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People
Aaron Stephens is an English and US qualified partner in the Special Matters and Government Investigations practice, twice named by Law360 as “White Collar Practice Group of the Year.” He specializes in representing financial institutions, corporate clients and senior individuals in highly sensitive litigation and investigations.
Aaron has advised clients on diverse matters across Europe, North America, Asia, the Middle East and Africa in the banking/financial services, energy, defence, construction & engineering and retail industries. He has a particular focus on anti-corruption, anti-money laundering, market abuse and fraud, and has been described as “creative, thoughtful, very strategic and very tactically aware…he doesn’t only take the purely legal issues, but understands the human aspect too.” (Chambers 2017).
Aaron has carried out regulatory and white collar investigations and/or defended clients in relation to the UK’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), Serious Fraud Office (SFO), National Crime Agency (NCA), Takeover Panel and Lloyd’s of London, as well as in matters involving the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) and Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). He also engages in civil litigation in the English courts, and advises a wide range of corporate clients on risk management and compliance issues.
Aaron is ranked in Chambers UK 2018 in Financial Crime: Corporates and recognized in Legal 500 2018 for his work on corporate and financial services investigations. Chambers UK notes that sources observe that "he is an incredible professional," adding that "he's a very steady hand and very comforting to clients; he's unflappable." In addition, Global Investigations Review has described him as an “excellent lawyer who is credited by sources for his work developing [his] practice into a formidable offering.”
Prior to joining King & Spalding, Aaron was the Head of Corporate Crime and Investigations at the London headquarters of an international law firm.
Credentials
J.D., Case Western Reserve University School of Law
B.A., Indiana University-Bloomington
California
England and Wales
American Bar Association
Law Society of England & Wales (Admitted 5/15/2003; Reg. # 382567)
Member of the Council of JUSTICE
Member of the Financial Services Consultation Board for Practical Law/Thomson Reuters
Vice Chair of the Business Crime Committee of the International Bar Association
French
Close
Recognition
Ranked in Financial Crime: Corporates
Chambers UK, 2017-2018
Recognized for his work on corporate and financial services investigations
Legal 500 2018
Recognized by Global Investigation Review
Speaking Engagement
Aaron Stephens to Speak at ABA’s London White Collar Crime Institute
View all eventsNews
In the News · Source: Global Investigations Review
March 19, 2020
Aaron Stephens explains why the U.K. lags behind the U.S. in spoofing cases
Recognition
October 10, 2019
Chambers UK 2020 Guide Recognizes King & Spalding With Multiple Rankings
Recognition
September 27, 2019
Legal 500 UK 2020 Recognizes King & Spalding Among Leading UK Law Firms
Matters
Conducting an urgent internal investigation for a global asset management firm and advising on remedial steps and notification issues.
Advising various senior individuals in the context of on-going Serious Fraud Office (SFO), Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and cross-border (DOJ, SEC) investigations into alleged bribery & corruption, market manipulation and "spoofing", and other financial crime.
Advising an energy sector client in relation to an internal investigation into fraudulent and misleading practices affecting an Asian project, including with regard to self reporting obligations and remediation.
See more
Close
Matters
Conducting an urgent internal investigation for a global asset management firm and advising on remedial steps and notification issues.
Advising various senior individuals in the context of on-going Serious Fraud Office (SFO), Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and cross-border (DOJ, SEC) investigations into alleged bribery & corruption, market manipulation and "spoofing", and other financial crime.
Advising an energy sector client in relation to an internal investigation into fraudulent and misleading practices affecting an Asian project, including with regard to self reporting obligations and remediation.
Assisting a major, global corporation to design and implement a new compliance department, including the drafting of all compliance policies and procedures and related staff training.
Successfully defended various individuals in the context of the US and UK investigations into manipulation of the London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) and the foreign exchange (FX) market.
Advised MS Amlin in the context of an investigation by Lloyd’s of London, achieving a successful outcome.
