, fraud and/or money laundering where external investigations/proceedings are initiated by the Serious Fraud Office (SFO), Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) or HMRC. See details of the latest SFO investigations using our tracker.
He has significant experience in providing training to senior management on ABC compliance and where necessary, drafting or amending existing policies and procedures.
Iskander also regularly advises and/or represents both corporates and high-net worth individuals in a range of sanctions-focussed instructions, which includes assisting clients when there have been alleged breaches that can impact them on a commercial and personal basis. Iskander’s current involves advising clients on the impact of the current UK Sanctions’ Regime following the Russia-Ukraine war.
Iskander is fluent Arabic speaker and spent part of his career in Dubai advising corporates in the region.
Qualifications and admissions
- Qualified in the UK in 2004
- Queen Mary, University of London, Year 2000
Market recognition
- Recommended lawyer for ‘Crime: general (London)’
“Iskander has long experience in the field and it tells. He is a smooth, charming lawyer who clients really trust. His work is of the highest standard, and he really cares about achieving the best results for his clients”
“Iskander was superb. On top of the brief at all times and navigated through the complexities with calm and skill”
The Legal 500 UK 2022
- “Iskander is a committed and passionate lawyer. He is a pleasure to work with, very clever and extremely hard working. He has terrific judgement. He is always calm and confident, highly capable with an in-depth knowledge of the law.”
The Legal 500 UK 2021
Work highlights
- Advising and representing the corporate to have contested the failing to prevent bribery offence under the Bribery Act 2010 (R v Skansen [2018]).
- Being invited to address a House of Lords Select Committee regarding the efficacy of the Bribery Act 2010. Iskander’s views partly formed the arguments raised by the Select Committee in its report to the Government
- Advising a construction company on issues relating to bribery and corruption following an internal investigation into the actions of a former employee.
- Successfully advising a high-net-worth individual charged with a litany of high-value fraud offences.
- Undertaking an internal investigation on behalf of an international pharma company into allegations of bribery involving a third party agent.
- Advising an oil and gas client on whether its relationship with a foreign commercial partner was in breach of the sanctions regime.
- Successfully acting for a high-net-worth Russian client following the freezing of numerous bank accounts by police utilising powers under the Criminal Finances Act 2017, which amended the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002.
- Undertaking a private prosecution on behalf of a high-net-worth client who is alleging fraud against a former business partner.
- Successfully advising and representing a corporate client that was charged with offences relating to its work based pension scheme.
- Advising a Singapore-based client with operations in the UK regarding the UK’s anti-bribery and corruption regime.