Ruth Paley is a leading authority on corporate crime, financial regulation, and investigations, with particular expertise in anti-money laundering (AML) and enforcement strategy. Known for her command of the UK Money Laundering Regulations, Ruth is consistently recognised as a top practitioner in her field, “a powerhouse performer in global corporate investigations,” and “one of the leading names in anti-money laundering work in London, with a depth of knowledge few in the City have” (Legal 500).

She acts for global corporates, financial institutions, and senior executives facing exposure to criminal and regulatory risk. Ruth frequently leads internal investigations, large-scale remediations, and regulatory inquiries, working side-by-side with Boards and ExCos to advise on enforcement strategy and risk mitigation. She is often called upon to support firms grappling with criminal activity on the part of employees and third parties, using a solutions-focused approach to protect her clients’ best interests. Ruth also represents individuals under investigation by the SFO, the City of London Police, and other enforcement authorities.

Ruth’s recent matters include advising a FTSE-listed company in a cross-border investigation into suspected money laundering; leading a multi-jurisdictional investigation for a global energy company into corruption concerns spanning the UK and MENA; advising a UK first tier financial institution on a £100m customer fraud on the UK government, supporting a UK Life Sciences client with an internal investigation into serious criminal misconduct, and defending one of India’s largest banks in a high-profile FCA investigation involving AML systems and controls. She is regularly instructed to manage engagements involving Skilled Person reviews and has advised on a number of serious enforcement investigations brought under the UK Money Laundering Regulations, the Bribery Act, the Fraud Act, and the Proceeds of Crime Act.

Ruth began her legal career at the Bar, where she spent twelve years prosecuting and defending heavyweight jury trials involving serious fraud and financial crime, as well as murder, kidnap and serious violent/sexual offences. As counsel she worked with all the major prosecution agencies, including the FCA, SFO and CPS, where she advised on sufficiency of evidence a Grade III prosecutor and CPS specialist panel advocate for the Serious/Organised Criminal, POCA, Fraud and Rape lists. Ruth later became a partner at one of the world’s largest litigation firms and was appointed to the FCA’s s.166 Skilled Person panel for Financial Crime.

A frequent lecturer on risk, compliance, and regulatory enforcement, Ruth also contributes to several AML practitioner texts, including Lissack & Horlick on Bribery and Corruption, where she authors the chapter on the UK Money Laundering Regulations. She also serves on the Executive Committee of the Institute of Money Laundering Prevention Officers.