Julia Steinhardt
Julia advises individuals and corporations on criminal, regulatory and internal investigations and related risk and compliance issues. She specialises in matters involving bribery and corruption, financial regulation, money laundering and terrorist finance, and business and human rights.
Prior to joining Peters & Peters, Julia worked at two large international law firms. During this period, she advised on investigations and regulatory communications involving the Financial Conduct Authority, Serious Fraud Office, National Crime Agency, Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency, and the US Department of Justice. She also worked on high value disputes and international arbitration matters, and advised financial, payments and e-commerce businesses on complex regulatory risk and compliance issues.
In addition, she developed expertise in advising global brands on reputational and regulatory issues involving business and human rights. This included supporting clients with internal investigations, due diligence, risk assessments, training, compliance programmes and related international litigation.
During her training contract, Julia spent six months on secondment with a leading life sciences company. In this position, she assisted with criminal and regulatory investigations, disputes and commercial negotiations, and worked to strengthen the company’s culture of compliance by contributing to workstreams involving training, policies and procedures related to anti-bribery and corruption, data protection, competition and dawn raids.
Julia graduated with first class honours from SOAS and obtained a masters degree from the University of Oxford, before completing the law conversion course at the University of Law, London Bloomsbury (commendation) and legal practice course at BPP Law School (distinction).
Case examples
Advised a regulated company regarding an investigation into money laundering and terrorist finance allegations involving the FCA, HMRC and the police.
Supported a company in connection with a regulatory investigation involving an international criminal network.
Assisted a suspect in a bribery investigation involving the SFO and DOJ.
Developed anti-bribery and corruption complaints and whistleblowing policies and procedures for a leading international company.
Conducted anti-money laundering and financial crime due diligence for regulated financial services clients, and developed strategies to mitigate regulatory risks.
Conducted an internal cultural investigation for a high-profile business; separately advised on whistleblowing and privilege issues to assist with a related dispute.
Prepared research on privilege for a bank preparing for a potential FCA investigation.
Analysed anti-corruption compliance trends for an influential business network, producing a report on general and best practice.
Advised an e-commerce platform on systems and controls relating to sanctions.
Assisted a leading international start-up in an innovative emerging field to identify, navigate and address complex regulatory compliance issues related to rules on consumer credit, payment services, and anti-money laundering.
Acted for a global brand following its discovery that a related party had been affected by serious criminal proceedings, and assisted to enforce an ICC arbitration award on the client’s behalf to provide it with access to funds held by the related party.
Advised a global corporate on its response to an investigation involving agricultural authorities.
Designed a human rights due diligence questionnaire for an energy company considering whether to invest in a high-risk region.
Supported a leading brand in response to damaging litigation related to alleged human rights issues in its global supply chain.
Advised a mining company on human rights and security compliance in a high-risk region, liaising with experts and developing advice and training on best practice.
Supported a corporate client with developing international emergency response plans, including coordinated regulatory and public communications, following a serious cybersecurity incident.
Related expertise
- Bribery & Corruption
- Business Crime & Investigations
- Business Ethics, Human Rights & Product/Service Risk
- Compliance
- Criminal Cartels
- Criminal Fraud
- Cybercrime & Data Theft
- Dawn Raids
- FS Regulatory/FCA Investigations & Enforcement
- Internal Investigations
- International Arbitration
- Money Laundering
- Sanctions & Export Controls