Skip to content

Saira Choonka

Principal Associate

Saira is a senior lawyer with extensive experience in running complex, cross-border investigations. 

 

These investigations include allegations of misconduct for corporates, advising on risk mitigation strategies, and reporting obligations to law enforcement agencies and regulators.

As one of the most experienced lawyers in the Financial Services Disputes and Investigations group, Saira advises on the full spectrum of business and financial crime issues, including anti-bribery and corruption, anti-money laundering and fraud, and is often called upon to conduct complex investigations into potential wrong-doing and advise on consequential criminal and regulatory risk exposure. Her practice also encompasses risk advisory and compliance work, and she represents a range of multinationals and financial institutions in these areas and has established key relationships with these clients, leading to significant repeat instructions.

If you have received an internal report of potential wrongdoing committed by an employee or other third parties connected to your business, Saira can investigate whether there is any substance to those allegations and identify root causes leading to the issue that has arisen. Saira will also conduct an accountability review for you and advise your board and other relevant stakeholders of any adverse findings and mitigation.

Having acted for and against some of the UK's law enforcement agencies, Saira is well positioned to represent you in liaising with these agencies and other regulators in respect of any investigatory findings, disclosure requests, interviews, and asserting legal privilege over confidential or sensitive materials.

Her experience means that she can provide you with a full-service provision relating to business or financial crime issues from investigating allegations of misconduct, to advising on any reporting obligations and carrying out any remedial action such as risk assessments and implementation of recommended compliance measures. Drawing on her deep experience, Saira can also deliver bespoke  training to your front office, senior management, Legal and Compliance teams and your board in these areas.

Saira’s recent experience includes:

  • lead lawyer for Airline Services Limited subject to a five-year long bribery and corruption investigation by the SFO and concluding with the 9th Deferred Prosecution Agreement in the UK
  • representing the SFO in SFO v ENRC Ltd [2017] EWHC 1017 (QB) (08 May 2017) and successfully challenged claims of legal privilege over four categories of investigatory materials generated by ENRC Ltd.
  • acting for the director and corporate being investigated by HMRC for breach of export trade controls
  • lead lawyer for private wealth management company subject to two regulatory enforcement actions by the FCA concerning anti-bribery and anti-money laundering controls and integrity issues
  • acting for a UK subsidiary of an Indian back subject to a criminal investigation by the FCA involving allegations of money laundering and breaches of its anti-money laundering system and controls — the investigation was successfully discontinued

Saira regularly presents to clients on topical business and financial crime issues. Recent presentations include: 

  • regulatory obligations of financial institutions in view of fraud loss arising from the government’s CBILs and BBLs schemes
  • interplay between regulatory and criminal law obligations in a investigation crisis scenario to members of a regulated industry association
  • anti-bribery and corruption to a range of regulated and non-regulated clients

Saira has written a number of articles for the firm and also for external parties, including UK Finance and Lexology and has been quoted in Thomson Reuters.

  • Ranked as a key lawyer in the Legal 500 2020 and 2021 for Risk Advisory work in relation to Regulatory Investigations and Corporate Crime (advice to corporates)
  • Ranked as a key lawyer in Chambers 2022 for financial services (contentious)
  • Member of the Female Fraud Forum
  • Member of the Shadow Litigation Leadership Committee
  • Committee member for the firm's Litigation Diversity and Inclusion group
  • Member of the firm's Gender Network
  • A coach to junior employees through the firms-wide coaching scheme and the Amplify Project
  • College of Law, London, Legal Practice Course, 2001-2002     
  • City University, London, Law (LLB) (Hons) 1998-2001
  • Graveney Sixth Form College, London, A-Levels: History, French, Economics, 1996-1998
  • Streatham Hill & Clapham High School, London, 10 GCSEs, 1991-1996
Saira Choonka

Principal Associate

Saira Choonka

Principal Associate

Email