Seddons GSC has announced the launch of a new Financial Crime practice with the appointment of Partner Frances Murray, who will head the team. Frances joins Seddons GSC bringing 17 years’ experience in financial crime. She joins from Russell-Cooke, a top 100 law firm, where she was a Partner. Prior to this, Frances co-founded the Financial Crime department at an international City firm with a highly regarded litigation practice. Earlier in her career, she spent over a decade at a leading Financial Crime boutique firm in the City, where she headed its London office.
Frances advises a wide range of UK and international clients, ranging from high-profile, high-net-worth individuals and limited companies to major PLCs, guiding them from the earliest stages of investigation through to court proceedings. Her practice also encompasses matters involving account freezing orders, unexplained wealth orders, sanctions issues, and suspicious activity reports. She also regularly defends clients facing complex investigations and prosecutions brought by UK-based law enforcement agencies including the Serious Fraud Office (SFO), Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) and the National Crime Agency (NCA). Frances also supports clients navigating cross-border investigations and prosecutions and she acts for clients across a range of sectors including financial services, luxury real estate, mining and fine art.
The newly formed Financial Crime team will sit as its own practice area, working closely with the Dispute Resolution team. This expansion into financial crime comes less than a year after law firms Seddons and GSC merged to become a full-service law firm of more than 150 people servicing clients based both in the UK and overseas.
Frances Murray, Partner and Head of the Financial Crime team at Seddons GSC, said: “I’m excited to play a key role in Seddons GSC’s continued growth strategy. It’s quite clear to me the firm prioritises a collegiate culture rooted in a commitment to innovation and expansion, and I look forward to being a part of that with the new Financial Crime practice.”
Simon Ross, Managing Partner of Seddons GSC, commented: “We are delighted to welcome Frances to Seddons GSC as she launches and leads our new Financial Crime department. Her expertise and strategic insight make her an exceptional addition to the firm and we look forward to the contribution she will bring to our clients and team.”