Laura Ford

Partner, DLA Piper

Laura Ford leads DLA Piper’s corporate crime, investigations and compliance practice in the UK. She advises clients in the conduct of UK and multi-jurisdictional investigations into allegations of serious and complex misconduct, including in the areas of bribery, money laundering, fraud, facilitation of tax evasion, sanctions, data breach and human rights, and represents and defends clients in matters concerning the Serious Fraud Office, His Majesty’s Revenue and Customs, the Financial Conduct Authority and other regulatory and enforcement bodies.

She also advises clients in the design and implementation of their global compliance programmes – from risk assessment to policy drafting and training – and conducts due diligence and investigations in the context of corporate transactional activity. She is experienced in conducting investigations and compliance mandates in the energy, life sciences, defence, logistics, retail, gambling and property sectors, among others.

Laura is recognised as a leading young investigations lawyer in Global Investigations Review’s ‘40 under 40’ list for 2020 and as a ‘Future Leader’ in Who’s Who Legal: Investigations 2022. She is also the deputy money laundering reporting officer for DLA Piper in the UK; a partner sponsor in the firm’s gender diversity network, The Leadership Alliance for Women; and a mentor in the firm’s social mobility network Head Start, which aims to improve equality of opportunity and break down barriers faced by under-represented groups when entering the legal profession.