Frances Murray

Partner & Head of Financial Crime

Background & Biography

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.

Career Highlights

Expertise & Career Overview

Instructed by a high-net worth family following the death of the patriarch a property developer and business owner with an estate valued at £3m after a significant amount of the inheritance was frozen by a financial institution under the Suspicious Activity Report regime to secure the release of funds
Instructed by a multi-million turnover Real Estate investment company headquartered in Switzerland to provide advice in the UK and BVI following association with a high value Ponzi Scheme being investigated/prosecuted in South Africa
Instructed by a former international C-suite level business professional defrauded of almost $175,000 following investment in a Citizenship by Investment scheme in the Caribbean also known as a ‘Golden Passport Scheme’ valued at $1bn alleged to involve widespread corruption and money laundering by Government officials
Instructed by a Belarussian national to provide advice on the Sanctions Regime in Belarus and financial transactions in the UK
Instructed by a high net worth Director of a wholesale company following the seizure by Trading Standards of luxury fashion items manufactured in Pakistan and sold in the US/Australia alleged to be destined for the ‘grey market’ and valued at £26.8m
Instructed by an ultra-high net worth individual resident in the UK with international business affairs in the Middle East alleged to have contravened US sanctions to Appeal a large cash forfeiture following a successful Application by HMRC
Instructed by medical professionals linked to Lebanon and Syria the Respondents in Account Freezing Order proceedings alleged to have funded terrorist group ISIL
Instructed by an ultra-high net worth individual involved in global energy finance and project development, resident in Monaco to provide advice around their PEP classification in conjunction with high value Real Estate transaction(s) across a global property portfolio
Advising a corporate entity in respect of the Suspicious Activity Report regime and their involvement in a transaction linked to allegations of multi-million dollar bribery and corruption in Kuwait
Instructed by a property management company in charge of a high value residential estate in an affluent area in London to assist in the submission of a Suspicious Activity Report
Instructed by an international Fintech/FX company to provide Financial Regulatory advice in respect of FCA Regulation and spot trade activity undertaken
Instructed by an international ultra-high net worth financier the Respondent in Account Freezing Order proceedings following an on-going Police investigation into cross border money laundering offences in Europe, Russia and the US
Instructed by an ultra-high net worth auto dealership mogul based in the US in respect of a Fine Art purchase resulting in the misappropriation of $2.9 million
Instructed by an ultra-high net worth Chief Executive Officer of a global mining corporation accused of defrauding the Australian Taxation Office of more than $38.5 million
Instructed to submit a Suspicious Activity Report relating to a multi-billion dollar fraud committed by the Chief Executive Officer of a Private Equity Fund
Warwickshire Police investigation: Account Freezing Order(s) granted against the founder of a Fintech company’s bank accounts. Lodging an Application for leave to Judicially Review the Account Freezing Order(s) on a nuanced point, which could have been precedent making and further legal challenge regarding Suspicious Activity Report(s)/Application to Set Aside the Account Freezing Order(s)
Warwickshire Police investigation (linked): representing a Fintech founder and Nigerian national residing in the United Kingdom who was subjected to a dawn raid and arrested for committing suspected money laundering offences in multiple jurisdictions including the Caribbean
Instructed by an ultra-high net worth Chief Investment Officer of a Financial Services company in the City to submit a Suspicious Activity Report relating to high profile international political figures
Metropolitan Police investigation: instructed by a Finance Director to provide representation following a cross-border dispute between an entity based in the United Kingdom and its Australian parent company resulting in allegations of fraud
Instructed by a Director of a hotel and resorts group involved in brokering international property development deals in the Far East and Pakistan being investigated under Section 447 of the Companies Act 1985 by a City law firm on behalf of the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
Instructed in a further Section 447 Companies Act 1985 investigation relating to a consortium of companies acting as agents, brokering the purchase of hotels in the United Kingdom with international links to Pakistan and Thailand
Instructed on behalf of the former Chief Executive Officer of an international Super Yacht business investigated for Financial Crime offences committed in Austria
Instructed by a professional in Financial Services who was resident in Belize and is the subject of a Worldwide Freezing Order and a Police investigation relating to the allegation of Fraud by Abuse of Position following their admission in the parallel civil proceedings to misappropriating in excess of £1 million from a US based entertainment company
Instructed to provide advice to a Property Management company in respect of a Suspicious Activity Report regarding a tenant of a property owned by London aristocracy
Instructed by three Company Directors selling cask whisky, advising on a Suspicious Activity Report and initial freezing of the client’s business bank account with an international financial institution

Highlights

Disposals

Joint Ventures

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Reorganisations

Recommendations

Recommended in Spear’s 500 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025 Criminal Lawyers Index, ranked as Top Recommended.

The Spear’s Criminal Lawyers index is an invaluable resource to find the very best defence and prosecution solicitors and barristers who specialise in high value financial crime, fraud and regulatory wrongdoing. Spear’s publishes annual rankings of the top private client advisers and service providers to high net worth individuals.

What the Legal Directories say (recognition since 2014):

Chambers & Partners | 2026 Edition

‘Frances Murray is adept at defending individuals as well as corporate clients in multinational asset recovery proceedings.’

‘She is very experienced and deals with the most complex matters.’

‘Frances Murray has a great work ethic. She’s a great person to go to and has a great reputation.’

Legal 500 | 2026 Edition

‘Energy, determination, going the extra mile for clients, leaving no stone unturned in their defence.’

‘Frances Murray is a good lawyer who is great with clients and does the work.’

Chambers & Partners | 2025 Edition

‘She is exceedingly bright, works extremely hard for her clients and gets results.’

‘She is very experienced, especially on account freezing orders… Frances is highly capable and experienced in that area and is able to provide great tactical advice.’

Legal 500 | 2025 Edition:

‘Fran Murray – her years of experience in fraud litigation is apparent in her unimpeachable decision making. A phenomenal lawyer who can guide clients through the most difficult situations.’

‘Frances Murray, a partner in the firm, is 500% on every case, and does not skip a beat. She is a force to be reckoned with in her field.’

‘Frances Murray – She quickly recognises and understands the issues that her clients face.’

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