Represented Sir Paul Judge in the context of both the on-going SFO investigation into Eurasian Natural Resources Corporation, and related civil litigation in the High Court of England & Wales.
Advising numerous corporates and financial services firms regarding compliance with the FCPA, Bribery Act 2010, anti-money laundering legislation and related financial crime compliance issues, including carrying out internal investigations in this regard.
Insights
Article · Source: GIR
May 21, 2020
Spoofing: Why does UK enforcement lag behind the US?
Client Alert
March 5, 2020
UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) Criminal Prosecution Powers
Article
February 17, 2020
Practice Note, FCA Criminal prosecution powers
News
In the News · Source: Global Investigations Review
March 19, 2020
Aaron Stephens explains why the U.K. lags behind the U.S. in spoofing cases
Recognition
October 10, 2019
Chambers UK 2020 Guide Recognizes King & Spalding With Multiple Rankings
Recognition
September 27, 2019
Legal 500 UK 2020 Recognizes King & Spalding Among Leading UK Law Firms
Matters
Conducting an urgent internal investigation for a global asset management firm and advising on remedial steps and notification issues.
Advising various senior individuals in the context of on-going Serious Fraud Office (SFO), Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and cross-border (DOJ, SEC) investigations into alleged bribery & corruption, market manipulation and "spoofing", and other financial crime.
Advising an energy sector client in relation to an internal investigation into fraudulent and misleading practices affecting an Asian project, including with regard to self reporting obligations and remediation.
See more
Close
Matters
Conducting an urgent internal investigation for a global asset management firm and advising on remedial steps and notification issues.
Advising various senior individuals in the context of on-going Serious Fraud Office (SFO), Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and cross-border (DOJ, SEC) investigations into alleged bribery & corruption, market manipulation and "spoofing", and other financial crime.
Advising an energy sector client in relation to an internal investigation into fraudulent and misleading practices affecting an Asian project, including with regard to self reporting obligations and remediation.
Assisting a major, global corporation to design and implement a new compliance department, including the drafting of all compliance policies and procedures and related staff training.
Successfully defended various individuals in the context of the US and UK investigations into manipulation of the London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) and the foreign exchange (FX) market.
Advised MS Amlin in the context of an investigation by Lloyd’s of London, achieving a successful outcome.
Represented Sir Paul Judge in the context of both the on-going SFO investigation into Eurasian Natural Resources Corporation, and related civil litigation in the High Court of England & Wales.
Advising numerous corporates and financial services firms regarding compliance with the FCPA, Bribery Act 2010, anti-money laundering legislation and related financial crime compliance issues, including carrying out internal investigations in this regard.
Insights
Article · Source: GIR
May 21, 2020
Spoofing: Why does UK enforcement lag behind the US?
Client Alert
March 5, 2020
UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) Criminal Prosecution Powers
Article
February 17, 2020
Practice Note, FCA Criminal prosecution powers
News
In the News · Source: Global Investigations Review
March 19, 2020
Aaron Stephens explains why the U.K. lags behind the U.S. in spoofing cases
Recognition
October 10, 2019
Chambers UK 2020 Guide Recognizes King & Spalding With Multiple Rankings
Recognition
September 27, 2019
Legal 500 UK 2020 Recognizes King & Spalding Among Leading UK Law Firms
Credentials
J.D., Case Western Reserve University School of Law
B.A., Indiana University-Bloomington
California
England and Wales
American Bar Association
Law Society of England & Wales (Admitted 5/15/2003; Reg. # 382567)
Member of the Council of JUSTICE
Member of the Financial Services Consultation Board for Practical Law/Thomson Reuters
Vice Chair of the Business Crime Committee of the International Bar Association
French
Close
Recognition
Ranked in Financial Crime: Corporates
Chambers UK, 2017-2018
Recognized for his work on corporate and financial services investigations
Legal 500 2018
Recognized by Global Investigation Review
Speaking Engagement
Aaron Stephens to Speak at ABA’s London White Collar Crime Institute
View all events